Buying with The2Lisas
Real Estate Team

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Buying with The2Lisas Real Estate Team

Both Lisas are long time residents of Toronto and have lived in Lesliville for more 15 years. We were here before it was gentrified; when Hello Toast was an outpost in the east end that people would flock to for brunch and when Queen Street west was truly the wild west. We live and work in the centre of it all and love it! Neighbourhoods have grown and changed over the years and working as real estate agents in such a dynamic market has always been fun and interesting.

As you search for a home you will need someone on your side – someone who will help you find the right place at the right price and protect you along the way. As buying agents, we provide complete and honest representation of your interests and expertise throughout the entire buying process. Both Lisas are Accredited Buyer’s Representatives – the ABR designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation demonstrating our commitment to providing outstanding service to the buyers we work with. In this market, it’s important to have a Trusted Advisor with you along the way:

We Work As A Team

You benefit by getting both Lisas and you’re never without support. We have complementary skill sets and work together seamlessly. We know you’re at work Monday to Friday 9-5pm so seeing properties will happen on your schedule and if your Lisa is not available – there’s always the other Lisa to step in.

Knowing The Market

We are active agents working full time in real estate, it’s not a hobby job for us! We are in our second decade as real estate agents buying and selling and possess a full understanding of buyers’ and sellers’ markets.

Help Arrange Financing

Most buyers finance their home purchase and we can assist in locating sources of mortgage loans and comparing different financing options. We can examine how much a buyer can afford and may want to spend. If you’re not clear how carrying costs will add up – we will provide that for you. If you’re looking for an investment property, we can provide analytics to determine ROI.

Assist In Finding The Right Home

No high-pressure tactics here we will stay on top of any new listings in your desired neighbourhood and will set you up to receive emails with all new listings as well. We will aid in narrowing the search until top choices have been identified and assist in analyzing the pros and cons of each property. We will preview properties so you don’t have to waste your time. We will let you know what we see as we view the property, warts and all, for a balanced assessment.

Provide Negotiating Guidance When Making An Offer

We will assemble the facts to develop an objective analysis of a property in question and how it relates to the market at large. Then develop a negotiating strategy based on the property, market conditions and buyer priorities. Both Lisas are seasoned pros with bidding wars and are Certified Negotiation Experts (CNE) with top skills to negotiate the best possible price and protect you along the way. The CNE designation let’s you know we have tackled a comprehensive curriculum to develop a skill set above the rest.

Assist In Finalizing The Closing

We are there to navigate inspections, any conditions and manage the details including handling all the follow-up upon a contract being accepted…all mortgage, title and other closing procedures. We have a network of trusted support people we work with – Home Inspectors, real estate Lawyers, Mortgage brokers, Trades people; painters, contractors, electricians, plumbers, roofers, painters and incredible Admin Staff to support office services. We don’t leave you once the paperwork is signed – we are there all of the way through.

Getting To Know Us

Let’s sit down for a coffee and chat. If we like each other we can go out and see some listings. If all goes well, we can formalize things and if something changes in the future just let us know.

Buying Advice

Finding the perfect home takes time. It takes lots of work and careful planning. Below are a few tips to help streamline the process.

1. Consider your requirements before beginning your search

Location
Where you live has an impact on your lifestyle and it’s also one of the most significant factors on the value of your home. Choice of location is sometimes limited by the price you can afford but it is still important to consider factors such as commute to work, schools, family, shopping and entertainment.

Budget
Consider how much you have to spend, and just as importantly, consider how much you want to spend. Note that purchasing a home includes numerous additional expenses above and beyond the list price.

Features
Is it important for you to have an ensuite bathroom, an attached garage or a private backyard? Would you like a fireplace, a short commute, or maybe minimal work? Once you decide which features you would like, then it’s time to prioritize the list.

Type of Home
You should consider what type of property you would like to live in. A single-family detached home is desirable to many because it typically provides more living space and land. Alternatively, a condominium may be a more appropriate choice, since condos offer low-maintenance living. It is important to determine what type of home best suits your budget and desired lifestyle.

2. Searching for a home

A real estate agent can help by using a variety of tools to identify properties that meet your requirements. One such tool is the local Board’s MLS® (Multiple Listing Service®) System. MLS can be searched for listings that best match your requirements such as location and budget.

3. Viewing properties

Once you decide to visit a property, keep your requirements in mind, i.e. does it have all the features you want? does the location work for your lifestyle? Also keep some of the technical considerations in mind, such as: wiring, power outlets, heating, foundation and roof maintenance, windows, plumbing etc. Home inspections can provide an assessment of the technical aspects of a property and it is a good idea to have a professional inspection performed.

4. Making an offer

When you find a property that you would like to buy, your agent can put together an offer. The offer will include, the price you are willing to pay, expiration of the offer, a closing date for the purchase of the home and conditions for the purchase. Some commonly included conditions are:

Financing, which states you will be able to get a mortgage.
Selling your current home.
Survey provided by the seller that shows there are no encroachments on the property;
Title of the property being owned by the seller (your lawyer will confirm via a title search).
Home inspection by a qualified engineer; and
Inclusion and exclusion of any appliances and other items – basically, what stays and what goes.
A deposit is given along with an offer. A deposit of appropriate value will show your good faith to the seller.

5. Acceptance of an offer

Once an offer is accepted and all conditions are met, then the offer becomes binding on both sides. If either party then does not honour the agreement, they can be sued or the deposit lost; therefore before signing, be sure that you fully comprehend all the terms of the offer.

Before the property can formally be handed over from the seller to the buyer, a few more things must be done. You will have to show proof of insurance to the institution that provided your mortgage. On or before closing day, the lawyers from both sides will arrange to transfer the property title from the seller to the buyer. The mortgage will be transferred to your lawyer’s trust account, and then to the seller. Your lawyer will bill you all additional expenses such as land transfer taxes or outstanding legal fees. Also be sure to check with your lawyer that everything is as stated in the offer-to-purchase.

Once this is complete and the keys are in your hands, then the home is yours!

6. Additional costs

Purchasing a home is associated with some extra expenses, such as:

Legal fees
Real estate agent fees
Appraisal fee
Survey costs (if the seller didn’t have a current survey)
A high-ratio mortgage insurance premium
An interest adjustment for the mortgage.
Reimbursement to seller for the unused portion of any prepaid property taxes or utility bills
Land transfer tax in certain provinces
Mortgage broker’s fee