I watched an interview recently on Global's morning show with Real Estate lawyer Mark Weisleder where he explained why he thinks it's a good time to buy a home. Mark also gave some advice to help first time home buyers make the right decisions when buying a home. I agree with Mark's advice, I often share the same tips with my clients and thought I would share them with you as well:

1. Crunch some numbers - Before you even start to look at homes, talk to  mortgage broker  or even a REALTOR® you need to get an idea of what you can afford. This way you avoid the disappointment of falling in love with a home that's over your budget. If the numbers don't look so good then you have the opportunity to create a savings plan and work towards homeownership.

2. Research the neighbourhood - This is an area where you'll be spending a lot of time so make sure it fits your lifestyle.

3. Do a Home Inspection - I always recommend that buyers do a home inspection because you never know what you'll find out. A home inspection will allow you to be fully informed about the state of your possible new home. If repairs are needed (and some are usually expected) it gives you the opportunity to either walk away or plan for the repairs.

4. Focus on the Home and NOT the finishing’s - Nice finishing’s often grab buyer's attention and pull their focus away from the home itself. Focus on what it is about the home that you CAN'T change i.e. location, the size of the yard etc. You have the ability to change the finishing’s in your home but not the location for example, so make sure you still love the home regardless of the finishing’s.

If you follow this advice you can hopefully avoid unnecessary stress and disappointment while buying your first home. It should be an exciting time! Click here to watch Mark's interview. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about the Barrie real estate market or this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

Sincerely,

Peggy Hill