Buyer Information

Determine what you can afford top

• Purchasing a home involves one-time costs and monthly expenses.
• The largest one-time cost is the down payment. It usually represents between 5-25% of the total price of the property.
• In addition to the actual purchase price, there are a number of other expenses that you might be expected to pay for.
  These are listed below:

Typical One-time Expenses

Other costs may include landscaping, redecorating, furnishings, appliances and repairs.

Typical monthly costs incurred with home ownership are mortgage payments, maintenance, insurance, condo fees, property taxes and utilities.

Understanding market conditions top

The real estate market is always changing. It helps to understand how market conditions can affect your position as a buyer.

Obtain a pre-approved mortgage top

Having a pre-approved mortgage will give you the confidence of knowing exactly what you can spend on a home before you start looking. You will also be protected against interest rate increases while you look for your new home.

Your Mortgage Specialist will answer your questions and help you determine which financing terms and options are right for you. Your Mortgage Specialist and Real Estate Professional work as a team to help you find the right home and select the best financing.

Finalizing Your Mortgage

Once you've found the home you want to purchase, there are some documents you'll probably be asked for in order to finalize your financing. They will include:

1. A copy of the real estate listing of the property. If the home is still to be built, the mortgage lender will need to see the architect's or builder's plans and details on lot size and location.
2. A copy of the offer to purchase or the building contract, if this document has been prepared.
3. Documents to confirm employment, income and source of pre-approval.

If you have a pre-approved mortgage, it's a simple matter of finalizing a few details which your Mortgage Specialist will explain to you.

The major elements of an offer top

1. Price
Depending on the local market conditions, your opinion of value and market information provided by your Oliver and Associate Professional, the price you offer may be different from the seller's asking price.

2. Deposit
The deposit shows your good faith and will be applied against the purchase of the home when the sale closes. Your Oliver and Associate Professional can advise you on an appropriate amount.

3. Terms
Includes the total price offered and the financing details. You may arrange your own financing or ask to assume the seller's mortgage, especially if it has an attractive interest rate.

4. Conditions
These might include "subject to home inspection", "subject to you obtaining financing", or "subject to you selling your property".

5. Inclusions and Exclusions
These might include appliances and certain fixtures or decorative items, such as window coverings or mirrors.

6. Closing or Possession Date
Generally, the day the title of the property is legally transferred and the transaction of funds finalized unless otherwise specified (except in Manitoba and Quebec). Note: In British Columbia the Possession Date is legally 1 to 3 days after closing.

How to make an offer top

When it comes time to make an offer, your Oliver and Associates Professional can provide current market information and will assist you in drafting your offer.

Your Oliver and Associates Professional will communicate the offer, sometimes known as an Offer to Purchase* to the seller, or the seller's representative, on your behalf. Sometimes there may be more than one offer on a property coming in at the same time. Your Oliver and Associates Professional can guide you through this process.

*Offer to Purchase: a legal document which specified the terms and conditions of your offer to purchase the home.

The offer can be firm or conditional.

Firm Offer to Purchase: usually preferable to the seller, because it means that you are prepared to purchase the home without any conditions. If the offer is accepted, the home is yours.

Conditional Offer to Purchase: means that you have placed one or more conditions on the purchase, such as "subject to home inspection", "subject to financing" or "subject to sale of buyer's existing home". The home is not sold until all the conditions have been met.

*In the province of Quebec, this is referred to as a "Promise to Purchase".

Acceptance of the Offer

Your Offer to Purchase will be presented as soon as possible. The seller may accept the offer, reject it, or submit a counteroffer. The counteroffer may be in reference to the price, the closing date, or any number of variables. The offers can go back and forth until both parties have agreed or one of you ends the negotiations.

Hire a legal professional top

A legal professional is there to represent your interests and to process the legal documentation required. Your Oliver and Associates Professional can provide you with the names of legal professionals who specialize in real estate.

The legal process differs from province to province. Your Oliver and Associates Professional or legal professional will advise you on the steps to be taken before the keys to your new home are presented to you.

Have the home inspected top

Buying a home is one of the most important investment decisions you will make in your lifetime. As such, it makes sound financial sense to enlist the services of a qualified home inspection company to ensure your home is as solid and secure on the inside as it is on the outside.

A home inspection will determine the structural and mechanical soundness of your home. Your home inspector will identify existing and potential problem areas, suggest practical low-cost solutions, and provide estimates regarding costs for any work required. Shortly after the inspection has taken place, a report summarizing the findings is generally provided to the potential purchaser.

By commissioning a home inspection prior to purchase, you're protecting both yourself and your investment, as well as buying a little peace-of-mind.

