As your personal guides and trustworthy agents, we strive to give you the best of the best. In the years that we’ve spent in the industry, homebuyers have always asked us “What do I need to do when I buy a house?” We’ve composed a step-by-step guide that helps you understand the buying process.

Step 1: Decide to Buy 

Before you even go looking for a home, you have to understand your needs. Think about the type of place you’re looking for. Are you looking for a lot of bedrooms and bathrooms for your family? Do you want a pool in the backyard? How about garage space, location of laundry room, and commuting distance? Do you want to live close to a school and amenities or do you want more privacy? These are just some of the things you have to consider before you start looking for a new home.

You also have to familiarize yourself with different types of ownership as well to help narrow down the perfect home. Freehold is when it’s all yours, a condo is when you take care of the inside and pay your fees to an association that manages the outside. That's a huge difference!

Once you have narrowed down some qualities, it's time to go looking for a home!

Step 2: Hire Us

Out of the thousands of real estate agents available to hire, we have the market knowledge, community engagement, and experience to help you navigate the best purchase for your family.

We act as your representative and will look out for your best interests. Your trust is something we don't take lightly. The Coppins Team has 70+ years combined experience in buying and selling real estate in the Durham Region, providing outstanding client service and satisfaction to thousands of clients over the years. We are highly trained professionals who know the neighbourhoods, communities and towns of the Durham Region inside and out. We offer you exemplary client services to help you accomplish your goal of real estate ownership.

Step 3: Find your Home

There are many ways of finding your dream home! First, before you go shopping you have to make sure you are also financially ready. Make sure to have a budget when you go shopping. You can use our very handy affordability calculator by clicking here. 

One thing to keep in mind is your down payment. This is a percentage of the total cost of a home that you’ll need to pay. The more money you put down, the more you’ll save on monthly payments and the cost of borrowing. Another important aspect is getting pre-approved for a mortgage. When the lender approves you for a mortgage, it gives you an idea of how much you can afford to spend on your new house.

Keeping these things in mind, you are free to go window shopping! You can start searching for houses that meet your needs and wants. Looking for houses can be really fun and exciting! You can browse listings in your desired area using the smart listings search on our website, here. Sign up for Property Matching and have listings that meet your criteria delivered directly to your email inbox, here. Or contact us and we will be delighted to assist you in your search.

Step 4: Make an Offer 

Now that you’ve found the house that you are set on, it’s time to make an offer. Not all offers are the same and in this market, strategy is everything. Here’s where our professional negotiating skills and experience really shine. We will help you with specific terms and conditions that will be included in the offer for your protection and benefit, and we'll make sure you understand all of it.

Making an offer is not just about the price. You have to carefully look at the other details included in the sale. Appliances, window coverings, or even minor renovations can also be part of the deal. Shorter or longer closing dates can also be specified in the offer as well as other terms that may be a requirement. Over the years, we have seen it all, so you needn't worry. Every transaction is unique and we are here to make it a smooth, enjoyable process for you.

If there is something in the offer that doesn't satisfy the seller, counter offers or negotiations can also be presented to help get a price that you think is fair or terms that meet your needs. The main thing is that you are fully informed and decisions are yours and yours alone.

Step 5: Close the Sale

There will be closing costs associated with the sale that need to be paid either by or on the closing date. These can include mortgage application fees, inspections, legal fees, land transfer taxes and so on. We'll walk you through this process too, so that you are prepared. But once that's taken care of, you're the proud owner of a piece of real estate, something that is a privilege worldwide!

Congrats, and welcome to ownership! You’re all ready to move in!