This is the first and most important step in the home buying process. Before you start looking for properties, we need to know how much you can afford to spend on a home. The best way to do this is to get pre-approved for a mortgage. This involves working with a lender to determine how much you can borrow based on your income, assets, and credit history. Getting pre-approved will give you a clear idea of your budget and help you narrow down your search to properties that fit within your price range. We work with some of the best lenders and mortgage brokers in the province, which we are happy to refer you to for a great experience!

Once you have a budget in mind, you can start looking for properties that meet your needs and fit within your budget. We always like to conduct an initial conversation for the WANTS & NEEDS list to see how many of your checklist items we can fit in your budget. From there, we will set you up on our MLS listing system to start the search for properties that fit your budget and criteria, and filter out all the homes that you do not want to see. This system is 100% personalized to YOU. Also when you work with us, you will have access to “exclusive” or “off-market” properties that fit your search criteria. While these are much less common, it is still important to note because we have built countless relationships with the best realtors, investors and developers in the city who are happy to bring us exclusive opportunities for our buyers! It is important to take your time and explore different options to find the right property for you.

We are here to help you find your dream home. We will show you all of the houses that you wish to see, no matter how many there are or where they are listed. We will make all of the necessary arrangements from booking viewings, and doing some property pre screening and adapt to YOUR schedule! With our understanding of neighbourhoods, home construction and systems, we pride ourselves in helping educate you throughout this process! The more you know, the more prepared you will be for home ownership! Our goal is to make the process of finding your home as smooth and stress-free as possible!

When you find a property that you are interested in, the next step is to make an offer. This typically involves submitting a written offer to the sellers realtor, along with any contingencies or conditions that you may have. For example, you may want to include a contingency that allows you to back out of the deal if you are unable to secure financing or if the property fails a home inspection. We have trusted inspectors, electricians, plumbers, foundation specialists, and more! Whatever you need, we have the contacts and connections for you! The seller will then either accept your offer, reject it, or make a counteroffer. It is our job to negotiate the best price and terms for YOU!

After your offer is accepted, you will give a deposit cheque of anywhere between $2,500-$50,000+. The standard deposit size only needs to be around $5,000-$10,000 and this GOES TOWARDS YOUR DOWN PAYMENT! The remaining down payment is not due until approximately 1 week before possession! Therefore, you have time to save $ as the entire down payment is NOT due immediately upon an accepted offer! Next, we need to finalize the conditions (mortgage/home inspection) and prepare for closing: Once the home inspection is complete, the next step is to finalize the mortgage and prepare for closing. This involves working with your lender to finalize the loan terms and getting all of the necessary documents in order. It is also important to review the closing documents carefully to ensure that everything is in order and that you understand all of the terms and conditions of the purchase. We will of course help you understand all of this as well!

The last step in the process of buying a home is the closing. Be sure to have 2.5-3% of the total purchase price saved for what is called “closing costs”. These costs consist of land transfer tax (a government tax on every property purchased in Manitoba), lawyer fees (you hire a lawyer to transfer title to your name and ensure all documents are with the correct parties to ensure you are protected), and other disbursements (tax repayment, lender fees, filing fees etc). Of course, we have trusted lawyers we work with who we can happily recommend to you during this process! Finally you will then GET YOUR KEYS! Keys are often given to you via the lawyers, but sometimes the lawyers will ask us as agents to give you the keys. Remember, do not enter the home even a minute before your scheduled possession day and time!