Buy

To buy

You are considering purchasing a home?

Are you looking for the house of your dreams? With our marketing tools, we will help you find the right home at the best price.

We offer you:

• A most personalized service with your needs in mind
• A complete list of all homes in your price range followed by all new listings immediately as they are listed online
• Good negotiation skills
• Close follow-up from our first visit together until the signing at the notary

It will be our greatest pleasure to help you in your purchase process.

Together we will discuss:

• Your priorities
• Your special needs
• Your budget
• The costs related to the purchase
• The advantage of a pre-approved mortgage
• Our approach to keep you informed of all new listings that may be of interest to you

Costs associated with the purchase of a home

Before the signing of the deed of sale

• Inspection of the property by a recognized building inspector
• Deposit on the offer to purchase (if required)

At the time of signing of the deed of sale

Notary fees

Adjustment of taxes

• Municipal taxes
• School taxes
• Water tax (if applicable)

Filling up of the oil tank

If the property has oil heating, the vendor must fill up the oil tank just prior to the signing of the deed of sale and remember to bring with him, at the notary, a copy of the bill. The buyer will reimburse the vendor the cost of a full tank of oil.

Electricity (Hydro-Quebec) and natural gas (where applicable)

The buyer and the vendor must both notify Hydro-Quebec and ENERGIR (where applicable) the date of occupancy so that a meter reading be made on that same date so as to fairly determine costs.

House insurance

It is imperative that you provide, upon the signing of the deed of sale, proof that you have obtained home insurance.

Transfer tax (commonly known as the welcome tax)

Within 3 months following the signing of the deed of sale, you will receive the tax bill from the city.
The calculation is as follows (based on the higher amount , namely the purchase price or the evaluation of the property:

Town of Mount Royal CITY OF MONTREAL

Protection You Can Count On

Doing business with a real estate broker means that you are protected by the law. The Real Estate Brokerage Act and various other organizations regulate the real estate broker profession so that consumers can expect fair and competent services. So, you know that you'll be served by a highly qualified and well-trained professional.

Real Estate Brokerage Act

The main goal of the Real Estate Brokerage Act is to protect the public. To enforce this, the Act sets out specific rules relating to the brokerage contract for the sale of a house. They are similar to several of the regulations found in the Consumer Protection Act.

OACIQ

Created by the Real Estate Brokerage Act, the Organisme d'autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec (OACIQ) is mandated to protect the public by regulating the professional activities of all real estate brokers. It is responsible for administering the exam that leads to the practice certificate and it ensures that its members carry out their activities in compliance with current laws and regulations. For more information, visit www.oaciq.com.

FICI

Each broker contributes to the Fonds d'indemnisation du courtage immobilier. The Fonds d'indemnisation du courtage immobilier has the authority to compensate a consumer in the event that a problem arises during a transaction whether it relates to fraud, a dishonest transaction or the misappropriation of funds or other property. For more information, go to www.oaciq.com.

Professional Liability Insurance

Real estate brokers must hold professional liability insurance, which ensures that consumers have additional financial protection in cases of fault, error, negligence or omission. This insurance covers civil claims and civil proceedings.

Source : http://www.centris.ca/en/for-buyers?article=protection-you-can-count-on

Step 1

Deciding to buy

To buy a home, you need to be prepared and we are here to help you. Here are a few things to consider:

Define your needs and wants

Make a list of the things you simply can't live without, like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms your family needs, proximity to schools and work, or storage needs. Then list some nice-to-haves: maybe a pool or deck, finished basement or mudroom. This will help you further down the road when you start looking at homes.

Brush up on types of home ownership

Make sure you know the difference between freehold (it's all yours), a divided condo (you take care of the inside and pay fees to an association to look after the common areas and maintenance) and an undivided (similar to condos but instead of "owning" your unit, you buy shares in the whole building and pay maintenance and repair fees).

Understand market conditions

Supply and demand can change from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, region to region. So, getting to know the market can help you get more bang for your buck. And so can your real estate broker.

Which leads to step 2…

Step 2

Choosing a broker

Buying a home is personal and emotional. So the relationship with your real estate broker has to be built on expertise, trust and mutual respect. After all, they will be acting as your eyes, ears and voice throughout the process. They have a fiduciary duty to act in your best interests, to be completely transparent and accountable to you. Here's what a real estate broker will do:

• Educate you about the current market conditions
• Discuss and analyze your wants and needs against your budget
• Guide you to homes that fit your criteria
• Coordinate the work of other professionals you'll need during the process
• Negotiate with the seller on your behalf
• Make sure all the required paperwork is fully completed, accurate and that deadlines are met
• Work with you to resolve any challenges that may arise
• And while your broker will likely be a great source of advice on financing, it is ultimately your responsibility to understand and secure it.

So, let's move on to financing…

Step 3

Understanding financing

Like many things in life, planning ahead is the key to success. So, you should know the price range you can afford before you start shopping. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Down payment

This is usually the percentage of the total cost of a home that you'll need to pay. The more money you put down, the more money you'll save on monthly payments and, in the long run, interest paid.

