This is such an exciting time! But it can also feel scary and overwhelming so let me help make it easier and less stressful for you. First time buyers will usually have more questions than people who have purchased real estate previously. Buying a home is not a simple process especially when you are not familiar with it. You may not know what price range of properties you can look at, what mortgage payments you can afford, or how the general home buying process works. As a first time buyer I ALWAYS recommend getting to a bank or seeing a mobile mortgage specialist as soon as possible to determine your spending power and what you are comfortable with paying each month. They can ‘pre-approve’ you which is the first step in getting you an affordable home to get you started in the market.
I can provide the answers to your questions and walk you through the entire process, from getting pre-approved (the most important first step after you contact me) to viewing potential homes to making an offer. Although buying your first home can be overwhelming, you can be confident that I will be available to help you every step of the way and am here to answer any and all questions…often before you even think to ask them. Having a real estate agent that is willing to answer all of your questions is important and if I do not know the answer I will find out or direct you to who can get you the information. This is the same commitment I make to all my first time buyers, and anyone that I work with.
There are many reasons a person should buy a home, but the most common are:
It is a great investment. With the overall increase in Vancouver Island real estate and the limited amount of rental properties on our Island, it is important to get into the market as soon as you can. It is smart to get your foot on the first rung of the property ladder. Chances are you will not be able to start out by buying your dream home, but it is the first step in advancing to that dream and to build some equity to put towards your next home.
Two out of three Canadian families own a home-which is one of the highest rates of home ownership in the world.
You don’t have to worry about getting kicked out or having your monthly payments increased suddenly and permanently. You lock in your monthly payments for several years and your house will generally get more valuable over that time.
Don’t forget pride and comfort in owning your own home. You can customize it however you want and can do what you want inside your own home!
There are some incentives for first time home buyers in BC that helps you qualify for refunds on the BC land transfer tax. You can find more info here.
If you are someone that is interested in getting involved into the Vancouver Island real estate market and buying your first home I would be happy to work with you and make the process as simple as possible. For additional information on buying a home in Victoria or the surrounding area contact me anytime.