Home inspection costs often range according to size, age, and location of the home. Your Oliver and Associates sales representative can recommend a reputable home inspection service or arrange for a home inspector to visit your property.

Home owners insurance top

When you purchase a home, consider how you will protect your investment.

Homeowner's Insurance

Most mortgage lenders insist on fire insurance coverage at least equal to the loan amount or the building value, whichever is less. You should also consider a homeowner's policy that combines fire insurance on the building and its contents with personal liability coverage. Consult your general insurance agent or broker for professional advice on home insurance.

Mortgage Life Insurance

When lenders refer to mortgage insurance, they're referring to coverage that's provided by CHMC or MICC for a high ratio mortgage. Mortgage life insurance (MLI) is inexpensive coverage on your life which protects your family or beneficiaries by paying off your outstanding mortgage in the event of your death. For just pennies a day, you will have peace of mind knowing your beneficiaries will be mortgage free. MLI premiums are based on two factors: your age and mortgage amount. Your premium is added to your mortgage payment so there's no extra paperwork, and it remains the same until your mortgage is paid off. Joint coverage for spouses is also available.

Disability Insurance

Disability Insurance is important if your mortgage payments depend entirely or in part on your income. Disability insurance provides replacement income if an accident or illness prevents you from working.

Job Loss Mortgage Insurance

Recently insurance companies have started to offer Job Loss Mortgage Insurance. This insurance covers the mortgage payments in the event that you involuntarily lose your job.

Title Insurance

Title Insurance is no fault insurance with no deductible and is bought usually at the time of purchase of a home (although it can be acquired on existing property after the fact, but at a dramatically higher premium), and is for all future years of ownership of a particular residence. It does NOT require annual renewals which is typical of all other types of insurance. The policy covers the homeowners quality of title, protecting against losses of damages that might be suffered as a result of unknown liens, including frauds or forgeries that might arise in the chain of title, both before and after the title policy has been issued.

Land transfer taxes top

Purchasers in most large Canadian centres can add Land Transfer Taxes to their list of closing costs.

Unless you live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or rural Nova Scotia, land transfer taxes (or property purchase tax) are a basic fact of life. These taxes, levied on properties that are changing hands, are the responsibility of the purchaser. Depending on where you live, taxes can range from a half a per cent to two per cent of the total value of the property.

Many provinces have multi-tiered taxation systems that can prove complicated. If you purchase a property for $260,000 in Ontario, for example, .5 per cent is charged on the first $55,000, 1 per cent is charged on $55,000 - $250,000, while the $250,000 - $400,000 range is taxed at 1.5 per cent. Your total tax bill? $2,375.00. The following chart illustrates Land Transfer Taxes by province.

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Property Purchase Tax
Up to $200,000 X 1 % of total property value
From $200,000 up X 2 % of total property value

MANITOBA
Land Transfer Tax
Up to $30,000 N/A
From $30,000 to $90,000 X .5 % of total property value
From $90,000 to $150,000 X 1 % of total property value
From $150,000 up X 1.5 % of total property value

ONTARIO
Land Transfer Tax
Up to $55,000 X .5 % of total property value
From $55,000 to $250,000 X 1 % of total property value
From $250,000 to $400,000 X 1.5 % of total property value
From $400,000 up X 2 % of total property value

QUEBEC
Transfer Tax
Up to $50,000 X .5 % of total property value
From $50,000 to $250,000 X 1 % of total property value
From $250,000 up X 1.5 % of total property

NOVA SCOTIA
Land Transfer Tax
Halifax County Regional Municipality
.015 per cent on total property value
Outside Halifax County
.005 per cent on total property value or nothing

Some moving tips top

Use the helpful checklist as a reminder of the things you need to do before you move.

Book the movers. You can choose to have the movers pack everything, or just the breakables, or you can pack yourself. It's a good idea to obtain estimates from several different companies.

IF YOU OWN YOUR PRESENT HOME:

- Arrange to have our gas, water, and electric meters read on the day you leave and have the bills forwarded to your new address.
- Have your oil tank read and filled before your sale closes, and provide a receipt to your legal professional if required.
- If the water heater or furnace is rented, arrange for a transfer of the rental agreement to the purchaser.
- Disconnect your telephone, cable TV, and water softener.

IF YOU RENT YOUR PRESENT HOME:

- Give necessary written notice to your landlord and make arrangements for the return of any monies you have on deposit.

AT YOUR "NEW" HOME:

- Make arrangements for the gas and electric utilities, water softener, telephone and cable TV to be connected on the day the sale closes.

