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All agents are NOT alike! Find out what I can offer you as a Full Service Personal Realtor . Call me: 1-800-263-4753
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"A dedicated true professional realtor"
"Then I found Rosemarie Colterman, well in less than one month she has found me a new apartment.."
David A. Anderson- a very satisfied client
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Click here for client testimonial ( scroll down to bottom of page)
You’ve decided to buy a home. Buying a home is more than looking at houses, it’s finding the right home, at the right price in the right location with the minimum amount of time and inconvenience. As your personal Realtor, I can work for you, giving you choice and representation for all properties including MLS and Exclusive. You may want to consider the following as a guide to buying your new home…..
The Agency Relationship
 Neighbourhoods
It is important that the neighbourhood you choose to live in is well suited to you. You may want to consider the following list of considerations:
1) Environment – consider traffic noise and air quality
2) Appearance – explore the locality, many neighbourhoods are changing - this may increase your property value
3) Oil Tanks – Is there a buried oil tank on the property?
4) Schools – the quality and proximity is important to consider
5) Amenities – how close are the nearest stores and transportation routes?
6) Remember older homes will be exposed to the elements so you must factor in costs for repairs and maintenance.
Viewing properties for sale
When you view a property, it is wise to keep a checklist to include items such as:
1) Age of the wiring ( ie – if the electrical panel has fuses or circuit breakers and if the power sockets are up to date )
2) Type of heating ( how efficient is it as a heating source? )
3) Roof and foundations
4) Plumbing The list is endless and too exhaustive to mention here. It is recommended you arrange for a Home Inspection if you are seriously interested in purchasing the property.
Home Inspection
It makes sense to hire a qualified home inspector to ensure your new home is as solid and secure on the inside as it is on the outside. The inspection focuses on the structural and mechanical soundness of your home. The inspector will walk through the house with you, identifying any possible problem areas and suggest solutions, and will compile a report summarizing his findings. He will help you to better understand how to take care of your new home and may leave you with a helpful manual filled with useful hints and tips. By hiring a home inspector before purchasing your new home you can rest assured you are doing your upmost in protecting yourself and your investment. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.
Making an Offer
In short, this is:
1) When you declare how much you are willing to pay for the property
2) Deciding when you may wish to move in ( “The closing date” )
3) Proposing a set of conditions that work for you
4) Stating when you wish your offer to expire. At this stage, along with your offer you will also be expected to present a deposit. This is confirmation to the seller you are serious about buying their home.
You may find you are in competition with other buyers, but by law the sellers agent has to bring ALL offers to the seller.
When your offer is accepted and all conditions are met, this is now legally binding to both parties. It is therefore imperative you are completely happy with all terms of the offer before signing.
Affordability/The Mortgage
It is important to be realistic when you’re thinking about a down payment and setting a price range, you don’t want to be looking for a home which is more than you can afford.
There are a number of steps to getting mortgage financing - the most important being your initial credit check. Here as part of the application process, your lender checks your credit history and determines whether to lend you money for the purchase of your new home. By having a copy of your credit report before seeing the lender may avoid delays and gives you the opportunity to see it before they do. The report (from one of Canada’s largest credit bureau’s) can be mailed or faxed free of charge upon request.
For more information, call: Equifax: 1-800-465-7166
There are several types of mortgage to consider, from pre-approved and conventional mortgages to high ratio and vendor take back mortgages. Your lender will explain in great detail which one is most suitable for you.
TIP: Through the website www.mls.ca, browsers can automatically calculate your estimated mortgage payments on listings. Simply click “Calculate Now” on a property to discover your estimated monthly payment for that home.
Additional Costs
In addition to the purchase of your new home, there are further costs you should be aware of including:
1) Mortgage broker’s fee
2) Appraisal fee
3) Possible survey costs ( if the seller did not have a current survey )
4) Home Inspection cost
5) Legal fees Closing
Before “Closing Date” when the house legally becomes yours, the following transactions take place:
1) Your lawyer and the seller’s lawyer transfer the property title to you.
2) The mortgage money is transferred to your lawyer’s trust account and then onto the seller
3) You will be sent a bill from your lawyer for any additional expenses ( ie, land transfer taxes and outstanding legal fees. ) Possession Date
When you will receive the keys and move into your new home!
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Please take a moment to complete my Buyer Profile below so I can further understand your needs and wants, your time frame and financial boundaries and begin your search for the perfect home. I can generate daily matches to your requirements so you don’t miss out on any new listings.
My wife and I began the search for our first home by visiting numerous open houses. We met Rosemarie at one of those open houses and were instantly impressed by her friendliness and her professionalism. Unlike some realtors we had met, she was neither pushy nor indifferent to our needs. We agreed to work with Rosemarie and it was only a short time later that we realized she was the same person whom one of our friends had spoken highly of.
Rosemarie taught us a great deal about the home buying process and she was reliable and efficient in her work. With Rosemarie's help, in the matter of a couple of weeks we found ourselves a beautiful home in a wonderful neighbourhood and within our budget. Rosemarie made the whole process of buying a house easy and painless. Even after our offer to purchase was accepted, Rosemarie continued to work with us until after the closing date to ensure that all went smoothly and that we were completely satisfied with our purchase. Buying a house with Rosemarie as our realtor was a very positive experience and we highly recommend Rosemarie.”
Dr. George & Mrs. Marilou Ballinger
Pricing >Multiple Listing Service
When you list your house with a real estate agent who participates in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), you get a lot of service for your money. Depending upon the MLS region, there may be hundreds of participating members.
The real estate agent who lists your home works to get it sold. This is done by marketing directly to home buyers, but an even more powerful tool is marketing your home to other agents who have buyers. Your real estate agent makes all the crucial information about your home available to the other members through the MLS. Information such as your home's location, size, the number of rooms, the style of architecture, what personal property is included, and any other special features is posted. The MLS description will also contain information about any special financing that might be available, showing instructions, and special needs you may have with respect to closing. The MLS is a powerful tool for real estate matchmakers.
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| Q |
Where are the highest median price homes in the United States currently located?
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| A |
According to the NAR, the highest median price in the second quarter of 2005 was $726,900 for homes in California's San Francisco Bay area. |
 See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
