Buying Your First Home | buyingyourfirsthomeblog

You’ve decided to purchase your first home, put your finances in order and figured out what type of home you want and can afford to buy. Now what? You need to figure out what you want in a home. Make up a list of everything you would like in your new home and then a list of what you really need. The lists might be quite different, but that’s okay, it’s just to help keep things in perspective. Remember that your first home purchase is probably not going to be your ultimate dream home, just one huge step towards it.

Do you really want granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances? Or is it more important to have a large kitchen and upgrade the counters and appliances later? Do you have to have a jacuzzi tub in the ensuite? Is a large yard and mature trees really important to you? How many bedrooms would you like and how many do you need? Do you need schools close by? Is a garage a must and if so, how big?

When you have your list made up of what you need and what you want, you’re ready to start looking. When looking at homes, it is easy to be wowed by some features and end up ignoring the fact that what you really require is missing. The kitchen might be spectacular, but if there are only 2 bedrooms and you really need 3, it’s not really going to work. Buying a home can be an incredibly emotional experience and having a list will help keep you focused on what you really need and help prevent any buyer’s remorse.

Having a clear idea of what your starter dream home needs to look like will also help your real estate agent tailor your search in a way that you’ll be looking at the homes that will actually work for you. With a bit of planning, you should be able to find a wonderful place to call home!

Here’s some great links to help you make up your home shopping list:

Dream Home Checklist

RE/MAX First Time Buyers Guide

House Hunting Check List

CMHC – Condo Buyers’ Guide

Now that you’ve decided to purchase your first home and have checked out your finances with a mortgage professional, it’s time to start looking. But at what? You really want to have a good idea of what type of home you are looking for before you start out. Otherwise, you can end up looking at so many homes, condos and apartments only to come out confused or overwhelmed. So how do you start to narrow down the search? You need to have an idea of what type of homes are available.

Single Family Homes

These provide the most privacy in terms of housing. This is a stand alone home on its own yard. You are responsible for all home and yard maintenance. A lot of people looking to purchase their first home automatically think that it should be a single family home. That might not always be the best option though. When starting out, remember that your finances might mean you are looking at a single family home that will need a lot of repairs or updating. Make sure you plan for the costs that may incur. It often ends up costing MUCH more than one expects when repairing and renovating, so make sure that you will have enough in your monthly budget.

Single Family Attached Homes

These homes have a shared wall between 2 or more homes. It is usually less expensive than the single detached home but still may maintain some of the benefits such as the yard and possibly a basement and garage. Usually you own both the home and some yard and as such, you are responsible for the maintenance of both. These can include duplex, triplex, fourplex, townhouses and rowhouses.

Condominium Homes

You purchase the individual unit you live in (wall board to wall board), which is part of a multi-unit property. You have shared ownership of the land and common areas such as hallways, parking facilities and heating system. The owners form a condo board which runs the building . Condos come in many forms, such as bungalows, townhouses, carriage homes, stacked townhouses and apartments. One of the great advantages in owning a condo is that you don’t need to worry about yard maintenance and exterior home repairs such as roofs. Some condo developments have restrictions in place such as minimum age of residents and whether pets are allowed or not. A monthly condo fee usually exists which may vary in amount and may cover things such as some or all utilities, recreation fees, landscaping, snow removal and property management.

Modular Homes (Mobile Homes)

Single family home built in a factory and moved to where it will be lived in. On the surface, it can look like an attractive and more affordable option. The land on which it is though, is not owned by the home owner and there is usually a HIGH monthly lot fee to pay. In addition, it can sometimes be harder to get financing especially on an older home. Resale can also be more difficult.

Your realtor will be able to help you filter through the options and figure out what type of home would best suit you to start out in. Remember, when you’re purchasing your first home, it won’t necessarily be your ultimate dream home, but rather a huge step towards that goal.

Helpful Links:

CMHC: Which Home Is Right For You?

RE/MAX Western Canada: Condo Buyers Guide

Step 4: What Do Your Want In Your Home?

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Step 4: So What Does Your Dream Home Look Like?

Step 3: What Are The Options For Your First Home?