Megann Willson's blog

In normal times, first-time homeowners will start holding housewarming parties, or barbecues, or other gatherings, to show off their home and garden. You may even have been invited to some of these. Now that we are entering stage three, and people are cautiously gathering again, you might get invited to one of these in the near future. Look closely at your friend or neighbour - notice how proud they look when they show you their new place?

Call a Realtor®? Talk to your lender? Both of these are important steps for first-time home buyers. But the truth is, they aren't the first step. The first step is to do your homework. Read. Research. Learn. 

After just a few days, with some clients, I'll get a question: "Should we add more neighbourhoods?" This is almost as challenging as the response "I'm happy to look anywhere". 

These days, houses and condos in the GTA are going for unheard-of prices. Many agents are setting up situations to force bidding wars, with many buyers at the table at once, all competing in a flurry of emotion, and with the winner emerging having paid a high sum of money, with few, if any, conditions. If you're a buyer purchasing your first home or your next home, how can you possibly make the next step, if it seems to be set impossibly high?

You've been searching fo rmore space. You've decided it's time to try home ownership. You've done your research, found a place, and now you're ready to submit an offer. In fact, you've seen a couple of places. Can you put an offer in on both of them, and see which one gets accepted? In short, no. Let's explore why not!

I'm frequently provided with "wish lists" by buyers or tenants who are moving from one city to another. Therte's almost always the same problem (in fact, as someone who's made multiple cross-country moves myself, I've had this problem myself). It's this: you really can't export your idea of "normal", "special" or "acceptable" from one city or town to another.

This week I firmed a purchase for a condo client of mine - and it came right down to the wire in terms of timing! There were conditions to be cleared, and lots of advice was required.