FIND THE RIGHT HOME

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Find the Right Home

You need to consider the long-term most of all when you are pondering whether or not you wish to buy a home or have one built for you. Here are some questions that you should ask yourself when checking out prospective homes.

  • Is the neighborhood a good fit for my and my family’s needs?
  • How much room is there in the house and on the land in general?
  • What type of home is it? (examples: detached, duplex, row house, condominium)
  • Are the commute to work, recreation, and services reasonable?
  • What special features does the home possess? Are these features important to you?
  • Is this a home you can see yourself being happy in five or ten years?
  • Do you prefer a new, resale, or custom-built home?

Types of home ownership

The options vary from province to province, but you can generally choose between the following types of ownership in Canada:

Freehold: You own the building as well as the land
Leasehold: You own the building and rent or lease the land
Condominium (or “strata): You own your unit and share common elements
Co-operatives (or co-ops): You buy a share in a building and live in one of the units
For anybody considering a condominium, make sure to review all financial and technical audits for the condo corporation to avoid any unpleasant surprises down the line.

Choosing your home buying team

Experienced professionals can guide you through the buying process, and their knowledge is considered so helpful that most would say that having a real estate lawyer ready to work for you is a must. Take your time and check references before deciding who you involve in this important process. Your home buying team can include but is not necessarily limited to:

 

  • A real estate agent
  • A home inspector
  • An appraiser
  • A land surveyor
  • A builder or contractor
  • A lawyer or notary, like Francis Lawyers
  • Insurance and mortgage brokers

Address

1390 Clyde Ave, Suite 200,
Ottawa, ON, K2G 3H9

Phone

Main 613-226-1011 ∙ Fax 613-226-2629
info@francislawyers.ca

Office Hours

Monday-Friday
09:00am to 05:30pm