Starting the House Hunt

Okay, we know what the priorities are and how much we can spend, so now we have to decide what kind of house we are looking for: A condominium (customized flat that you own), co-op (a flat that is within a shared building), townhouse (we would say terrace house but heck of a lot bigger and nicer), single-family detached home (detached house with the yard) or maybe its a hillside mansion with a view the ocean. You will probably start looking for properties through the internet. Don't forget that your realtor can show you all properties. You can find almost all listings on mls.ca.

Take your time to find a Realtor that is a good fit for you. Try emailing ones that you are interested in and if they do not get back to you in a timely manner with real answers to your questions, move on and look at another agent. Ask for reliable references if you are unsure.

A great Realtor can educate you about what to look for and avoid,  provide reliable references for other experts you'll need along the line—such as lenders and inspectors—and represent you in negotiations and at closing.

Now you are ready to start explore the housing market. View at least five houses in the area so you can achieve some idea of the local market, and remember, the market may change from one street to the next, just as it would from whence you came. So if the same house is a lot less expensive, it may not be quite as good a neighbourhood. It is different when you are in a completely different market than where you are used to. My advice would be to first pick your area, then suggest to your realtor what your price point is, and what houses you would like to see.

Start researching houses yourself at places like mls.ca. Have a look at areas. Realise that everything you see will be priced by professionals for its value. You may also see a lot of private lists by owner, and there is nothing wrong there, but remember, you don't pay the realtor, so let them negotiate and do the work.

I will cover some areas in the next article. I will provide a map and explain the areas, and then you can have a better idea of where you want to land that dream.
Stay tuned for more information on immigrating and purchasing your dream home in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Patricia Parker
www.novascotiatownandcountry.com

©Patricia Parker