Knowing what you can afford

How much house you can afford comes down to 3 factors: your monthly mortgage payment, your down payment and the amortization period or length of time it will take to pay off the loan.

Getting pre-approved

This will really help you figure out what you can spend on a home because you'll know before you start shopping. And you'll be protected against rising interest rates as well.

Step 4

Finding your home

So now it's time to get out there and find your dream home. Most people start off by having a neighbourhood in mind but a great broker may suggest options that you may not have thought of. Here are some considerations as you set out to house hunt:

Choosing the right neighbourhood

Do you need to be close to schools, public transit, highways or where you work? Those can be huge factors when choosing an area to live. And let's not forget proximity to other amenities like parks, grocery stores, doctors and recreational centres. Drive around and check out the appearance of other homes in the area. Are they well taken care of? Of course, your broker will be able to inform you of property values in the area and how they've changed over the years.

House hunting

The hunt can be a lot of work but it can also be a lot of fun. So when you visit homes, go with a partner – spouse, parent, friend – because two sets of eyes are better than one. Don't be shy about asking some tough questions regarding the home. Take some pictures or video on your smartphone so you can reference it later. And remember that checklist you made? It will come in handy now.

View open houses with open eyes

Curb appeal is one thing but try not to focus on the bells and whistles. Keep a lookout for things like doors and windows (are they new/old?), water leaks, squeaky floors, soggy areas around the yard that indicate poor drainage and could lead to a wet basement, missing shingles, lighting, etc. You'll be getting a home inspection later, but it doesn't hurt to start with your own observations.

And when you finally find the home you can see yourself living in, it's time for the next step…

Step 5

Making an offer

You've fallen in love. But it's important that you don't let your emotions get the better of you when making an offer. Remember, real estate is an investment. Fortunately, your real estate broker is there to help you put together an Offer to Purchase and discuss all the details. Here are a few things you should know:

Not all offers are the same

The main factors on most offers will include price, deposit, terms (which includes financing details), conditions, specific items that are included or not with the home and the closing date. You can make the offer "conditional" on things like a home inspection, approval of financing or the sale of your existing home.

Negotiating may come into play

The seller will either accept your offer, reject it or make a counter offer based on things like price, closing date or other conditions. While receiving a counter offer may be unsettling, know that your real estate broker has plenty of experience to help you. Some good tips for negotiating are: making sure what you're asking for is fair and equitable; be polite and collaborative; hold fast to your "needs" and be flexible on your "wants"; and know when to walk away no matter how hard that may be.

After agreeing on terms and signing the offer, it's time for the next step…

Step 6

Doing your home work

In addition to your real estate broker, you will now need to bring in a few pros to help get you to the finish line and make sure the investment you're about to make is sound. Your real estate broker can put you in touch with these people and make recommendations. Here are a couple of key people you should be talking to:

A home inspector

An absolute must in saving you from some unpleasant surprises later on. A home inspector will check your property for any structural damage; perform a thorough examination of the heating and cooling system, plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation, basement and more; then prepare a complete written report detailing all their findings.

A notary

When it comes to complex legal documents, it takes a notary experienced in Canadian real estate law to help make sure that you and your investment are protected. A notary will review the agreement of purchase and sale, do a property title search, check that your home complies with current building and zoning codes, ensure utilities and property taxes are paid up, review the mortgage agreement, and get all the paperwork ready for closing.

You're almost in the home stretch now. Just a couple more steps…

Step 7

Closing the sale

Closing day is the day you officially take ownership of your new home. It's an exciting time for sure. But there are a couple of details you need to keep in mind before you get handed the keys:

Closing costs

These fees need to be paid by or on the closing day and include mortgage application fees, legal fees, insurance, registration and more.

All these costs might make your head spin. But you can take solace in the fact that your real estate broker will be a great help in managing all of this and get you to your last step…

Step 8

The big move

The day has arrived. And there will be as much excitement as there will be sore backs. But you can take the pain out of moving day by planning ahead. Here are some tips for a smooth move:

Make a moving checklist

That details a plan for things that need to be done weeks before you move all the way up to moving day itself.

Plan for packing

By clearly labeling boxes with the rooms they are to go to. You might even want to provide a small floor plan for the movers so they know exactly where to take them.

Make sure you get competitive quotes from reliable moving companies. Or, to save money, find out how much it would cost to hire a moving van yourself (and bribe your friends to help you).

If you own your current home, cancel your cable and utilities and transfer any rented appliances (like water heater or furnace) to the new home owners. While you're at it, make sure to have the gas, electricity, cable and phone hooked up at your new home.

Inform your key contacts

Work, Canada Post, doctors, friends, pharmacy, etc… – of your change of address.

On moving day, plan an easy meal like picking up some take-out. Moving is stressful enough without having to cook.

Congratulations! You're all moved in. Welcome home!