“Hunting” is an adventure, fun, and joyful outdoor activity. But, when it’s “House Hunting,” the scenario changed, didn’t it? Like every house hunter, you need to consider the main house hunting tips – primary and minor factors – to find the best house in your desired neighborhood. When you are new to house hunting, you might need help from someone to seal the deal with a better negotiation.
Sometimes, the best way to find a home in Canada is to let a realtor do the work for you. Besides this, you need to check some essential factors and should proceed in a planned way to get the best deal done for you.
Don’t worry. I am here to help you out. 🙂
Now, it’s time to reveal those facts you should know before house hunting here in Canada.
A simple definition for you – Finding a house to buy or rent. In other words, the activity related to finding a home for buying is known as house hunting.
Research what type of neighborhood you would like to live in. Determine the type of house you want (single-family, townhouse, condo). Many different neighborhood options are there across Canada, each with its unique feel. You might not want to live in rural Nova Scotia if you want an urban lifestyle.
In Canada, the tax rate varies from province to province. It ranges from 5% to 15%. You can check the tax rates for each province and territory here.
One of these factors is the living cost, which is the amount of money you spend on food, transportation, and other necessities. It varies from province to province in Canada.
According to Canadabuzz, the average living cost is $1702 for one person and $3911 for a 4-person family. If you need to check the cost of living in Canada by province, click here. And to learn about the minimum cost of living across Canada, read this article.
Utility cost is actually a sub-point of living cost. Then your question is, why did I separate this point as a factor? Well, you will find significant differences from province to province if your budget is average or lower than average.
Check out the school’s area so you can make an educated decision on where to live based on your children’s needs. In addition, you need to know the proximity to your work. You should choose a house that allows you to balance your career with future moves or errands daily.
Plus, consider your commute time for everyday errands and how much you will be able to spend on gas each week.
The age of your future home is a significant factor. Why? Since you had to consider the cost of future maintenance and repairs when fixing the price. So, keep an eye on that.
House hunting is a process that involves looking for the right house in the perfect location. The size of the house, its location, province, facilities, and opportunities will significantly affect the price. For example, homes in urban areas are more expensive than those in rural areas.
The type of neighborhood you choose will depend on your lifestyle and what you are looking for in a community. Some people want to live in an urban center, while others prefer suburban or rural living.
Neighborhoods & neighbors are the external factors that contribute to your home’s comfort, safety, and happiness. It might be uncomfortable for you if your neighbor’s values and norms differ from yours.
It would help if you researched yourself to get ideas about everything around house hunting. Features, asking price, down payment, and different statistics are waiting for your attention. 🙂
You can match homes with your budget here using desired filter options –
Some people tend to rush into the purchase without doing enough research. They may regret it later as they didn’t consider all their options. It is also essential to consider how much they are willing to spend and how long they intend to stay on the property before making a final decision.
Also, ensure you don’t fall into some common pitfalls when purchasing property in Canada. Here are a few mistakes that might cause you problems in the future:
As a Canadian citizen, you have a wide variety of housing options. But, it would be best if you had a guide on which one to choose, what factors you should consider, how & where to begin, what to offer, etc.
It can be challenging to know where to start as a house hunter. Anyone with house hunting tips will get a head-start on purchasing or renting a property in Canada.
If you’re new here in Canada, these go-to tips for your house hunting. It can be overwhelming to consider so many factors when buying a house –
Knowing your budget is the most crucial point of your house hunting process. As a Canadian homebuyer, you must align your expectations and budget first. Otherwise, you will lose money due to additional costs after purchasing and higher living expenses.
If you have just started house hunting or are about to start, you might not have a clear idea of the additional cost. Therefore, please consider the following additional costs-
If you are considering Ontario, 2 articles you should read:
People who proceed without proper planning might miss some major aspects of their requirements. That is why you need an appropriate plan for every step of house hunting. And you should prioritize your requirements based on your budget and future needs. Keep your significant needs ahead of your minor needs by adjusting your minor needs.
Checking the safety issues of your desired property is a must. What if you forgot to check that? It is a mess. Because of this, you should maintain a detailed checklist to check every component. And most importantly, you can ensure “No Missing.”
Find a house hunting checklist for homebuyers here.
Find the best agent for you who is an expert on the neighborhoods you like. It’s essential to find someone who knows how to negotiate. Choose an agent who is patient, friendly, and knowledgeable about areas close to home or work.
Here is the catch, you need to be very clear about the market of the home buying process. If not, then you might be in a daunting situation.
To do that, you need to acquire updated knowledge of the market, like – when the price goes up and down, how to win the deal with a minimum price, and which property is potential enough in the future.
Make sure you visit each property in person before making an offer, as this will help you better understand what each one has to offer. You can also hire a home inspecting expert to check the exterior, interior, mold issues, foundation quality, community, culture, light, air facility, etc.
People are increasingly looking for cheaper housing options. It is not a good idea to go blindly for the lowest price. My suggestion to you is – to prioritize your long-term requirements. Not the short-term. Most people buy 1 house within their lifespan.
So, be wise to make an offer considering future additional costs and living costs.
If the seller accepts the offers, then seal the deal. Before final signing, you should check all the documents and legal papers with the help of your lawyer.
Well-rounded people always keep Plan B in their plans. Even keeping Plan C is safer. So, when looking for home try to go and see as many options as possible that fit your criteria. It will help you to choose the best option “Available” for you later on.
I hope you got enough information on house hunting. So, it’s time to plan, consider the factors, and create a detailed checklist to proceed.
Pretty sure you will find your dream house. I wish you good luck!
Don’t forget to DM this article link with your friends and family who are on the road of house hunting.
Happy house hunting!
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