BUYERS

MOVING FORWARD IS EXCITING!

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make, and I’m here to make sure you get it right. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, upgrading to a larger space, or relocating to Nova Scotia, I’ll help you find the perfect home at the right price.

✓ Virtual tours & in-depth area insights

✓ Mortgage broker connections & financing tips

✓ A results-driven approach to getting you the best deal

Here are 6 STEPS to keep in mind when finding your dream home.

Chris Barnes enthusiastically pointing towards key home-buying insights. With a confident smile and dynamic pose, he guides buyers through the steps to finding their dream home.

01.

Step 1: GET PRE-APPROVED FOR A MORTGAGE

GET PRE-APPROVED FOR A MORTGAGE

Connecting with a Mortgage Broker or Specialist is not difficult and Real Estate Agents like myself have some contact that we’d be happy to connect you with.

Generally, people go to one of three places to find a mortgage.  A major bank like RBC, Scotiabank or CIBC,  A Credit Union, or a mortgage broker.  The Credit Union or a Mortgage Broker *may* be able to help figure out a downpayment as well.

Here are the names and contact information for one of each.

02

Step 2: ASSESS YOUR FINANCES AND FIGURE OUT THE DOWNPAYMENT

ASSESS YOUR FINANCES AND FIGURE OUT THE DOWNPAYMENT
(if there is one!)

Figure out your monthly budget, and determine how much you want to spend on your home. Together we can look into finding a home that meets your needs while staying within budget - and maybe giving you some extra funds to devote to fun!

FIRST TIME BUYERS:

For many first time buyers, making a downpayment is the biggest consideration when purchasing a home. Here are three places to start when figuring out a downpayment:

  • Savings - this would be the most straightforward place, but with the cost of rent and groceries right now, it’s probably unlikely.

  • Family - perhaps your parents or a rich uncle can help you out, that would be nice, but also not a situation everyone finds themselves in.

  • Down Payment Assistance Program - this program can help one get a 5% down payment interest free 10 year loan on a home with a price of up to $300,000-$500,000 depending on where you are buying. I’ve made this quick video explaining a bit of this process:

Step 3: Work with a real estate agent like chris who has the right contacts and the experience to guide you through the home buying process and help get you where you want to go.

03

WORK WITH A REAL ESTATE AGENT

As a buyer working with an Agent costs you nothing. All Agent fees are generated by the sale of the home changing hands.

I have the contacts and the experience to guide you through the home buying process and help get you where you want to go.  The process I’m outlining is by no means a secret, but for many the idea of home buying in this market is daunting and I want to help make the process smooth - and even fun.

My role continues as I connect you with a lawyer, make sure all the ‘T’s are crossed and ‘i’s are dotted on the real estate forms and you set foot in your new home.

Step 4: YOU’LL NEED A LAWYER

04

YOU’LL NEED A LAWYER

This can also seem like a daunting step, but keep in mind that your Great Real Estate Agent will have lawyer contacts from other real estate deals and be able to suggest a good one to help you through this process.

Generally my practice is in the Wolfville/New Minas/Kentville area and my go to lawyers are:

05

DO THE INSPECTIONS

A thorough inspector will find all the little things and maybe some big ones that you skipped over during the excitement of seeing the house you *know* you are going to buy. Home inspections can reveal:

  • a deal breaker that might make you walk away from the home

  • something that you can use as a bargaining chip in getting the price of the house lowered

  • nothing wrong at all (which would be great!)

  • and even a simple thing here and there that you could do to improve the value of the home you are looking at

You can likely count on a cost somewhere between $300-$600 depending on the size of the home, the inspection company, and the distance required for the inspector to travel to the property. Here is my go-to contact:

Step 5: inspection time!

06

CLOSE THE DEAL!

This is where your relationship with your Real Estate Agent will really come into play.  It’s my job to coordinate all these things and be sure that everyone has the information that they need in a timely manner.

You’ve found out your pre-approval amount and where your down payment is coming from.  You’ve found a home you like and done an inspection and discovered that it’s just what you want. You’ve chosen a lawyer and done all the document signing with your REALTOR™.  Now it’s time to book the moving truck and wait for the closing date!

Your Real Estate Agent will go through the house with you on the closing date to ensure that everything is how it was agreed upon during the purchase negotiations, and “that’s it!” 

Step 6: close the deal and that's it!

THE FINE DETAILS

The steps mentioned above are maybe a bit simplified. You’ll need to get insurance for your home as part of your mortgage requirements, the lender will want to do an assessment of the home to be sure it’s worth to them an amount near what you are paying for it.  Every real estate deal is unique and for some properties these bridges will be easier to cross than for others.

But what you can count on is that I’m here to help you each step of the way!

Cartoon-style illustration of Chris Barnes, sporting a confident smirk, blue eyes, and a hoodie against a dynamic blue background. The real estate hero you need - whether you're buying, selling, or just looking for top-tier advice!

LET’S GET YOU HOME

I’d love to hear from you!