5 people you must meet before you buy a house

Buying a house is a big decision. Probably among the biggest you'll ever make. Learn more about the home-buying process and the 5 people you must meet before signing on the dotted line.

Yes, that's right. You. You're the first person you’ll "meet" on the path to homeownership. Ask yourself why you’re in the market for a new home or condo. Take time to assess your budget. Then see what you can cut out to make room for mortgage payments. Check your credit reports and score to get more info on your specific financial situation. If you have an accountant, sit down with him or her if you need more help.

The next step toward owning your own home is to meet with a qualified mortgage lender. Don’t make this decision lightly: finding the right lender is crucial for finding the perfect financing options for your home.

• A qualified, experienced lender will review your specific financial situation and present the options available to you as a homebuyer.
• Your lender will also know the most about the latest mortgage rules and regulations to keep you on track.

What's more, your lending expert will also help to secure you pre-approval to aid your home search. Pre-approval from your bank means that they vouch for your ability to pay for houses in a particular price range.

• Having pre-approval documents from your bank will make your offers competitive and convincing.

Finding the perfect realtor can make your home buying process simple, fast and effective. Choosing a local realtor will give you valuable insight into specific neighbourhoods and pricing trends.

• With a trusted realtor on your side, you also benefit from the skills of a savvy negotiator. They’ve cut their teeth on making the best deals for clients. Now they’re ready to do the same for you.

Once you’ve narrowed down the search and found the perfect property, the next step is to schedule a thorough pre-purchase home inspection. This is an important part of the home buying process because it gives you valuable insight into the structure of the home and reveals problems not visible to the naked eye.

• With the home inspection report, you and your realtor can leverage the best deal possible.

Although you may never meet the current homeowner face to face, he or she is a lynchpin in the home buying process. Ultimately, you and your realtor will present an offer to the current homeowner who will accept or decline it.

• With careful guidance from everyone you meet in your home buying journey, you’ll be poised to present a fair offer that you can truly afford.

Home ownership is one of the best investments you can make. Get inspired, browse listings in your favourite neighbourhood and contact a trusted lender soon to begin the process!