Starting the Process 

How Much Can You Afford

Before you start looking for a home, you should figure out how much of a home you can afford.  Most people will need to borrow money in the form a mortgage to finance their purchase.  You should discuss with your bank or another lender how much they would be prepared to lend you for your home purchase.  One of the major factors in their decision will be your ability to service the debt.  Before you decide to make an offer on a home, it is sensible to obtain a pre-approval of a mortgage from your bank.

 Working with Your Real Estate Agent

Most purchasers work with a real estate agent to assist them in finding the right home for them.  An experienced agent will help you identify your needs and then save you loads of time by using your criteria to filter through numerous home listings.  You may work directly with a vendor’s agent or you can get an agent of your own.  Most of the time the agent’s commission is paid from the vendor’s proceeds of the sale.  However, there might be a cost involved to you directly if you hire an agent to work exclusively for you in finding and securing a home purchase.  It is best to be absolutely clear with your agent from the start about who will be paying the real estate commission.