How do you benefit from buying a house with a real estate Real Estate Agent in Quebec?

A real estate agent will:

• Help you find houses that suit your taste and needs.
• Accompany you to house showings and give you advice.
• Use his knowledge of the real estate market to target the right price to offer for a house.
• Negotiate the price and conditions following a home inspection.
• Guide you through all the steps of the transaction.
• Refer you to competent professionals (notary, mortgage broker, etc.)

It will cost you nothing to hire a real estate Real Estate Agent because his commission is covered by the seller.

 

Take advantage and enjoy these benefits!

With a Real Estate Agent, you can negotiate like a LION. You will have the best because you will be well prepared and get advice from a pro.

How can you make sure that the house you buy will meet most of your needs for the next 5 to 10 years?

Will it be possible to modify or expand the house to fit the changing needs of your family?

Do you want to buy a new or existing building?

What kind of property are you looking for?

• Single family house (bungalow)
• Twin house
• Townhouse
• Duplex, triplex…
• Small building
• Residential building
• Condominium (condo)
• Investment property

Is the property you are looking at in good condition?

In what kind of a neighborhood would you like to live?

• Urban
• Suburban
• Rural

Do you want to avoid the noisiest neighborhoods located near:

• An airport
• A freeway
• Industries
• A road used by heavy trucks
• A railroad

A Real Estate Agent will ask you the right questions to help focus your search on the right property and in the right location.

The benefits of hiring a Real Estate Agent

There are so many properties for sale:

• In newspapers (daily and community newspapers)
• Real estate websites (Centris, DuProprio, etc.)
• Other websites (Kijiji, LesPac, etc.)

How can you find the time to look everywhere?

Buying a house with the help of a Real Estate Agent will save you time and energy.

The real estate market is constantly changing and a Real Estate Agent is an expert who knows current market trends.  Taking into consideration your needs (current and future) and combining it with market expertise, an agent is in the best position to guide you on the purchase of your property.

By knowing each step of the process, you can avoid potential pitfalls and react appropriately to unexpected events.

You can be assured and confident of successful transactions that are risk-free.

Not everyone can be a condo or a residential Real Estate Agent.  To be able to practice in the real estate industry, an agent must pass a licensure exam. Moreover, he must:

• Participate in ongoing trainings, and
• Participate in mandatory training when requested by the OAQIC

The Real Estate Brokerage Act provides the foundations for a broker’s training.

A real estate broker practices in a regulated profession.

The OACIQ is the authority in real estate and mortgage brokerage in Québec.  It regulates the industry and assists the public by assuring ethical broker practices.

The self-regulation functions of the real estate brokerage agency Québec (OACIQ) includes, among others:

• Determine the requirements of the brokerage profession, whether in Quebec, Montreal and across the province
• Ensure that you have what is most beneficial for you and protect you effectively during a real estate transaction carried out through a Real Estate Agent
• The Real Estate Agent should use forms recommended by the OACIQ
• Advise you with his wealth of knowledge and experience regarding the purchase of a property as well as research tools at his disposal
• Examine all the documentation about the transaction
• Disclose to you all information received and the state of negotiations
• Respect the confidentiality of personal data you reveal to him
• Work with the seller’s Real Estate Agent.

 

Buy a house with a Real Estate Agent in 10 steps

There are many steps to accomplish before you can move into a new home.  Despite appearances, the adventure can be fun and informative.

There are a lot of steps before finally moving into a new home. Despite appearances, the adventure can be fun and informative. Just go with the flow, and surround yourself with the right team.

Determine your needs in order to buy the right home.

• What size of house do you want to buy?
• Does a large yard matter to you?
• Do you prefer the excitement of the city or the quiet of the suburbs?
• How many bathrooms do you need?
• How many bedrooms do you need?
• How much parking space do you plan to use?

Identify your financial capacity.

You must first calculate your monthly expenses.

When you deduct that amount from your gross income (always for a month), see what you have left disposable given that:

• 32% of your income before deductions (or less) represents the cost of living in your home (heating included),
• 40% of your income before deductions (or less) is for repaying your credit cards and your loans.

Anyway, everything will be recalculated by the mortgage representative whose services you retain.

Select your team

• Choose your real estate agent

He will help you find the property that meets your needs and will assist you every step of the way.

• Choose your pre-purchase inspector.

This will let you know the real condition of your future home.

• Choose your notary

This will assist you in buying your house and protect your interests.

• Choose your insurance advisor

This will help you to find winning solutions to obtain your mortgage.

 

Visit houses that suit you with your Real Estate Agent.

Let your real estate agent arrange appointments but be sure to advise him of your availability.

The Offer to Purchase

You finally found the house that meets your criteria.

The role of your real estate agent now is to help you to negotiate.

Once you have agreed on a price that is acceptable to both you and the seller, you can sign a purchase agreement duly accomplished by the real estate agent.

It is also possible to make conditional offer to purchase:

• That the desired residence is inspected or
• Your mortgage application is accepted.

On the other hand, if there is another buyer bidding for the property with no attached conditions, you must keep in mind that it is possible for the seller to accept the offer over your bid.

