"If you're thinking about buying a home, this page is for you! Entering the real estate market is a great way to build wealth and prepare for your future." 

- Nicholas Obal

I'm truly passionate about helping people make their real estate dreams a reality. I'm equally passionate about helping people make smart real estate decisions, so that they are blessed by their real estate portfolio - not burdened by it. Doing so requires thoughtful planning and preparation, but it's easy to begin right now!

How-to Prepare (as a first-time buyer):

1) Assess Your Finances, Prepare A Personal Budget

Now, I know this may be intimidating for some, but knowing what your money is doing matters! In short, you want to know your income (how much money you make) and expenses (how much money you spend), then find ways to spend less than you make! This way, you'll be able to set aside a healthy down payment for your future home purchase. 

2) Obtain Mortgage Pre-Approval

Once you've started saving for your home purchase, a great idea is to speak with a mortgage broker to understand how much home you can purchase. A mortgage, or loan you borrow for the purchase of your home, is provided by a lender based on your creditworthiness (ability to borrow money). Factors such as your income, down payment and monthly payments will be assessed - thank goodness you have a personal budget to help you understand where you stand! Check out our Mortgage Affordability Calculator to get ahead, too.

3) Set Your Property Criteria

Now that you know your price range, it's time to think about the type of home you want to purchase. Do you want the comforts of the city, or have more space outside of town? Are you looking to buy a detached house, condominium apartment, townhome or other property type? What are your must-haves, and what are your wants? There are many options to choose from, so it's always best to work with a Realtor® who can help you sort through and organize your options. Your search begins! 

First-Time Home Buyer’s Credit (FTHBC) is a government program intended to reduce costs associated with purchasing a home. As a first time buyer, you are eligible for a 15% income tax credit on a maximum of $5,000 of home purchase costs such as legal fees and land transfer taxes. It can be claimed for the taxation year that you acquired the house.

You are considered to be a first time buyer if neither you and your spouse or common-law partner has owned and lived in another home in the year of the purchase or in any of the four previous years.  

Find your first home using the smart listings search.