10 Step Guide to Buying Your Home
10 Steps to Buying a Home with
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking for your next dream home, the process can feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be. is here to guide you every step of the way.
Step 1: Is Buying the Right Move?
Choosing to buy a home is a big decision. To help you weigh your options, here are some key questions to consider when deciding between buying and renting.
How does buying build equity?
Each mortgage payment increases your ownership in the property. Rent, on the other hand, goes toward your landlord’s equity.
What are the upfront costs?
Buying requires a down payment, plus closing costs like legal fees, inspections, and land transfer tax. Renting typically involves a security deposit and the first month’s rent, making it cheaper upfront.
Who takes care of maintenance and repairs?
Homeowners are responsible for repairs and upkeep. Renters rely on their landlords for maintenance and property issues.
How does each option affect financial risk and stability?
Owning means long-term stability and control over your space, but it comes with market and interest rate risks. Renting offers flexibility and fewer financial responsibilities, but less control over future housing expenses.
If buying feels like the right step for you, let’s move forward.
Having spent a combined 20 years in senior operational management for the world's most
recognizable brand, Coca-Cola and the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, and another 15
years in senior management in a wide variety of industries, I have cetainly got to appreciate
what world class customer / client sevice is all about.
My accounting background, well honed negotiation skills and perseverance trait, picked up
over this period, helped me become a very successful realtor in South Africa, and later in
Canada.
.
My family, consisting of a wife, a son and two daughters, settled in the beautiful town of
Oakville after our arrival in our newly adopted country, from South Africa, at the end of 2002.
As such, I am eager to offer advice on the numerous challenges faced by new immigrants
and first time home buyers in this great country.
As an avid fisherman, I have also leant that it takes a lot of patience and skill, before landing
the big one.
I am really enjoying working with all the fine executive realtors at Realty Executives, in order
to continue to offer my existing and new clients my unparalleled, personalized, world class,
professional sevice. Where you won't just be a statistic!
Designation: B.Com., MBA
Education: B.Com (University of Natal)
MBA (University of South Africa)
Speciality: Residential
Years of Experience: 20
Awards: Outstanding Achievement Award Winner - 2019 & 2023, 100% Club Award Winner - 2020 & 2021
Area Covered: Halton, Peel, Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo & Niagagra
Languages Spoken: Afrikaans, English
Step 2: Know Your Budget
Knowing how much you can afford is key to a confident home search. Be sure to plan for both one-time costs and ongoing expenses.
Estimate Your Homeownership Costs
Home Price
$700,000Upfront Costs
Down Payment $140,000
Closing Costs $155,175
Monthly Recurring Costs
Mortgage Payment $3,029
Property Taxes $583
Home Insurance $58
Note: Cost breakdowns are estimates based on averages for first-time home buyers in Ontario and should be used for reference only. Actual costs will vary by individual situation.
Most lenders use two main affordability guidelines:
Gross Debt Service (GDS):
Housing costs (e.g., mortgage, taxes, heating, and 50% of condo fees) should not exceed 39% of your gross household income.
Total Debt Service (TDS):
Housing costs plus debt payments (e.g., car loans, credit cards, and student loans) should not exceed 44% of your gross household income.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage to lock in your rate for up to 130 days and show sellers you're a serious buyer.
Not sure what your budget looks like? Use our Mortgage Calculators to find out.
Step 3: Set Your Home Search Criteria
Before diving into listings, take time to define what’s important to you.This keeps your search focused and aligned with your needs.
Things to consider:
Location
Is the neighborhood safe, convenient, and aligned with your lifestyle?
Size
How much space do you need now, and what about your future plans?
Condition
Are you open to a fixer-upper with potential, or do you prefer a move-in-ready home?
Type of property
Are you looking for a detached home, a condo, or a townhouse? Each has pros, cons, and cost considerations
Already have a neighbourhood in mind?
Sign up for our Neighborhood Buzzer to get updates as soon as new listings hit the market.
Step 4: Work with the Right Realtor®
In Canada, REALTORS® are licensed professionals who must follow a strict Code of Ethics. Choosing the right one can make or break your home buying experience. Stick with one REALTOR® who understands your goal and preferences.
See what clients are saying about working with , or reach out to start your journey.
TESTIMONIALS
This is the first time we have placed a home on the market in Ontario, and from the beginning we received careful and detailed guidance from André. At no time did we experience any undue pressure. He also went out of his way to help us meet practical needs, such as disposing of unwanted items as we prepared for an international move. From our initial conversation to the final legal closing, Andre achieved a totally comfortable and happy time for us.
