Searching for the right home takes some very serious considerations as it’s in most cases one’s most expensive investment. The single best piece of advice I would give to anyone looking at purchasing real estate is to Invest Time in choosing the right professional to serve you. Often I’ve heard people having trusted friends and family members help them in purchasing real estate. For all intends and purposes they try very hard. However, the resulted outcome has more often then not been disappointing.

If the choice of a realtor is correctly executed then it will save you time, minimize stress and often save you money. I offer anyone who doesn’t know me a free consultation in my office with no obligation. If they find I’m the right professional to serve them then that’s great. If they find that they are unsure then that’s fine too.

I often find consumers tend to go online in searching for a home and spend many, many hours searching on their own. Why do that when that’s part of my job. Do what you do best and enjoy time with your loved ones.

By using an array of techniques available to me this allows me to profile what my clients are looking in a home in a short period of time. Therefore, allowing me to pinpoint properties which meet their criteria. Keeping abreast of changes in real estate and technology allows me to add additional value when serving my clients.

I am very knowledgeable with the City of Toronto along with surrounding areas such as: Durham region: Pickering, Claremont, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Court ice. YorkRegion: Markham, Unionville, Vaughan, Woodbridge, Maple, Newmarket, Aurora, Thornhill. Peel Region: Brampton, Mississauga Halton Region: Oakville.

Here is a snapshot of what I recommend to buyers:

Determine your wants and needs

This is the single most important step. By asking a series of in-depth questions, I establish what you are looking for in a home. These questions go beyond the commonly asked ones, such as, “How much do you want to spend?” and “What neighbourhood do you want to live in?”

Pre-qualify

This shows you how much you can afford. Purchasers often realize they can afford more than they imagined. I connect you to financial professionals who minimize the time spent on this important process.

Know your costs

There are always additional or hidden costs in purchasing a home. I can assist in estimating these costs ahead of time, so you’re not faced with unpleasant financial surprises at closing.

Match dreams with reality

I perform a detailed analysis of properties available to locate those that match your desires. I have developed exclusive software to assist in this matching process. The result is that you spend far less time looking at properties that simply don’t meet your needs.

Offer to purchase

When we find the property that you want, I work with you to write your offer to purchase. I then represent you with the seller and negotiate the best price for your new home.

Decreased consumer confidence in the real estate market has created a decline in home sales worldwide, however the Greater Toronto Area has made a recovery from the economic downturn. The Toronto Real Estate Board reported a 19% increase in the purchase of resale houses from November 2007 to November 2008, and a 3% increase in the purchase of new houses from May 2008 to May 2009, showing confirmation of rising consumer confidence in the investment of funds in Toronto residential real estate. With indications of economic recovery on the horizon, many people are looking at investing in both houses and condos in the Greater Toronto Area.

When adding up the expense of buying a new home, closing fees are additional factors which need to be taken into account. These comprise of appraisal of the real estate, home inspection, mortgage fees, agent commissions, and documentation fees. A large consideration among many in Toronto’s real estate industry, however, is tax, specifically the July 2010 introduction of the HST, or Harmonized Sales Tax.

The HST is being established as a combination of the 5% GST and the 8% PST, and is supposed to be added to new and resale property closing costs, in addition to the purchase price of a new home. This will remove the current exemption from the PST for new property purchases. The Ministry of Revenue has released new documentation regarding the HST, specifically addressing an intended rebate of 75% of the provincial portion of the new unified sales tax, up to a maximum of $24,000. This rebate would be received either at the time of sale, or, as is presently the case with the GST, through submitting a form to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Once a budget has been decided and a target purchase price calculated, the buyer must decide on the type of real estate desired. Both the advantages and disadvantages of single family houses and condos should be analyzed in order to come to the right conclusion for the buyer.

First, the buyer should consider value for money. Generally, a home will have greater equity in the future, and a greater resale value. Rent is often greater for houses than condos. Condominiums generally charge fees that go to an association. Because of this, the return on investment can be bigger on houses.

Location is another issue, determined by the desires of the buyer. A buyer seeking property in downtown Toronto may find it difficult to find a home that matches his or her needs, whereas condos are more plentiful.

A final point to consider is the commitment of time on property repairs. In a home, the maintenance and improvements are the sole responsibility of the owner. In a condo, the corporation takes care of most, if not all, of the building repairs.

The Toronto residential real estate market has a lot to offer new investors, and effective preparation and the in-depth market research can help buyers bypass the problems that are often be associated with a real estate transaction.