To begin please take a few minutes to fill out my Home Search Questionnaire with your home purchase requirements or contact me immediately. Then we will sit down together and discuss the complete buying process. We will go over your "Wish List", financing, building inspections, and the actual "Offer to Purchase". My goal is to make buying a home an enjoyable and exciting experience and I will be there to guide you through every step of the process.

I invite you to download My Free Valuable Brochures for additional information about the many aspects of home sales and purchase and other related topics.

If you have decided to buy a home, here are a few things to consider:

• The first thing to do, even before you start looking for a home, should be to arrange for a pre-approved mortgage. That way you'll know what you can afford and you can negotiate your purchase in confidence.
• Make sure you've got enough to cover fees and closing costs. These may include the appraisal fee, loan fees, attorney's fees, inspection fees and the cost of a title search. They can easily add up to $5,000 to $7,000 -- and often run to 5 percent of the mortgage amount.
• Because of the high costs of buying and selling, unless you're planning to stay in your home for at least 4 to 5 years it may not be a wise decision. Of course there have been times when the real estate market has increased so quickly, it would have paid handsomely to buy and sell over one year.
• Be sure to research the area in which you're looking. Talk to neighbours. Visit schools. Check on future development. That beautiful wooded area across the street could be slated for a shopping mall. In a nutshell, you want to be aware of and consider all issues that could affect the resale price.
• Always use a home inspector before you make an offer. And always do a walk-through the day before the close to ensure that all is as it should be.

Home Buying Checklist

Neighbourhood

1. Is the neighbourhood quiet, safe and clean?
   
2. Are the streets well lit at night?
   
3. Are there adequate day-care facilities?
   
4. Are the streets and sidewalks well maintained?
   
5. Does the type of residential zoning meet your present and future needs?
   
6. Does the value of the property in the area tend to increase,decrease or remain stable?
   
7. Are there active community and cultural associations?

Schools

1. Are there schools located conveniently in the area?
   
2. Is there convenient public transportation to these schools?

Place of Work

1. Is the home you are considering located within travel distance of your place of work?
   
2. Is there public transportation?
   
3. Is there alternative employment available in the area?

Recreation and Shopping

1. Is there a shopping centre or grocery store nearby?
   
2. Will you have easy access to other shopping facilities?
   
3. Are there supervised playgrounds in the neighbourhood?
   
4. Are there recreational and cultural associations in the area?
   
5. Is the police/fire station nearby?