As I’m starting a new week, we had a few emails asking us what to look for when deciding to purchase a home in Vancouver. After some thoughts, I’d referred them to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and the following tips below:

“Are you ready to buy?

You should already have saved some of your down payment and you should be good at managing debt like credit cards or student loans. A mortgage is a financial responsibility that also requires constant upkeep.

Decide how much you can afford

Use this simple equation to consider what you can expect after you’ve saved for your down payment. The cost of buying a home = one time costs (down payment, legal fees, inspection fees and taxes) + monthly costs (mortgage, utilities, maintenance, insurance and property taxes).

Decide what you want to buy

First, decide where you want to live (urban, suburban, rural) and then decide which neighbourhood suits you best and what type of home (detached, attached or apartment) you want. Whether or not the property is new or resale may also affect your costs. See the Dream Home Checklist for more information.

Find the right REALTOR®

There are many ways to find a REALTOR®: drive through neighbourhoods that interest you and jot down names, go to open houses, look at advertising, ask friends and family if they have worked with a REALTOR® they like. Interview two or three and pick the one you like best. Find a REALTOR®.

See what’s out there

REALTORS® run an incredible search tool called the Multiple Listings Service® (MLS® for short) which contains information on property listings. Your REALTOR® can send you listings that fit your criteria and together, you can draw up a short list and visit a handful of homes to make an informed and wise decision. You can also view listings here.

Sell your current home

It’s the age-old question, do I sell my home before I buy, or do I buy my new home before I sell? It’s natural to want to buy your new home first so you have the security of knowing where you’ll be living. But there are advantages to selling first, buying later:”