GENERAL:

- Get "Change of Address" cards from the post office and send out well before moving day.
- Have the post office forward your mail to your new address.
- Cancel any contracted services and pre-authorized cheques.
- Inform gardening, dry cleaning, garbage pickup, newspapers, magazines, diaper and other home services. Arrange for service at your new address.
- Obtain a letter of introduction from your current branch to help establish new accounts. Transfer trust or bank accounts and securities.
- Cancel or transfer social, athletic, civic, religious or business affiliations and memberships.
- Arrange for transfer of medical, dental, prescription and optical records.
- Change the address on your driver's license(s) effective the day of the move.
- Collect all items out for cleaning, repair or storage. e.g. fur coats, dry cleaning.
- Make special arrangements for the moving of perishables, such as plants.
- Make special arrangements for the moving of your pets.
- Dispose safely of all flammable liquids as it is illegal for movers to carry them.

AFTER YOU'VE MOVED IN

Low Energy, BIG Savings

Fuel costs are making pro-active conservation smarter.

The Canadian housing market, to put it bluntly, has legs that just don't quite: Low interest rates and strong consumer confidence have contributed to powerful demands for both houses and renovations. At the same time as buyers are forming conga lines to snap up their dream home, the cost of heating and cooling the dream home is climbing steeply. The good news, however, is that there are lots of measures that can help contain energy bills, and those that take the initiative, may be eligible for a helping hand. The federal government has a couple of conservation programs that can give homeowners and edge in the face of fuel price increases. Given that almost 20 percent of all energy in Canada is residential, there's plenty of reason to focus on individual improvements.

First, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation can ensure that if you purchase an energy efficient home- or renovate a new or existing one to reduce energy consumption- you stand to qualify for a 10 percent refund on you mortgage loan insurance premium. Another benefit is the extension of the amortization period from 25 years to a maximum of 35 years, which can considerably trim monthly payments. The primary step is to get an accredited EnerGuide assessment of your home. This process tests the structure and identifies areas where energy is being wasted. That's followed up with a list of recommendations for improvements, and an annual estimate of energy consumption and an assigned rating The cost of the evaluation is around $300, but that amount is typically recouped by implementing some of the most basic recommendations. Furthermore, those who proceed with some of the bigger ticket repairs and upgrades qualify to get a portion of the capital outlay reimbursed by Ottawa- the amount depending on the relative improvement in energy efficiency. (The average rebate is $650 plus an additional $100 if energy-efficient equipment is installed).

Houses that are over 25 years old, can typically save 35 percent of their energy use through retrofitting. If a house is over 50 years old, the savings could range as high as 38 percent. In addition to improving the quality of windows and making them as airtight as possible (one third of the heat in a home can escape through leaky windows) and installing energy efficient water heaters and insulating them. There are some smaller every day steps that, just through awareness, can save on household bills.

Sounds basic, but just turning off lights can be a big deal: lighting accounts for a surprisingly high 16 percent of every homes electricity consumption. Although you probably don't want to replace all your light bulbs with fluorescent tube, they do use 75 percent less power and last 8 times longer. When it comes to buying new appliances for a new or newly renovated home, the energuide program offers guidance in the form of energy-efficient rating.

Some other points to consider,

STOVES- with self-cleaning ovens are more energy efficient overall because they have more insulation.

CONVECTION OVENS-are more energy efficient because of the air circulation and faster cooking times.

CONVENTIONAL BURNERS- require more energy than induction or halogen cook tops.

DISHWASHERS- with a "not heat" dry option, allows you to use air rather than power to dry dishes. Buy a model that uses the least amount of water.

FRONT LOAD WASHING MACHINES-use 40 percent less water and can save $100 a year in energy, water, and detergent costs.

SIDE-BY-SIDE REFRIGERATORS- use more energy than those with a freezer at the top of the unit, but bottom freezers are more efficient. Models with built-in ice and water dispensers also guzzle more energy.

CHEST FREEZERS- are more efficient than up-right models because the cold air stays inside when the lid is opened.

The number one energy consumer in a household, by far, is the hot water heater. Wrapping it in an insulating blanket can save as much as 10 percent in water heating costs. If your prepared to take it further, a heat pump water heater (which transfers heat from surrounding air or ground, into water in the tank) can save as much as 50 to 60 percent on hot water bills-even more if the cool air it produces is recycled to supplement air conditioning through a waste heat recovery unit. Finally when it comes to furnaces, a standard forced-air gas furnace wastes about 20 cents of every fuel dollar, and for older models it can run as high as 35 cents on the dollar. By contrast high efficiency furnaces have an annual fuel utilization rate that usually runs around 90 percent. In the end, it'll never be cheaper to run a household. But spending to save has never been a more viable strategy.

Sympatico/MSN Finance
August 19th 2005
Deirdre McMurdy