Whether you’re buying a house for the first time, the second or the seventh time, it’s still one of the biggest decisions you ever have to make. In order to ensure sheer success, you need Trusted Saskatoon Realtor Clark Dziadyk! Clark will ease your mind by taking the pressure off of you to find your dream home! Be assured Saskatoon Real Estate Agent Clark Dziadyk puts 100% effort into everything he does. He shares regular Saskatoon Real Estate Expert Tips with us and in his latest tip he shares RBC’s home-buying checklist for newcomers to Saskatoon.

Buying Your First Home in Canada Checklist

Home-Buying Checklist for Newcomers

1. Figure out what you can afford.

Before you start looking for a home, get a general idea of how much you may be able to afford and what your mortgage payments would be. This will help you set a realistic price range so you can balance home ownership with your lifestyle needs.

2. Save for your down payment (if applicable).

Considering the high cost of homeownership in Canada, most newcomers (and most Canadians) don’t pay the full price of their homes all at once. Typically, buyers make a down payment on a home using money they've saved and then borrow the rest (through a mortgage) from a lender.

3. Understand your mortgage options.

There are a lot of mortgage features to choose from in Canada, and Saskatoon. Talking to a mortgage specialist is one of the best ways to make sense of all the options, and to help you save money over the lifetime of your mortgage.

4. Get a mortgage pre-approval.

Once you’re ready to buy a home, be sure to get a mortgage pre-approval. A pre-approved mortgage means the bank has made a commitment (subject to conditions such as a property valuation) to loan you the money for your home.

- You’ll know how much you can afford to borrow for your new home.

- You’ll be in a better position to negotiate with sellers once you have found a home.

- You’ll also know your interest rate.

6. Start your home search!

As you start looking at homes, don’t just think about the type of home you want—also think about your lifestyle and how close you want to live near amenities such as schools, highways, medical services, shopping, restaurants and recreation.