Elizabeth & David Cuthbert, OakvilleWe are very grateful that André helped us to find a very nice house in a good neighborhood. We are really happy with his service, it's excellent! We highly recommend him to anybody requiring the services of a great realtor!
Josefina & Gerardo Legaspi, MississaugaSelling your home is mentally and emotionally exhausting, and André took a lot of the burden from me, by handling small or large details. I don't think I would have gotten through the whole process without his help. He was always there for me. I highly recommend him for his professional attitude, experience and loyalty. He also has a great sense of humor!
Nancy Neil, OakvilleWe have worked with Andre on two occasions and found that his in-depth knowledge of the real estate profession, market and financial acumen, enabled him to give us absolutely outstanding service. We highly recommend Andre to provide you with a full range of value added real estate services, and guarantee that you will be completely satisfied.
Jeanette & Martin Scholtz, OakvilleAs first time buyers in Canada, André helped us find the right home. His dedication and perseverance, made the transition form tenants to home owners, seamless and painless. I will recommend his services without any reserve.
Naveed Iqbal, MississaugaAndré helped me find my first apartment, and negotiated a great price for me. He also assisted me with all the documents and arrangements, right up until I received my keys.
Greg Smit, OakvilleWe had had our home on the market for 9 months, without any success, until André offered to market it for us. Due to his hard work and professionalism, he managed to find us a great cash buyer within 3 weeks.
David Coxwell, Pinelands, South AfricaAndré worked with us to successfully market our rather unusual home. I can only recommend him to any future buyers and sellers, as a true caring and professional realtor.
Lars Lundstrom, Pinelands, South AfricaHe won our confidence early in the journey, with his calm and assertive demeanor, which is rooted in a varied business career and profound knowledge of the real estate industry.
We would not hesitate to recommend André to anyone who would consider making use of his services.
Christel & Frederick Kirstein, OakvilleAndré helped us purchase our first home. He was absolutely wonderful to work with. 10/10!
Mary Pudjowargono, MiltonAndré was a huge help in the search for our first home. Almost 1 year in and we feel so great about our purchase. Thank you for making the process so easy!
Brooke Chouinard, OakvilleAndre has been so helpful and kind. He always has the answers and has gone above and beyond. I am so grateful for his help and expertise.
Laura Strickland, GrimsbyGreat guy! Always takes care of his clients. Highly recommend to anyone!
Paul Harris, MississaugaWe were impressed by André's contract review and negotiation abilities. He is an expert in maneuvering through the myriad of situations that can arise during the selling process and finding amiable solutions. He also uses the latest technology available which made the whole process easy and seamless.
Cheryl Mucha, MarkhamI was nervous about relocating to a new city, but André's knowledge and reassurance put my mind at ease. He committed to finding us our perfect home. He was patient, spent the time and reviewed all of our options. The whole process went very smoothly and we ended up with a great home at a great price for our family. I highly recommend André.
Lorrie Emmerson, BarrieI have to give Andre Smit high praise as a real estate agent. He sold my house in record time and found me the perfect house which suited all my requirements.
He made time for anything that arose and completed the whole process in a manner that only a highly skilled agent could achieve.
Rosalind Tamai, OakvilleAndre was our agent to not only purchase our home in Burlington, which we lived in for 12 happy years, but also to sell our home. He’s very professional, knows the industry very well and would recommend him to any seller.
Tiina Kamagianis, BurlingtonAndre is professional and I would highly recommend him if you are looking to buy or sell a house. Andre goes the extra mile for you and you always feel important. Keep up the great work Andre!
Gregory Smit, AyrUsing André was the right choice!
We encountered many difficult situations during our transaction and André was there to help us through them all.
André is truly a full service realtor. He made sure our experience was a great one and I recommend him to everyone I know who is looking to buy or sell a home.Marc Bond, BurlingtonAndré is a superb agent, from one realtor to another, easy to deal with, and the utmost professional.
Matt Busch, BurlingtonThank you, Andre , for all the help selling my home and finding the perfect one to replace it.
I’m so great full for all that you have done to make everything go smoothly for me.
I’m Glad that you were in my corner to get me through some of the problems that occurred.
I’ve told everyone that I talk to, that you are very patient, kind and professional about everything you are doing. I have recommended you to all my friends and family.
