Q: Do I, as a buyer, have to pay a commission to the Realtor?
A: No, the buyer does not pay the commission. Commission is paid from the transaction proceeds unless, in a very rare situation, a buyer and Realtor have entered into a contract to otherwise facilitate this.

Q: Can I see a house that is listed with another company and/or agent?
A: Yes. A licensed Realtor, that is a member in good standing with AREA and the Calgary Real Estate Board, can show every active listing.

Q: What if I want to build a new home? Can an agent help me?
A: Yes. An agent is very valuable to the buyer when purchasing a new home. They are there to represent your interests whereas a builder’s salesperson is there to represent the best interests of the homebuilder.

Q: What are the benefits of using an agent?
A: Realtor is there to protect and represent the best interests of their client. They can advise and negotiate for their respective clients to ensure that their client ends up with the best price, conditions and terms for the transaction.

Q: Do I need to get pre-approved for a mortgage? When should I do this?
A: We highly recommend being pre-approved for a mortgage by an experienced, professional mortgage broker. We have several that we can recommend to our buyers.

Q: What are the costs involved with purchasing a home??
A: Fortunately, here in Alberta, the costs of purchasing a home/condo are dramatically less than in other provinces. Each purchase would be slightly different than the next, but a homebuyer should prepare for approximate costs of $600 to $1,000 depending on if a home inspection is required.

Q: Do I need a lawyer??
A: Technically, you do not need a lawyer to buy and sell property in Alberta. However, it is highly recommended and 99% of all purchases involve a lawyer. This is an additional way to protect your interests when buying or selling.

Q: Should I get a home inspection and/or a condominium document review?
A: Absolutely, have a home inspection done. Even if it is a new home. A qualified, experienced home inspector can save you thousands of dollars by discovering problems, recommending repairs and supplying you with good maintenance tips and advice to help you avoid future problems. We have several excellent home inspectors we can recommend. As for condominium document reviews, we definitely recommend having one done. We have several good companies we can recommend.

Q: Should I make a “low ball” offer?
A: Making a so-called “low ball” offer has more disadvantages than advantages. The best way to make an offer is to let us determine the value range of a property prior to making an offer. Dealing in good faith with a seller will result in a “win-win” situation, with attractive terms, conditions and a fair price.

Q: How do competing offers work?
A: Competing offers can vary dramatically and, for that reason, it is better to answer that question based on the exact details of the situation at that time.

Q: When is the best time to buy?
A: The best time to purchase Real Estate depends on a wide range of factors such as: the buyer’s immediate needs, down payment, inventory of homes available, interest rates, personal residence or an investment property. It is best to discuss with us your real estate wants, needs and goals and together we can determine if now is a good time for you to purchase a home.