If you're considering buying your first home you may be wondering where to start. The fact that you're on this web site shows that you're inclined to use Internet for research for new home buyers information, most likely for London or St Thomas, Komoka, Kilworth Ontario, Canada or the Middlesex and Elgin counties area. However a word of caution! The Internet can be a wonderful tool, however it has become heavily commercialized and therefore as a result of this the results one gets for complex inquiries can result in conflicting and overwhelming information. Inquiries on a search engine for key words such as first-time home buyer package, new home information , first-time buyer information etc. are good examples of overwhelming or conflicting information. Keeping in mind the source of your information is always the most basic way of determining if there's a bias in information. The adage that free advice is usually worth what you pay for it may often apply. For example, I have been on internet forums for real estate where the question was asked "Is it normal for a realtor to offer a buyer a rebate ?" The people who answered this question were realtors for the most part. Their answers suggested that only a desperate or new agent would offer real estate buyer rebates. Even the moderator of the form jumped in to the discussion to make his opinion known that real estate agents work hard and deserve all the commission they can get and basically suggesting that such was not a good idea and a poor way to find a good agent. Although I agree that most real estate agents work far harder and longer hours than most people suspect or quite frankly care and as such do deserve for the most part all of the commission the marketplace will bear( likely this would apply to you as well). Real estate and technology is changing at an ever accelerating rate and there is always the other side of the argument . To help you with some basic information and to help you to get to know me(Jim Straughan) I'm putting together some free information and links to help get you started on your first home buying journey. Strategies For First Time Home Buyers - Getting Started Table of contents(click here) 1, Answers to some frequently asked questions 2. Glossary of common real estate terms 3. Diagram of the financing process 4. Canada mortgage and housing(CMHC) premiums and fees 5. Land transfer tax information 6. Estimated buyer cost worksheet 7. House hunting worksheet 8 Much more to come , so check back for updates and additions ! As always feel free to e-mail or call and I'll answer any real estate related questions you may have . www.straughan.ca |