Buyers & Sellers

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you'll make, so taking your time, creating a list of
your likes and dislikes is very important. Research the area and neighborhood you are
interested in and this will increase the chances of selecting the right property for you.

When looking for a home it is a good idea to view it during daylight hours before buying a property
so you can see everything clearly. Go to the city hall and ask about their amenities, community
centers, schools, churches, etc... You will find information in the neighborhoods section of this
website. It's a good idea to drive the route to your prospective new home to see how long it will take
you to your usual destinations. If you use public transit, it is a good idea to find out times and stops.
Find out about future zoning in your area and the over-all city and community plan before you buy
your home. Asking a few questions about the neighbourhood is a good way to find out tips about
the area.

Here are some other basic tips you should talk to your Realtor about when looking at
purchasing a home:

- Avoiding paying too much for your home.
- Developing a needs vs want list.
- Getting pre-approved prior to shopping.
- Choosing your winning team.
- Good communication with your realtor.
- Is it still true?...location,location,location.
- Use your realtors knowledge of the community.
- Check your emotions, and shop with your head
- Pay attention to red flags
- Knowing why investing in a home inspector is a good investment.
- Be cautious with fixer uppers.
- Proceed quickly.
- Clarify relationships.
- Ask for a written CMA.
- Keep personal information to yourself
- During negotiations, keep your emotions in tact.
- Ensure the deal is right before you sign.
- Be aware of your hidden costs
- Have reasonable expectations.

Home Buying Costs

Your Estimate Down Payment - You may use as little as 5% down payment. If you use less than
25%, your mortgage will be a 'high ratio" one and as such must be insured to protect the lender
against default. The one time premium is usually added to the mortgage amount and does not have
to be paid “up front”.

Application Fee - There is a high ratio mortgage application fee of $165 or $ 75 (with an independent
appraisal supplied by you). Some lenders will pay the fee if you get your mortgage with them. It really
is to your advantage to shop around for a mortgage lender before you start looking at homes. This
way you are pre approved for a mortgage and are protected from any mortgage rate increases for a
period of time. If the rates go down before you buy, you will get the lower rate.

Appraisal - You may want an independent market value appraisal of the property. The appraised
value should be equal to or greater than the purchase price. If the appraised value is less than the
purchase price, and you still want to purchase the property, you may have to increase your down
payment. The typical cost of an independent appraisal in the Moncton area is $280.

Home Inspection - In the process of choosing a home, you and your Real Estate Agent should be
looking or "inspecting" for potential problems. Once you have chosen a home and start to negotiate
an Agreement of Purchase and Sale, you must then decide whether to include, as a condition of the
Agreement, a satisfactory Property Inspection. These inspections involve a closer and more detailed
inspection of items such as insulation, roofing, moisture, electrical, plumbing and heating.
Inspection reports usually include a manual or reference book. Home inspections are not usually
done on new construction covered by a home warranty or on condominiums. Typical costs are
around $295.

Surveyor's Report - If you need a mortgage, your lender will require a surveyor's report A surveyor's
report not only verifies the measurements of the land, it ensures that any structures are within the
boundaries and do not encroach on neighboring properties, required setbacks or utility easements.
Some lenders will accept a copy of a recent report. However if there was any error made, you could
not get the surveyor to correct it, because you did not pay for the report. Also there could be problems
if there were any structures added since the report. Surveyor's reports are usually included with
new construction homes and are not necessary with condominiums. Average cost of a report is
$450.

Home Insurance - Home Owner packages for fire and extended coverage vary from basic to
comprehensive. When it is time to buy, find an insurance broker with whom you are comfortable and
who will help you select a package that fits your personal needs. Annual premiums vary between 1/4
of 1% of the insured amount for basic packages to 1/2 of 1% for comprehensive packages.

Land Transfer Tax - You can't avoid the tax man, or get your deed registered without paying 1/4 of
1% of the purchase price of the property.

Legal Fees - Certifying title, executing the mortgage documents, verifying adjustments, and
conducting the closing. Typical fees are in the order of 1% of the purchase price, but rates can vary. It
usually pays to shop around. Disbursements to government agencies for things like tax certificates
and document registration fees typically add another $105.

Prepaid Adjustments - If the Seller has prepaid the yearly property taxes, you will need to reimburse
them from the time that you acquire the property. Example: $1,200 yearly taxes, paid by the Seller in
April, and you take possession June 30th, you will need to reimburse the Seller $600.
Utility Charges - Hookup charges for NB Power ($38.50), NB Tel ($25.30), cable tv ($36.74) and
watermeter reading (Moncton only).

Less Any Rebates - Here's where you can reduce the costs in certain instances. Some mortgage
lenders have incentives such as cash backs, monthly payment rebates or reduced payments for a
number of months. These are usually in lieu of a lower interest rate, but it pays to shop around for the
best deal. Also the Province of New Brunswick currently offers a $1,500 HST rebate to buyers of new
construction homes and condominiums.

Selling a home is the largest business transaction most of us will ever make. The selling process
can be very complex and time consuming, however with the aid of our services, be certain that you
will come away completely satisfied and stress free.
One of my main responsibilities is to arrive at an accurate estimate of value for your home, so I
ensure a detailed evaluation and analysis of every part of your home. My work doesn’t stop there, as I
will fully investigate the real estate market and compare your property with similar listings to make
sure that you receive the highest amount you deserve for your home.

I will follow a step-by-step marketing program that will provide you with service that is professional
and courteous. In the end, you will be sure that the price you set reflects the true value of your home
under current market conditions . . . rest assured that you will be completely satisfied with your
selling price once I have completed the proper research and evaluation of your home.

Ince we will have established a pricing of your home, you will need to prepare the property for best
presentation. Below is a list of things you can do to prepare your home for a real estate showing:

-Keep the house brightly lit and drapes open.
-Have soothing low volume music playing in the background
-Use lightly scented sprays or pot-pore to give your home a fresh scent.
-If you do not like to use sprays, the smell of freshly baked bread is irresistibly welcoming.
-All floors and carpets should be clean, vacuumed and swept
-Make sure that your lawn and garden have been kept up; weeding, mowing lawn, cutting hedges.
-Clear driveway and sidewalks of any debris, dirt, or snow and ice
-If it is summer, water your lawn at least one hour before the showing to present a fresh appearance
-Keep your pets in an area where they will not be agitated by your new visitors and vise-versa
-Clean and repair rain gutters and siding
-Check to see if you need paint touch ups inside and outside of your home.
-Sweep & Clean garage
-Do a check to see that any litter is removed from the front and back yard
-Turn on air-conditioning or light fireplace
-If there are few people in the home, the prospective buyer will feel more comfortable and inclined to
stay longer and fully observe your home.
-Repair any squeaky door hinges or floor planks