WORK WITH ME
Have you ever heard the joke “How do you eat an Elephant?” The answer is… “One bite at a Time!”
Okay, it’s a bit of a corny joke, but the process of buying a home can sometimes feel like an insurmountable task, just like eating an elephant would be. The worries and fears are real when facing such a large decision. Did we choose the right house? Is it a money pit? Is the area right for us? Did we over pay?
But don’t worry, just like eating an elephant, the home buying process is a lot easier if we break it down into manageable pieces. That’s why I designed the Rice Roadmap, to simplify the whole process and address all of the details before they can cause worry or buyers’ remorse.
We will tackle the process one step at a time to drive away the feeling of overwhelm, and allowing you to make confident decisions in buying your home.
Here’s what they had to say…
“Outstanding! She was attentive and made us feel like we were her only clients. Services and responses were received with no delay. We could not have received better service.”
– katiE & dj (buyers)
We will go see homes that are meeting your criteria. While there, I will be pointing out many details that will help you make an informed decision on your future home. There is more to a house than the pretty staging that makes buyers fall in love quick. I want you to know the practical things that will ensure you love your home for the long term.
Get your hands on this step by step buyer’s guide for the Ottawa Real Estate market.
Let me know what type of home you’re dreaming of, and I’ll set up a no-obligation search for you to start getting to know the market, tailored to your criteria.
Make sure to watch out for my email, and if you don’t see it, check your Junk folder. Don’t let them sit there, make sure to add my email address to your safe list!
Let’s get this started!
Want to learn more about buying real estate in Ottawa? Check out these articles and videos.
Check out these FAQs for buying real estate in Ottawa.
There are lots of people who try to tell you how to “time the market” to buy at the “right time”, but honestly,… the best time to buy is when you need to buy. Time in the market is more important than timing the market. That’s not to say that there aren’t often seasonal differences in pricing, but there is no guarantee that this year is the same as other years (can you remember what happened during the Covid pandemic?!), so if the time is right for you, the time is right for you to be buying.
No, you do not have to work with a Realtor to buy a home, but there really isn’t a benefit to you not working with a Realtor. There are homes that sell privately between buyers and sellers every year, but most homes are listed publicly on MLS® Systems (MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service) and not listed privately by the owners. And, when a Seller lists through a Real Estate Brokerage, they have nearly always included an their contract agreement to compensate both their Realtor and the Buyers’ Realtor. Thus, Buyers are able to benefit from the expertise and assistance of an experienced and trusted Realtor through the buying process at no cost to them.
Throughout the process of buying a home, you’re going to rely on the expertise of a number of professionals. These include a Real Estate Lawyer, and in most cases, an experienced Home Inspector. Sometimes you’ll need other inspectors (electrical, structural, well/septic, or other). And, of course you’ll be working closely with either a Mortgage Broker or a bank lender (ask me why a Mortgage Broker is the preferred option!).
But don’t worry if you don’t know people who work in these professions. I will provide you with recommendations of trusted partners throughout the process. These are professionals who my clients have worked with before with great success. For those relocating through BGRS, many of my recommendations are on the BGRS list, and some are CAF veterans.
The main thing you’ll need funds for is the downpayment. The curent minimum for a downpayment is 5% of the purchase price, though there are rules that allow downpayment funds to come from gifts from certain family members. You can also use funds from your RRSPs, if your situation meets the required criteria. Your mortgage broker is going to be the best person to explain all of these details.
Beyond your downpayment, plan to set aside at least 2% of the value of your home to cover the other costs of making the purchase.
Some of these costs will be incurred early in the process, like home inspections, other required inspections, or the purchase of a Condominium Status Certificate (for condos only).
Others get paid by you at/just before you close on the home. These include legal fees, disbursements (things that your lawyer pays out on your behalf), Land Transfer Tax, Title Insurance, PST on mortgage default insurance (if applicable), and possibly appraisal fees.
The full details of these costs, and much more, are included in my Ottawa Home Buyers’ Guide.
No, you certainly don’t need the help of a Realtor when you’re buying new construction through a Sales Centre, but having one won’t, in most cases, cost you anything. Most builders cooperate with Real Estate Brokerages, and for the Buyer, it really can help to have someone there who understands the process, has seen the paperwork before, and knows the questions to ask to get you the information that is actually important to you. New home salespeople are really good at what they do. That’s why there is a mandatory cooling off period for new-home sales in Ontario (5 days for freehold homes, 10 days for condominiums).
Whether you're already 100% sure of what you want, or you're still working to define what your next home should be, I've developed a plan to get you from here to home with ease.
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