House Buying Tips

YES YOU CAN OWN YOUR DREAM HOME! LET US HELP YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAM 

Purchasing a home may be one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make. At First Regional Co-operative Credit Union, we will not only provide financing at an affordable rate but will also guide you through the process.

Below are some tips to consider when purchasing a home.
1. Save for your Down Payment, Share Requirement and other Associated Fees
Many of us chose to finance the purchase of a home by way of a Mortgage loan. If this is your plan, the Vendor usually requires a down payment (generally 5% to 20% of the purchase price) while your loan application is being processed. You will also be required to pay half the cost of preparing the Sales Agreement as well as other legal costs. Most lending institutions will require that you deposit a certain amount of money to your account to serve as added collateral for your loan. At First Regional, this is called your Share Requirement. You should bear in mind that you will also be charged a processing fee by the lending institution.

2. Get Pre-approved for a Mortgage Loan
If you are considering financing the purchase of your home by way of a Mortgage Loan, we would recommend that you get preapproved. Preapproval will help you to determine how much you will be able to borrow to purchase your home, monthly loan payment, interest rate etc. This information will help you to plan your budget and will give you greater negotiating power. First Regional’s preapproval process is quite simple and only takes a few minutes. Just call one of our “Phone A Loan” representatives at 876-707-2048 or visit one of our branches and speak to a Member Service Representative. You will be required to provide some personal information as well as information concerning your employment, credit history and finances.

3. Pari Passu Arrangement with the National Housing Trust (NHT)
If you decide to utilize your NHT benefits, you will be pleased to know that First Regional will join with NHT to provide the financing you will need to purchase your home.

4. Location of the House/State of the Neighbourhood
You may want to buy a home that is in close proximity to places such as work, school, place of worship etc. Otherwise, you may have to contend with a long commute on a regular basis. It is important to note the state of the neighbourhood as this will greatly impact your quality of life and the future value of your property. Are the surrounding houses well maintained? Is the crime rate relatively low? Are your neighbours people with whom you are comfortable sharing space?

5. Purchase Price
It is important to determine how much you can afford to spend on buying a house. In addition to the purchase price, you need to consider the associated legal fees and unexpected expenses that will arise such as minor repairs, escalation costs etc. You may not be able to buy a house in cash and so securing a First Regional Mortgage may be your best option. You should determine how much you can afford to pay towards your mortgage on a monthly basis. Please bear in mind that after making your monthly payments, you should be left with enough money to comfortably sustain you and your family. Always try to negotiate the best possible price. No matter how seemingly meagre the discount is, the extra savings will come in handy.

6. Number of Bedrooms
The size of your family will generally determine how many bedrooms will be required. If you are single or a couple without children, you should consider whether you plan to have children and how many you want to have. You should also consider whether the covenant allows for expansion.

7. Number of Bathrooms
If the house has only one bathroom and there is no way another one can be added, you must be certain that you can tolerate this arrangement. The size and style of the bathroom should be considered as well.

8. Kitchen Design
You should consider the type of kitchen appliances you will need and determine how much space will be required for them to fit. Also, if family members like to cook together or you will be teaching the children to cook, you may want a reasonably sized kitchen. Remember, for many families, the kitchen is the entertainment centre.

9. Age of the House/Maintenance Issues
Unless you are purchasing a newly constructed house, you should pay keen attention to the age of the house. Older houses generally require some amount of repairs and will require more maintenance.

If you decide on buying an older house, make a list of all the possible repairs that will be required and determine whether you are able to comfortably afford these repair costs.

10. Carefully Review Certificate of Title
Carefully Review the Certificate of Title for the property you wish to purchase so as to do a preliminary investigation to identify breaches of restrictive covenants, if any, or to avoid breaches in the future. You may buy the property with the intention to make changes only to realize after the purchase, that you are not permitted to do so. This could leave you feeling very disappointed.

11. Obtain an Up-to-date Valuation Report
Obtaining a Valuation Report is of utmost importance. A Valuation Report will:

1. highlight the advantages and risks associated with the property
2. provide a complete description detail of the property
3. Determine the right value of the property

12. Obtain a Surveyor’s Identification Report
It is very important that you engage the services of a Commissioned Land Surveyor before deciding to purchase your home. A Surveyor’s Report will:

1. ensure that you are paying for the right property.
2. advise whether the boundary is in general agreement with the registered boundary.
3. State that the restrictive covenants have been checked and will advise whether there are any breaches. If breaches are found, lending institutions will request that these are modified before disbursing funds for the purchase of the property.
4. State whether there is any evidence of easement on the property

If you decide to obtain a First Regional Mortgage, you will be required to provide up-to-date Valuation and Surveyor’s Reports.

Now that you are the proud owner of your dream home, go ahead and create beautiful memories. You will feel even better knowing that you got a good deal and a great rate when you financed it with First Regional.