Buying a home in Toronto takes time, work, and careful planning. Below are a few steps to buying a house that’ll streamline the process.
Where you live has an impact on your lifestyle, and it’s also one of the most significant criteria of home value. Choice of location is sometimes limited by the price you can afford, but it is still important to consider factors such as commute to work, schools, family, shopping, and entertainment.
If you’ve already answered the most important millennial age question of all – can I afford to buy a home? – then you can consider how much you have to spend buying a home, and just as importantly, how much you want to spend. Note that buying a home in Ontario includes numerous additional expenses above and beyond the list price.
Is it important for you to have an ensuite bathroom, an attached garage, or a private backyard? Would you like a fireplace, a short commute, or maybe minimal work? Once you decide which features you would like, then it’s time to prioritize the list.
You should consider what type of property you would like to live in. A single-family detached home is desirable to many because it typically provides more living space and land. Alternatively, a condominium may be a more appropriate choice, since Toronto condos offer low-maintenance living. It is important to determine what types of Toronto homes for sale best suit your budget and desired lifestyle.
A Toronto real estate agent can help by using a variety of tools to identify Toronto luxury homes for sale that meet your requirements. One such tool is the local Toronto Real Estate Board’s MLS® (Multiple Listing Service®) System. MLS can be searched for Toronto luxury real estate listings that best match your requirements such as location and budget.
Once you decide to view a property, keep your requirements in mind, i.e. does it have all the features you want, does the location work for your lifestyle, etc.
Also keep technical considerations in mind, such as: wiring, power outlets, heating, foundation and roof maintenance, windows, plumbing etc. Home inspections can provide an assessment of the technical aspects of a property, so it’s a good idea to have a professional inspection performed.
After settling on one of the luxury homes in Toronto you’ve researched and viewed, your agent can put together an offer. The offer will include the price you are willing to pay, expiration of the offer, a closing date for the purchase of the home, and conditions for the purchase. Some commonly included conditions are:
A deposit is given along with an offer. A deposit of appropriate value will show your good faith to the seller.
Once an offer is accepted and all conditions are met, the offer becomes binding on both sides. If either party then does not honour the agreement, they can be sued or the deposit lost; therefore before signing, be sure that you fully comprehend all the terms of the offer.
Before the property can formally be handed over from the seller to the buyer, a few more things must be done. You will have to show proof of insurance to the institution that provided your mortgage. On or before closing day, the lawyers from both sides will arrange to transfer the property title from the seller to the buyer. The mortgage will be transferred to your lawyer’s trust account, and then to the seller. Your lawyer will bill you all additional expenses such as land transfer taxes or outstanding legal fees. Also be sure to check with your lawyer that everything is as stated in the offer-to-purchase.
Once this is complete and the keys are in your hands, then the home is yours!
Buying a house is associated with some extra expenses, such as:
We offer you a free home evaluation to get you started.