José Martínez: “I strive to provide real estate services that satisfy needs and go beyond the norm.”
Owning a home can be a financially rewarding endeavour according to research by the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia which concludes that home owners become wealthier over time.
It is definitely a huge decision that could impact many areas of your life and, therefore, you should be very well informed before embarking on that path. For some people, quality of life means not to compromise a walk to work, to get groceries or to have theatres close by, even if it means that the only home possible is a rental one. That’s the case for many Downtown Vancouver dwellers. For others, a ride in the sky train to work from a spacious, affordable, New West Quay condo is an easy compromise. What is your compromise? Is homeownership right for you?
If the answer is a strong yes to homeownership, then the next hurdle is to find out if you are financially ready. You can spend time understanding and figuring out your net worth, budget, and debt payments, but the assistance of a good mortgage broker could simplify this process. Most important, a mortgage broker shops around for you for the mortgage that fits your needs, and can get you a pre-approval and a rate hold for a time period, usually of 90 or 120 days.
But usually a mortgage is not the only financial factor to take into account; there are other costs that you should not be surprised by. In my opinion, you should get these estimates even before looking for a home. For example, do you need mortgage insurance, appraisal fee, deposit, down payment (and the list goes on)? You can fill up this Home Purchase Cost Estimate form to estimate your home buying costs.
These steps are part of the preparation stage: determining your needs and wants, and getting guidance and help.
In determining your needs and wants, you want to consider costs, location of your home, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, whether it is to be a new or older home, distance to schools and/or public transportation, whether pets are allowed in strata condos, square feet of the home, requirements for disabilities, etc.
Regarding guidance and help, after considering the financial/mortgage aspect, my help, as that of any professional real estate agent, will focus on saving you time and money; screening homes based on your budget and requirements; providing information on market values, taxes and costs; and on referring you to mortgage specialists, home appraisals and home inspectors, etc.
José Martínez: “I work to earn your trust as your Real Estate Doctor, so I can advise you and/or refer you to any specialist you need.”
What I consider the second stage in home buying is the exploration stage. Here, viewing homes is usually the fun part. My goal is to present you an objective picture, explore areas that you like or that you might have not even considered, and, once in a home, point out general maintenance issues that should not be overlooked, or water damage signs and squeaking floors, visible structural cracks in the foundation, or drainage problems.
José Martínez: “My job once we get through a house’s door is to gather facts and look beyond the paint. Once we leave, my job is to help you stay objective.”
In the process, comparing homes and values will allow you to be better prepared in deciding which home is for you and fine tune your needs and wants.
José Martínez: “I match your needs and wants with the best homes and save you time and money in the process. It is not a good idea to buy and later find out that you are not happy with the commute to work or you actually needed that home office space.”
Decision stage has arrived. You love a home and want it. It is important to prepare a solid offer that takes care of your interests. I will show you comparable homes sold recently, so you have an idea what is the appropriate market value. I will draft the Contract of Purchase and Sale and explain you every detail. We will include conditions like home inspection or financing to protect you. I will present the offer for you or any counter-offer.
José Martínez: “A successful negotiating tool is to know how to present and analyse MLS® market data. A Master of Science in Physics and many previous years in the Software Industry have given me an edge in that area.”
Past the negotiation and accepted the offer, I will guide you through all the steps of satisfying conditions, arranging mortgage financing, reading strata minutes (I read them with you!), and all other aspects of finalizing the purchase of your dream home. I will assist you with setting up movers, booking elevators, changing address, and the many other steps needed to conclude the Closing stage.
José Martínez: “Receiving your new home keys should be a memorable moment and I will work for that.”
If you would like to contact me, please click here to fill up a form or give me a call.