Where do you want to live? What kind of home do you want?

If you're thinking of moving, unhappy with your house or apartment, how do you decide where to move and what kind of house you want?

How do you decide? This is an especially frustrating question for first-time buyers. 

The possibilities seem endless, and there are always more questions: 

• country or city
• commute or live close to work
• house or condo
• new or resale
• more house or more land
• modern or traditional
• close to family or farther away
• do you need to be close to schools or hospitals
• do you need public transit
• will you need room for guests
• will you need space for your family to grow
• can you do some renovating
• do you like yard work
• how many cars do you need
• what do your pets need
• what about your dreams 

The biggest and first question is always "How much can I afford?" 

The bank will tell you something, and so will friends and family. There are formulas for calculating mortgages and debt to income ratios, and there are always surprises, hidden expenses. Sit down with your bank information and your Realtor. I will help you to understand all the costs involved and I will also help you to see beyond the basics. Numbers don't always tell the whole story. Personality and individuality play a part, so you might need to look outside the box.

After you figure out approximately what you can pay, you need to narrow down your search. I can help you with that too. 

Sometimes it's easier to eliminate what you don't like first. Decide where you don't want to live. Think about what you're not willing to do, features you don't like, and anything else you want to avoid. Sometimes this direction of thinking will open up the ideas about what you do want too. This is a good time to write things down. Make a chart with 2 sides: Like/ Don't Like or Want/ Don't Want. Jot things down as they come to mind (and be prepared to change your mind). 

Go to my website and use the interactive search tool there. That will help. 

Most importantly, go and see homes with your friendly Realtor, me, Harry Naghavi. 

Wherever you are in your decision-making process, give me a call (416-716-3112). It will help to have a professional on your side to help you decide. I can take you to see all kinds of homes and we can take your list with us. When you actually step in to the homes that are available, and drive around the neighbourhoods, you will learn more than you can by sitting at a computer screen. 

We will choose a bunch of places to go and see and decide on a couple of dates that you're available. Then, I'll make appointments to go and see them. I'll set up a route, and we'll go and check them out. Remember to wear comfortable footwear that you can easily take off and put back on again. We can see as many homes as you need to, and take as much time as you need to.