The Pre-purchase Inspection

A pre-purchase inspector has the skills to provide the necessary information about the state of:

• plumbing
• the roof
• The foundation
• Electrical installations
• etc.

If your offer to purchase is based on the outcome of a pre-purchase home inspection, you can demand for the correction of these problems from the owners, if necessary.

Insure your mortgage

Your insurance advisor will recommend you to protect your mortgage payments in case of potentially serious illnesses or consequences of premature death.

Insure your new home

Home insurance may, under certain conditions, compensate you in the event of disaster such as:

• fire
• theft
• vandalism
• water damage
• accident
• etc.

Home insurance is required if you have a mortgage.

You are now ready to start thinking about moving in.

The next step is to:

• remember the date of the move
• book the truck
• Ask your friends for a helping hand
• Prepare certain moving items you will need
• pack some non-essential or out of season items
• etc.

And now … get your keys and take possession of your new home

What to check during a home inspection?

Since all pre-purchase inspectors do not work according to the same standards, you will know that the one you have chosen works rigorously if he gives you the standards to which he will refer before the appointment.

For example, during the Inspector’s visit, you and your real estate agent can verify that all the items listed will be inspected or, if this is not possible, that the fact and reason for non-inspection will be indicated in the report.

Above all, remember that the real estate agent can advise and guide you through the entire process. It can also give you the information you need.

Here is a summary of key points that a pre-purchase inspector will check:

The Roof

• Coating of the roof
• The condition of the chimney
• Gutters
• The attic (if accessible).

Do not expect the inspector to move on the roof.  He will perform his functions, but will not risk his life. If the temperature is mild, he will simply press his ladder on the roof edge to perform a visual check.

The Exterior

• Siding aluminum and / or brick walls
• The windows and doors (insulation, infiltration …)
• Galleries, porches, terraces …
• The electrical control of the garage door
• The slopes of the ground and the direction of the run-off of water on the ground.

The structure and Foundation

Is the foundation of the house that you want possibly contaminated with pyrite? A conscientious inspector will recommend a soil evaluation depending on the location of the house that interests you.

If the inspection of a suspected area can damage a finish coat, the inspector cannot push the matter further.

To fulfill his duty, the inspector will check:

• roofs and ceilings
• the floors
• bearing walls
• The foundation
• crawlspaces

Electrical installation

• the proper functioning of outlets, switches and lighting systems
• the wires must be properly connected to power outlets
• outlets threatened by moisture must be provided with a functional ground
• the electrical input
• breakers functioning (overload, short circuit)

The Heating System

To complement the information collected by your pre-purchase inspector, you can ask for the name of  the professional that has maintained the main heating system and heat distribution system.

• a furnace should be easily accessible at all times
• there must be a heat output in each of the rooms of the house

The Ventilation System and Air-conditioning (heat pump)

The central air conditioning system:

• air exhaust systems and ventilation
• its energy source

The dual-energy systems (heat pump / furnace)

The insulation of doors, windows and attic

• Are there any traces of moisture in the attic?
• Is there any vapor barrier or other type of insulation?

The Plumbing System

• the heater
• fittings
• water flow

The Interior

• stairs, balconies on which you can access from within the railings
• the ceilings and floors of each room
• dividing walls
• doors, including those used to separate rooms and dwellings
• windows
• countertops, kitchen cabinets and bathrooms (for mold)
• Gas impermeability of walls, ceilings and doors separating the garage from the house
• Pits for retaining sudden excess water

The Yard

• Does the slope of the ground have direct runoff to the residence?
• In what condition is the in-ground pool?

 

REAL ESTATE BOARDS: WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY?

The Federation of Real Estate Boards Quebec (QFREB) represents more than 12 real estate boards in the province. Being a non-profit organization, it was formed upon ratification of the Real Estate Brokerage Act in 1994.

The Federation of Real Estate Boards Québec’s mission is to support the interests and promote the Québec real estate industry for the boards and their members to achieve their business objectives successfully.

The Real Estate Board Quebec alone has more than 1400 realtors willing to accompany you when the time comes to look for and buy your home.

For several decades now, the real estate brokers who are members of the Chambre immobilière de Québec are THE source of information on real estate.

Aiming that real estate agents remain to be the ultimate reference regarding Real Estate Brokerage, Real Estate Board of Québec (CIQ) is committed to:

• Promote the role of the Real Estate Agent
• Make sharing information easier
• Optimize the trust between the public and the members of the Board.

Are you looking for a qualified Real Estate Agent who is willing to put at your service his expertise and experience in order to buy the house perfectly suited to your needs, whether in Quebec or Montreal?

Compare Real Estate Agents can help you choose your Real Estate Agent for buying a house, condo or any other type of residence.

We invite you to call us or fill out the request form on this page to let us know your needs. Then, depending on the method of contact you prefer (phone, email …) three (3) Real Estate Agents will provide you with proposals.

All members of Compare Real Estate Agents are handpicked.  All you need to do is to choose, without pressure or obligation, the offer that best suits your needs in order to buy a house with the best broker.