Buying a new home is truly a fun and exciting adventure, and my goal is to ensure that whatever you buy, you will be able to call it “Home Sweet Home” for years to come!

When I work with buyers, I make sure that their new home is exactly what they want and fits their lifestyle and budget. I also make sure that there won't be any problems in the future that could hurt their investment or the health of their family. 

Purchasing a home today has become an extremely complicated process compared to years gone by, as there are so many factors that consumers need to consider and investigate.

I promise to protect all of my buyers every step of the way, making sure that your family and your investment are safe and leaving no stone unturned. 

Today, the buyer has the same privileges that have always been provided to sellers. A buyer can now actually hire a real estate agent to help and protect them throughout the buying process, and it doesn’t cost them any money.

A service that I provide to all my buyer clients is a confidential consultation to review your lifestyle needs, the rate of return on your investment over a 5-year period, and the action steps needed for a successful outcome.

I have always found that my buyers who come from a position of knowledge make better buying decisions. Also, potential frustrations are minimized or eliminated.

I would be happy to meet with you at your convenience. Call me anytime or send me a quick email.

If you haven't hired the salesperson who is showing you houses to protect you and your family during the buying process... They Are Not On Your Side... They are employed by the seller!

Programs Ottawa First Time Buyers Should Know About 

Two federal programs do most of the heavy lifting on a first down payment. The First Home Savings Account lets you contribute up to $8,000 per year to a lifetime maximum of $40,000, and contributions are tax deductible while withdrawals for a first home are tax free. The Home Buyers' Plan lets you withdraw up to $60,000 from an RRSP without paying tax, provided you repay it over the following fifteen years. These two can be combined. There is also the First Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit, worth up to $1,500, and a land transfer tax refund in Ontario worth up to $4,000 for eligible first time buyers. Most people I meet know about one of these and are leaving the others on the table.

How Much Down Payment You Actually Need 

In Canada the minimum is five percent on the first $500,000 of the purchase price and ten percent on the portion above that, up to $1.5 million. Above $1.5 million you need twenty percent. Anything under twenty percent requires CMHC mortgage default insurance, which gets added to your mortgage and costs real money over the life of the loan. With Ottawa's average home price sitting near $632,000, the practical minimum down payment on an average home is roughly $38,000. If you are close to the twenty percent threshold, it is worth running both scenarios before you decide.

Where First Time Buyers Get the Most for Their Money in Ottawa 

Orleans and Gloucester consistently offer the most affordable detached homes in the city. Barrhaven sits in the middle and has a lot of newer construction. Kanata carries a premium, largely because of proximity to the tech corridor. Condos in Centretown, Hintonburg and along the LRT lines can get you into ownership at a lower entry price, though you need to read the condo reserve fund study carefully before you commit. If your budget is under $500,000, condos and townhomes will give you more realistic options than detached.

Mistakes I See First Time Buyers Make 

Shopping before getting pre-approved is the most common one, and it wastes months. Underestimating closing costs is the second: budget roughly one and a half to four percent of the purchase price for land transfer tax, legal fees, title insurance, and adjustments. Third is waiving a home inspection to win a bidding war. In a market that is no longer frantic, you usually do not need to, and the cost of being wrong is far higher than the cost of the inspection. Finally, buying at the absolute top of what you were approved for leaves you no room when rates renew.