B U Y E R S
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ABOUT OUR TEAM P R O V E N S U C C E S S . S E R V I C E T H AT S TA N D S O U T ! Calgary is a market rich in diversity and sophistication, with its own unique cycles. While sometimes challenging to predict, it is also a valuable teacher that offers great opportunities and rewards to those who strategize and keep up to date. We are a Top Performing Real Estate Team grateful to have enjoyed a strong track record of success for more than 15 years and selling over 500 million in Real Estate in this unique and ever-shifting market. Both Sam and Anna are born and raised Albertans. Dana is originally from Nova Scotia and has been here in Calgary for over 30 years. Both Executive Assistants Karen and Caitlin are long time West Coast, BC team members. All of us are fortunate to have growing families with children. We have lived and breathed this city in all its stages of evolution and love everything about it — the restaurants, attractions, parks and sports, the ethnic festivals, diversity of vibrant neighborhoods and so much more. Please feel free to contact us at any time. Whether it’s to have a simple chat about the market or you’re thinking of selling, finding a new home or looking for an investment property. Having the opportunity to connect with our clients and help them find that perfect fit is what we love most about this profession. - Sam, Dana, Anna, Caitlin & Karen
Top 1% Real Estate Agents in Canada
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BUYING INFORMATION 1. MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE It is very important to evaluate yourself and your situation to help ensure that buying a home is the right decision for you. We believe in full disclosure and the importance of planning. Some questions you should ask yourself: What reasons are prompting you to move and what is your preferred timeline? Have you been through the pre-approval process? What amount are you approved for? When we find the right home for you, are you prepared to make an offer? 2. YOUR LIFESTYLE Deciding on what type of home you want to live in is just as important as deciding on where you want to live. For some, location is everything. For others, home details are everything. It is important that you decide what is most important for you and what type of lifestyle you truly desire. 3. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Another important decision during the buying process is proximity to important things such as schools, work, grocery stores, and amenities such as shopping centers, restaurants, parks and recreation centers. These things define your lifestyle choice and are not only necessary, but convenient.
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MORTGAGE INFO GETTING STARTED You’ve decided you want to buy a home. Now what? The first – and most important step to the home buying process is financing. You can’t do anything until you know how much you can afford. To get started, you need to understand what lenders are looking for from a borrower. There are three main factors that help determine if you qualify for home financing: income, assets, and credit history. DIFFERENT TYPES OF MORTGAGES: Getting a mortgage is one thing. Getting a mortgage that best suits your situation is another. Some mortgages have less strings attached but have more strict stipulations, while others may be harder to get, but have more flexibility. It is important to have all the information about mortgages available to you before you decide to move forward in the purchase of a home. Find out how we can help you find the mortgage that best suits you. INCOME & ASSETS Most loan programs require the lender to verify all of your income sources. Typically you will need to provide pay stubs, your T-4 and copies of your tax returns. Lenders will also want to go through your assets and how much of a down payment you will have when determining your loan approval. CREDIT HISTORY All lenders review a borrower’s credit history to determine the type of credit used, the amount owed, and the borrower’s repayment history.
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THINGS TO CONSIDER AND PREPARE FOR o Costs associated such as Property inspection, Condominium documents review (if applicable), Lawyer fees, moving costs, etc. o Setting up your services such as Heat, Electricity and Water. (Consider using En max or Direct energy) o Phone, Cable or Internet set up. (Consider using Shaw or Telus) o Home Insurance o Any trades you need to contact to either repair some items or hiring a contractor in advance prior to move in to upgrade/update your home. (Ask us about General Contractors we use) o Transportation needs. Do you require the LRT system or express bus? o What school is my child able to attend and what is the transportation method. (Check www.cbe.ab.ca or www.lifeincalgary.ca) o Property Tax transfer and method of payment. (ie TIPPs program) o Change of address on all legal documents, bank accounts, Canada Post, etc
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ONLINE EXPOSURE We use the Internet and all online tools to help find your next home. With most buyers checking the web, getting online is the most effective and efficient way to search for homes. Our web presence and online network will help us find a home that best suits you! Most people search for a home using three main search engines. We make sure to give you the widest possible access on these platforms.
BUYER SEARCH ONLINE! More than half of all homebuyers search online first when looking to purchase a home. It is vitally important that you are able to view the full range of potential homes to find the one that’s right for you. TOURING HOMES IN PERSON AND ONLINE Some people look at several homes before finding just the right one. And others find “the one” immediately. Thanks to the Internet, you can streamline your search process significantly by checking out homes for sale online. You can visit open houses and preview everything that’s for sale in your market.
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HOME INSPECTIONS THE PRICE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT It is a good idea to make sure what you think you are buying is indeed the property you are buying. It is so important to feel comfortable with your purchase during the home buying experience. Feeling comfortable starts with financing, but then leads into feeling confident that your purchase is sound. Having a professional home inspector is the way to gain peace of mind. A proper inspection will cover all areas of the house both structurally and mechanically and give you an objective view of the property. A qualified home inspector will also provide you with a written report indicating areas of concern and the estimated cost of repairs. HERE ARE A FEW HOME INSPECTION TIPS: Ensure the home inspector checks for visible issues with plumbing, electrical systems, roof, insulation, walls, ceilings, floors and windows, and the condition of the foundation. Ensure your home inspector gives you a close and personal look at your new home. It takes about three hours to go through all the systems, and if there are any problems, you will see them with your own eyes. They will also give you maintenance tips and easy fix-ups, if necessary. Ensure that in the end, you receive a detailed report that summarizes the condition of your home. The method most often used in evaluating single family homes is the Comparable Method. A property is worth what the buyer is willing to pay for it and this is determined by the basic laws of supply and demand. These two factors are evaluated by comparing the home with similar homes that have sold within the market area, with appropriate consideration given to location, amenities lot size, condition, and financing terms. 13
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TESTIMONIALS “Sam and his team were patient, strategic, candid and had our financial interests in mind at every step during the process. This was very much appreciated, especially in the atypical market in which he helped us sell our home. he made the right calls along the way, and we appreciated his proactive manner. 12/10. My husband and I would highly recommend.” - Lai Family “Thanks to Sam and his team, we are living in our amazing new dream house. We will continue to recommend Sam’s services to all our friends, colleagues, and to both our families. We will definitely use his services again in all our future realty dealings.” - Horne Family “We have used many Realtors in the past but Sam has been by far the best. Sam is very patient in answering our questions and providing us honest feedback. It is always stressful to sell a property but Sam made this experience effortless. Thank you for being so professional and keeping our best interests in mind.” - Saini Family “Sam and his team were simply great to work with! Made our buying and selling experience stress free. Sam knew the market really well, and had offers on our house in only days and later sold in four days. I would not hesitate to refer Sam and his team to any family members or close friends.” - Lee Family
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403.830.0331 i nfo@sam patel.c a sam patel.c a