Edmonton, St Albert, & Area RE/MAX Real Estate Professional

If a sudden job transfer is in your future, a little pre-planning can help make your relocation move less stressful. Because after the excitement of moving to a new city begins to fade, panic often replaces the initial exhilaration, especially when the realization hits that you might not know anything about buying a home in a new area.

Buying a home in an unfamiliar area carries risks, and it can be scary. Real estate laws vary from province to province. Local custom can differ from one county to another. You don't want to make a home buying mistake or buy in the wrong neighborhood. So how can you protect yourself?

Begin a Search Online

Start an Internet search by entering keywords into Google such as the name of the city, coupled with information or housing. Here are a few places to look:

• www.Realtor.ca (formerly MLS.ca)
• go to an agents website (like this one). I have lots of links to other sites.
• Look at the tourism sites for the city.
• Check with the local Chamber of Commerce.
• Go to the Web site of the major city newspaper to follow metro news and housing classifieds.
• Look up the nearby university and college Web sites.
• If you've narrowed your choices to specific neighborhoods, search on "name of neighborhood" plus "neighborhood association."
• Go to the local police department's Web site to check crime stats.

Talk to REALTORS®

• First, find a real estate agent. (Like me)
• I can send you a relocation package on this area.
• Ask whom the agents represent and request a copy of a buyer's broker agreement before you are asked to sign such a document.
• Find out the procedure for working with local agents.
• Determine who pays the real estate agent. It could be you. (Not to often)
• You might talk to a lawyer to see how the process works for them.

Gather Data on Inspections and Disclosures

Because every province can be different, find out how what types of disclosures you can expect to receive and which types of inspections are normally performed. Some provinces might not require that sellers disclose material facts to potential buyers. Here are questions to ask:

• Is it customary for buyers to receive reports on environmental hazards and, if so, who pays for them?
• Are pest inspections generally part of the purchase contract?
• Who pays for home inspections and what types of repairs do sellers cover?
• Do city laws govern transfer of ownership and inspections?
• Do buyers in certain neighborhoods ask for chimney, plumbing or sewer / septic inspections?
• Are surveys typically ordered?
• How are taxes assessed?

Select Neighborhoods

Whether you choose older or new homes, because agents tend to specialize in neighborhoods, hire an agent who works in the neighborhoods where you want to buy. A good agent can tell you the differences between homes as sometimes a home across the street from another can vary greatly in price.

REALTORS® have intimate knowledge about their areas that you won't get anywhere else. Ask for details on:

• Recent comparable sales.
• Average per-square-foot cost. Break this down by price ranges and square-foot values because the larger the home, the lower the square-foot cost.
• Average list-to-sales-price ratios.
• Days on Market.
• Are you moving into a seller's, buyer's or neutral marketplace?

With some help and planning, you can have a smooth relocation.