Find the home that fits your life

1. Know your budget before you shop

A pre-approval from a lender turns an idea into a number. It confirms what you can comfortably borrow, locks a rate for a set period, and tells sellers your financing is in order.

• Save for the down payment plus closing costs, legal fees and moving.
• Include property taxes, insurance and utilities in your monthly math.
• Keep a small maintenance buffer for the first year.

2. Decide what matters most

Write down the essentials: number of bedrooms, a garage, a fenced yard, a manageable commute. Everything else is a preference that can flex when the right home comes along.

Think about how you actually live: where you park, how much snow you want to shovel, and how close you need to be to schools, shops and the river trails.

3. Search with a plan

Set up listing alerts and review new properties together. We can shortlist quickly, then spend your time touring homes that genuinely fit rather than every new listing.

• Drive the neighbourhood at different times of day.
• Compare similar homes on price, condition and location, not just photos.
• Ask about age of roof, furnace, windows and any recent renovations.

4. Make a strong offer

When you're ready, I'll prepare a comparable market analysis so your offer reflects what similar homes have actually sold for. We'll discuss price, conditions, deposit and possession date, then present an offer that is competitive and protects you.

In a busy market, terms can matter as much as price. We'll talk through what the seller is likely to value and where there is room to negotiate.

5. Protect yourself before closing

Once your offer is accepted, the work continues. A home inspection gives you a clear picture of the property, and your lender finalizes financing according to the conditions in your contract.

• Book the inspection promptly and review the report together.
• Confirm financing, insurance and any document deadlines.
• Keep your deposit and closing funds ready in the right account.

6. Closing and possession

Your lawyer handles the title transfer, adjustments and registration. We'll do a final walk-through before possession, confirm utilities and keys, and make sure nothing is left to chance on moving day.