Marie Bond, BurlingtonWe have had a great experience working with Andrè, he helped us with buying our first home. He's very knowledgeable, professional and trustworthy. I would highly recommend Andrè to anyone looking to buy or sell a property.
Esraa Salih, MississaugaAndré was a wonderful help in finding my perfect home. Goes over and above what he needs to do and made buying my first home very easy, was able to answer all my questions and shared his knowledge about houses and the market with me. If you are buying your first home or your 50th André is sure to make it a great experience!
Samantha de Jager, WellandAndré was patient, kind and showed an excellent sense of humor. We went through a number of scenarios and eventually the one that he recommended was the one we used. It resulted in an excellent number of visits and a great selling price.
I also happen to recommend André to one of my relatives and she was very pleased also with her results. I highly recommend André for anyone who is looking for someone to take the time and ensure the customer comes first!Leigh Davis, MississaugaAndre was extremely informative, reliable, trustworthy and competent with excellent communication skills. The sale of my mothers home was handled quickly and drama-free. His calming nature made the whole process stress free. I would highly recommend him.
Christine Grah, Mississauga
Step 5: Begin Your Search
Now for the fun part - house hunting!
With your criteria and budget in place, will set up personalized alerts directly from the MLS® so you’re the first to know when a suitable property hits the market.
You can also explore ’s featured listings to get a feel for what’s available.
Open houses and scheduled private showings are a great way to see homes up close and evaluate homes beyond surface features. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about maintenance, renovations, or the neighborhood during your visits.
Step 6: Find a Real Estate Lawyer
A trusted real estate lawyer protects your legal and financialinterests throughout the transaction. Start by asking friends, family, or for recommendations.
While your lawyer handles the legal side, don’t miss opportunities on the market.
Here’s how your lawyer helps:
Review the Agreement
Ensure all terms in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale are accurate
Run a Title Search
Confirm there are no liens, unpaid taxes, or legal claims against the property
Handle Closing Costs
Calculate and pay land transfer taxes, title insurance, and prepare legal documents
Register the Property
Transfer ownership and register the property in your name with the provincial land registry
Coordinate Mortgage Funds
Work with your lender to transfer mortgage funds to the seller on closing day
Step 7: Make an Offer
Found the one? will help you craft an offer that aligns with your needs and stands out to the seller.
What’s in an Offer?
- Purchase Price
- Deposit (often 5% of the price, held in trust)
- Conditions (typically home inspection, financing, and sometimes a sale of your current home)
- Inclusions (items to remain in the home e.g., appliances, blinds, fixtures)
- Closing Date and Irrevocable Period
Types of Offers
- Firm Offer: This means you’re ready to buy the home as-is, with no conditions; be sure everything checks out before going this route.
- Conditional Offer: It includes specific conditions that must be met before the deal becomes binding.
The seller may accept, reject, or send a counteroffer. Don’t worry — will negotiate the best terms on your behalf.
Step 8: Get a Home Inspection
Even if a home looks great on the surface, an inspection can uncover hidden issues that could cost thousands to fix later.
Tips
Attend the inspection if possible. it’s a great opportunity to ask questions, learn about the home’s condition, and pick up useful maintenance tips.
If the home doesn’t pass or you decide to keep looking, stay in the loop with our Just Listed alert. It’ll help you spot your perfect home the moment it’s available.
Step 9: Finalize Your Mortgage
Your offer has been accepted — congrats! Now it’s time to lock in your financing.
You’ll need to:
1
Agreement
Submit your signed Agreement of Purchase and Sale
2
Financial Documents
Provide your financial documents such as proof of income, tax returns, bank statements, and a void cheque
3
Mortgage Terms
Review and confirm your final mortgage terms, including the loan amount, interest rate, and amortization period
Tips
Between now and closing, avoid major financial changes like taking on new debt, changing jobs, or making large purchases. These can put your mortgage approval at risk.
Hold off on big financial decisions, but keep your home search moving. Set up a PRICE DROP alert to catch any deals that come up.
Step 10: Closing the Deal & Moving In
You’re almost home! As closing day approaches, your legal and financial team will handle the final paperwork.
Before closing, make sure you have:
- Mortgage approval and insurance
- Finalized legal documents and title transfer
- Fund ready for closing costs (typically 1.5% - 4% of the purchase price)
- Utility and services set up
Once everything is signed and processed, you'll get the keys and can officially move in. Schedule a final walk-through, book movers, and celebrate this exciting milestone!