The Buying Process

01. GETTING PRE-APPROVED

Before you start looking for a home, you need to know how much you can spend. Getting your mortgage preapproval is the very first step in the process - and it’s never too early to start! It will strengthen your position when you’re ready to submit an offer and help you focus on opportunities in your price range. Consult with your bank and/or a mortgage specialist who will look at your current financial situation and preapprove you for a mortgage within your budget. This pre-approval will typically be valid for 120 days.

02. COSTS TO BE AWARE OF

It’s imperative to know and understand the costs to be aware of when buying a home as they can add up quickly (on top of your purchase price). Don’t worry! To ensure you are informed and prepared, we’ve broken down the common costs in detail for you here:

DEPOSIT AND
DOWN PAYMENT

Deposits in the Greater Toronto Area are typically 5% of the purchase price. This amount needs to be accessible in a bank account and ready to be paid within 24 hours of your offer acceptance. Deposits form part of your total down payment and are contributed towards your balance owing on the purchase price on closing.

CLOSING COSTS

Closing costs are typically 1-2% of your final purchase price. These are additional funds that you will need to have accessible for your closing (they are not included in your mortgage):

• Legal (lawyer) fees
• Land transfer tax

OTHER FEES

1. Home Inspections
2. Appraisal fees
3. Mortgage Insurance

Always consult your Mortgage Broker/Lender and your Agent (Lana Istrati) to estimate your closing costs and fees.

03. CREATE YOUR WISH LIST

When creating your wish list, there are a lot of factors to consider. For example, these are the main topics our clients typically consider:

House (detached, townhouse, coop),
Condo or investment Location,
Transit access
Costs, Mortgage, Timeline
Amenities, Parking

04. THE SEARCH PROCESS

Search in real time from any device using a search tool that gives you direct access to the same MLS system used by us, as Realtors. Easily communicate with Lana Istrati to discuss listings or request showings. It’s user-friendly and instant; it looks a lot like your favourite social media tools where you can like, save and share listings.

05. PREVIEWING PROPERTIES

We’ll help you keep track of which homes you view and then discuss honest feedback on each. Lana may arrange an exclusive visit for you, out of usual 'open house' event. You’ll have a chance to rate each home on a scale from 1 to 10. Typically your ratings will have these results:

• 8-10 = submitting an offer
• 7 = possible offer
• 1-6 = no offer

06. MAKING AN OFFER

When you find the right place, the next step is to submit an offer. In today’s market, there are a couple of different strategies Sellers will have to accept an offer. A lot of properties are sold in multiple offers (otherwise known as bidding wars; when there is more than one offer on the same property) or through pre-emptive offers (where an offer is submitted in advance of a specified offer date). A pre-emptive offer is also known as a “bully offer”. When you submit an offer (Agreement of Purchase and Sale), the main components for you to consider are:

OFFER PRICE

The amount you are willing to pay. This may be the final amount or the starting point of negotiations

DEPOSIT

This is typically 5% (or more) of the purchase price and is payable by bank draft or certified cheque within 24 hours of offer acceptance or in some cases, with the offer, depending on circumstances

CLAUSES

A clause is a term or terms necessary to include in your offer to protect you through the purchase process

CONDITIONS

A condition is a clause the Buyer needs to waive or fulfill by an agreed time in order for a sale to be finalized. The most common conditions are: financing, inspection, lawyer review and status certificate review

CLOSING/COMPLETION DATE

The date that you pay for and take title/ownership of the property

CHATTELS AND FIXTURES

Otherwise known as inclusions and exclusions; these are the items that you wish (or the Sellers wish) to be included or excluded from your offer.

07. OFFER ACCEPTANCE

Once your offer has been successfully negotiated and accepted by all parties, you now have either a conditional or firm sale. Once firm (conditions have been fulfilled according to the agreement), your sale remains pending until the Closing/Completion Date. You will require a lawyer to facilitate the closing of your property. We recommend that you contact your lawyer a minimum of 1-2 weeks before your closing date to ensure that everything is in order and to confirm a date and time to sign all paperwork (this can be done virtually), where and when to pick up keys for your new home etc.

*If you do not have a lawyer, we will be pleased to recommend one of our preferred partners to you.