Welcome to

The place to learn all about buying or selling a property.


This unique, user-friendly website is specifically designed to answer
all your questions in an interactive way.

Start your experience now.
Contact Us

We’re here to answer any questions you may have about buying or selling a property.

Determine what you want


Before you begin your research, you must first determine what you want and identify what seems relevant to your situation.

Scroll

Determine what are

Your needs

Your wish list

Your means

Identify essential characteristics such as number of bedrooms or proximity to your workplace.

Make a list of features you would like to have: a pool, living by the waterfront, etc.

Determine a price range according to your current financial situation (see the "Establishing a budget" form).

How
much does buying cost?


Buying a property involves certain expenses you might not know existed, among them are:

Scroll
Scroll

One-time Fees

Cash down

Professional fees

Title insurance

Inspection fees

Transfer taxes

GST/QST on professional fees

Monthly Fees

Mortgage

Utilities (ex.: electricity)

Maintenance

Insurance

Property taxes (municipal and school taxes)

Selecting
a type of property and its location


Nowadays, there's a wide selection of properties and locations to choose from, each consisting its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it's important you take your lifestyle into consideration so you can identify the type of property that suits you best. Here is a list of the most common options found on the market.

Scroll

First and foremost, determine where you want to live.

The city

The suburbs

Rural areas

Prices of downtown properties are much higher than those in the suburbs. In exchange, you are within walking distance to almost everything, maybe even your work. A wide range of services and amenities are also available nearby.

It's no wonder so many people adopt the suburbs: schools are more modern, shopping centers are bigger and newer, backyards are larger in size, and homes are more spacious.

Why not consider making the purchase of a few acres of land? This is not necessarily everyone’s first choice, but for some it's a nice opportunity to realize their dream of becoming land owners.

You can then decide on the type of home you want to purchase.

Single-family house

Semi-detached house

Duplex

The building consists of just one dwelling that is built on its own lot. Styles range from single storey homes to multi-level ones.

This too consists of just one dwelling but is connected to another house by an adjoining wall and usually costs less than a detached house.

A duplex contains two individual units.

Townhouse

The condominium formula

A townhouse is located in a continuous row of adjacent houses interconnected by adjoining side walls.

You're the sole owner of your housing unit but share condominium fees for facilities and common areas such as the plumbing, the electrical system, hallways and elevators. A condominium may also include other interesting advantages, such as a gym or a private reception hall.

New or existing construction?

Existing construction

New construction

The charm and character of an older home can be very appealing. Many older homes have been remodeled or have had upgrades done to them over the years, such as landscaping and other major renovations. Be careful not to get easily distracted by the house’s character as it could be camouflaging underlying defects or other problems. Before purchasing an older home, you should first have it inspected by a professionnal.

If you choose to build a new house, be sure to carefully inspect the property and all the plans. You should also visit other homes that were built by the builder you plan to hire. Have your real estate broker and/or notary review all documents before signing them and, most importantly, make sure you follow the construction process very closely. Prior to officially taking possession of the house, you have the legal right to conduct a comprehensive inspection.

To Sell
or To
Buy first?


For some people, buying another house means they have to first sell the one they currently own and in this case good planning is required. It’s not uncommon to end up buying and selling simultaneously without much difficulty.

Scroll

Broker's Advice

Your Proprio Direct broker is an essential reference to help guide you throughout this process.

Scroll

Buying
before
selling

If you're the buyer, you can make a conditional offer upon the sale of your current property so as to not get stuck paying for two mortgages at once.

In order to be able to purchase another house before having sold your current one, you should consider obtaining provisional financing from your financial institution. This will allow you to have the required down payment for your new house.

Selling
before
buying

If you’re the seller, you can try postponing the occupancy date so as to give yourself more time to find your next property.

Should you buy with or without
the help
of a broker?

As a certified real estate specialist, your broker has the knowledge, the resources and the experience to assist you when buying or selling a property.

In addition, as it's usually the seller who pays the commission, the use of a broker is often at no charge for buyers.

Scroll

When it comes to buying a property,
the broker's job is to:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  1. Inform you of current market conditions and those of the area you are looking into.
  2. Discuss your needs and analyze them to ensure they are aligned with your budget.
  3. Direct you to properties that match your criteria and provide you with privileged information.
  4. Organize visits according to your availability.
  5. Harmonize the work of all other professionals you will be using during the transaction process and help you fully benefit from his network of qualified contacts.
  6. Prepare your promise to purchase and negotiate on your behalf with the seller and/or his broker.
  7. Make sure that all required documents are in accordance with the law, that they’re properly completed, and that deadlines and requirements are respected.
  8. Assist you with mortgage financing in order to get you the best deal.
  9. Inform you about government programs for which you may be eligible, such as the Home Buyers Plan (HBP) and propose legal solutions for your lease.
  10. Accompany you at the notary for the closing of the transaction.
Next Step:
I’m ready to buy