First Time Home Buyer Guide: The Steps to Buying Your First Home
So, you’re finally ready to take the plunge and buy your first home. Congratulations! Buying a home is a huge milestone, and there’s a lot to think about. Where do you want to live? How much can you afford to spend? What kind of home do you want? These are just a few of the questions you’ll need to answer before you’re ready to start house hunting.
If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry. We’ve put together this first-time home buyer guide to help you navigate the process from start to finish. We’ll cover everything from finding the right property to closing on your new home. So, whether you’re looking for a townhome, a single-family home, or anything in between, we’ve got you covered.
Ready to get started? Let’s jump in!
1. Realizing the Dream
5 Reasons Why You Need a Pre-Approval
Mortgage Affordability Calculator
How Much are Closing Costs?
Setting Your Home Buying Budget
The Ultimate Guide to Your Credit Score in Canada
Our Top Tips for Paying Debt Down Quickly
The Costs to Buy a Home and Other New Home Costs You Should Plan For
Buying Your First Home in Canada? Make Sure You Budget for These Extra Costs
2. Choose Your Community
How To Find The Perfect Edmonton Community
The Best Neighbourhoods in Edmonton
Find a Sterling Lot
Area Guide: Excellent Edmonton Communities to Explore
6 Amenities to Look for in Your First Canadian Neighbourhood
8 Amenities To Expect in a New Community
3. Choose Your Home Model
Sterling Home Models
How to Choose the Perfect Floor Plan
First Time Home Buyer 101: The Features You Need
Tips for First Time Home Buyers
Your New Home: A Needs vs Wants Checklist
4. Finalize Your Financing
First-Time Home Buyer 101: Terms to Know
The ABCs of New Construction
Down Payment Basics for First-Time Buyers
How Much Do You Need For a Down Payment?
Down Payments: Explained
First-Time Buying Made Easy: Home Buyers’ Plan
What is the First Time Home Buyer Incentive?
Mortgage Pre-Approval
Find Me a Mortgage Specialist
Mortgage Payment Calculator
5. Make Your Design Choices
Colour Board Visualizer
DesignQ Design Center
6. Construction Process
How Long Does It Take to Build a New Home?
Why Build With Sterling Homes?
New Construction Mortgages
Draw vs. Completion Mortgages: What’s the Difference?
Schedule a Visit With a New Home Advisor
Buying a Home: The Professionals You Should Have on Your Team
7. Time To Move In!
A Checklist For Moving Into Your Newly Built Home
The Cost to Hire Movers
Your Complete Moving Checklist
Tips for Settling Into Your New Home and Neighbourhood
New Home Warranty Basics
What can you Afford?
As a first time home buyer, it’s important to understand what you can afford. Our first-time buyer calculator is a tool that can help you estimate the costs of purchasing a home as a first-time buyer. It can help you determine the amount of money you will need for a down payment, closing costs, and other expenses. The calculator will ask for information such as the price of the home you are interested in, your annual household income, estimated down payment, and property type. Based on this information, the calculator can provide an estimate of what you can qualify for including the shared-equity incentive and home buyers plan (RRSP).