The Perfect Home

It is perfectly normal to have feelings of uncertainty and that you are perhaps making the wrong decision when looking at homes to buy. First time home buyers will question whether they have found the right home for them or not. Before you start your house hunt get yourself prepared and have a sense of what your looking for and what your not looking for, this will save you time and help to reduce your stress level.

What type of home are you looking for?

• Is it a single-family detached home or a condo, a duplex, a townhouse?
• What size of yard are you wanting? Outdoor space is time consuming so ask yourself how much are you comfortable having, do you enjoy yard work, would you pay a landscaper?
• How much do you travel?
• How often do you have house guests or entertain? What type of and how much space do you need to do so comfortably?
• How much natural light do you need? Natural light saves on energy and is also a mood booster, will you want your home to have a lot of windows or a skylight? Keep in mind trees are beautiful to look at but in full bloom will cast a shade.
• How handy are you with repairs?
• Could you live through a renovation?
• Do you use city transit? Will you need to be on a bus route?
• How close do you want your neighbors to be?

When you do begin your search use MLS (realtor.ca), the national multiple listing service where 9 out of 10 homes for sale in Canada are listed. MLS allows you to specify your price range and the type of property, further narrowing your search means choosing the town or neighborhood, and if you have young children you may want to look at schools first and then look in that area.

You may need to pair down your expectations if you can't find anything in your price range, or perhaps you may need to search a different neighborhood. When considering your ideal home, consider any trade-offs you would make, things you are willing to do without and remember most homes are not perfect and there are always going to be things that could be done differently. However once you move in and decorate and add your own style then your house will become your dream home.

*NOT INTENDED TO SOLICIT BUYERS OR SELLERS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT*