Our Guide for Calgary Home Buyers
The process of buying a house can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. There are so many properties out there, how do you choose the right one?
For helpful advice on the home buying process, please check out our articles and buying tools below, and be sure to try out our free mortgage calculators.
Ready to start house hunting? Search for Calgary homes now. Be sure to also see our Calgary Relocation Guide for an overview of this dynamic city.
Buying Calgary Real Estate
To begin, you need to determine how much house you can afford. The best way to do this is to become pre-qualified for a mortgage. Pre-qualification is a vital step to take before you begin your Calgary home search. By knowing ahead of time what price range you're able to shop in, you save a great deal of time by weeding out properties that are outside your financial scope. You're also able to prevent the disappointment of falling in love with a house that's beyond your means. Our team is here to guide you through the pre-qualification process. Meet our Calgary Mortgage Specialists.
Next is the fun part: looking at homes. In order to save you time, we provide free, 24-hour access to property listings on the Calgary Board’s MLS® System, right on our site. You can customize your search parameters, email listings to friends, request showings and more by registering. House hunting has never been easier, and you can do it right from your own home.
If you're just starting out on your Calgary home search, see our article, How To Use This Site to Buy a Home.
Calgary Real Estate by Property Type
Choosing a Neighbourhood
In addition to major considerations like financing, home inspections, and size requirements, it's also important to consider what kind of neighbourhood is right for you. What are your needs in terms of commute time? How close does your new home have to be from work, school, grocery stores, and other amenities?
Do you have children? If so, check out the local schools to make sure that they'll meet your child's educational needs. It's also important to find a neighbourhood that has recreational facilities close by.
Think about what kind of community you're most comfortable in. For instance, do you enjoy visiting with neighbours as you go for your evening walk? Or do you prefer to have privacy, with a lot of distance between your home and the next?
How walkable do you need the neighbourhood to be? When looking at a house, ask if you'll be able to walk to local parks and shops when you need to. If it's too far to walk, how is public transportation in the community? If your car ends up in the shop or you break your leg, will you be able to get around the neighbourhood with relative ease?
If you find a house you like, but you're not sure about the neighbourhood, speak with local residents to get their impressions. What are their likes and dislikes? Are there noisy people, cars zipping by or frequent crime in the area? These are all important questions to ask before making an offer on a property. In addition to speaking with residents, you can also ask us about suitable areas. We have extensive experience working in the Calgary real estate market and can provide valuable insight about local communities.
Thinking about buying a bank owned home? It's critical that you're well informed before making an offer. See Calgary foreclosures for more information.
Buying with a Real Estate Professional
Whether you're on the hunt for real estate as an investor or a personal home buyer, it's important to have a professional on-hand who has expert knowledge on the Calgary housing market. Justin Havre and his team of Calgary estate agents are very familiar with the area, and are eager to help you find a home that's in your price range, preferred location, and will meet the needs of you and your family.
In addition to helping you secure financing and investigate nearby neighbourhoods, our real estate professionals will take you on a tour of properties, pointing out the strengths and downsides of each one so you can weigh all the facts before making a decision to buy. We can recommend qualified home inspectors and we'll draft a purchase offer that takes into account any contingencies you may require. We'll also perform a comparative market analysis to determine an appropriate offer price, and negotiate the terms of the offer on your behalf.
After you've made an offer on a house, we can put you in touch with people in the industry who can make your move easier. From financing to building inspectors, we'll be happy to connect you with reputable professionals in the field. And did we mention the best part? Buyers' agents are typically paid by the seller, so our services won't cost you a dime.
Learn more about our commitment to Serving Calgary Home Buyers. Feel free to contact us for expert assistance in your Calgary property search.
The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.