Buying a home is most likely the biggest investment you will make in your life and there are lots of things to consider during the process. Where should you buy? What price range should you look at? When should you make a move? These are just some of questions I’ve helped many of my buyer clients figure out and this article helps answer those and more to help you feel more confident in the journey.

Let’s start with timing. First, you need to have enough saved up for your downpayment and have a preapproval in place from your lender. There is no point in getting hooked on a home that you can’t buy quite yet. You might also want to consider market conditions and even time of year; for example, there can be more inventory for you to choose from in the spring than in the middle of summer.

Now it’s time to figure out what you really need in a home. Do you want to start with a condo to get your foot in the door of homeownership? Do you need a “move-in ready” property or are prepared to take on some renovations? Do you want a yard to satisfy your green-thumb? Do you need a space to work from home?

We will spend some time assessing your needs when it comes to layout, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, available parking and many more factors that will be important to determine what properties we will take a look. I have an excellent blog to help you discover your actual needs versus your wants which will be a great help to narrow down our search.

Once we get our foot in the door of some properties, you might find that your perceptions change. Seeing various features and layouts in person will really help nail down the reality of what is available in your price range and what options you have. Be prepared to move quickly, especially in a market like Calgary is seeing right now, as homes have been flying off the shelf!

Prepare yourself for what the actual buying process looks like so you confident and comfortable to proceed through a transaction. My Buyer Journey blog is an awesome tool that walks you through exactly what to expect from putting in an offer to removing conditions to closing. Knowledge is power and can take so much stress out of the process, allowing you to focus on the things that really matter to you and your family.

Finally, I want you to know that you are not alone in this. I will be with you every step of the way – to answer your questions, find suitable properties for you and to protect you in the actual transaction…I have your back! Visit me on Facebook and Google for more information on buying in Calgary and for other, awesome real estate info.