Your Guide to Buying with Olea Real Estate Group

Your

Guide to Buying a Home

With Olea Real Estate Group

Thank You

We appreciate your interest in getting to know us better. Buying a property can be life-changing, which is why it’s so important to work with a team you trust.

As we see it, a home is a major investment—but it’s also much more. It’s where you find comfort and security, where good times are celebrated and memories are made.

That’s why we work tirelessly to help you find the perfect place to call home. While we’re at it, we make sure you receive the best possible price and a memorable, low-stress buying experience.

We’re honoured every time we get to help a buyer navigate the purchase process. It’s our hope that this guide provides the information you need to decide if we’re the right fit!

Let’s dive in...

Our Approach to Buying

When we help you purchase a home, we treat you like family. We do it because we’re truly invested in your future—and we believe you deserve the highest level of service. Here’s what you can expect when you buy with us:

Connection

Care & Attention

Understanding

From conversations over coffee to friendly virtual meetings, we’re always available to talk—and listen to capture your needs. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a retired downsizer, we approach the ins and out of your purchase with compassion and a tailored approach.

Local Expertise

Our vast knowledge of Toronto’s communities—from homes to local amenities and upcoming developments—helps ensure that the place we help you find is perfectly suited to you.

We go the extra mile, which can mean everything from helping you declutter your current home (if you have one) to dropping off your deposit during a busy workday.

Strategic Planning Availability

Using our knowledge, experience, and resources, we create a plan curated to your goals and preferred lifestyle.

During the purchase process and in the years ahead, we’re always here to answer your questions, lend a hand, or simply catch up!

“Munira and Elias are truly the best! They are beyond professional, paying attention to the little details and going above and beyond for their clients!”

-

Meet the Team

We’re a full-time Toronto real estate team with over two decades of experience helping home buyers—and building lasting relationships.

We proudly rank within the top 2% of teams in the city , and we’ve also earned designations such as Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE), Certified Luxury Home Marketing

Specialist (CLHMS), and a BrainStation Digital Marketing Certificate. Our achievements matter to us because they help us to serve you better in your buying journey.

In addition to being real estate specialists, we’re big believers in family and tradition. We invite you to become a part of ours!

As a GTA Realtor®, Lorena Sabatino uses a tailored approach to help her clients buy or sell real estate. After working with other top-producing Realtors®, she has an intimate understanding of the needs of buyers and sellers. Her dedication, passion and honesty shine through in all facets of her career.

Elias is an award-winning broker with an impressive track record. When it comes to helping buyers, he’s known for his ability to find hidden gems that often get overlooked! From 2009 to 2011, he was one of the top 25 producers in GMAC (a former real estate franchise). Today, alongside his wife Munira, he’s also a managing partner of Olea Real Estate Group. They live on the waterfront and are actively involved in their community.

Munira spent over 20 years in community development and public relations before becoming a REALTOR®. Having acted as a representative for a former Ontario Premier and on behalf of health ministers at Queen’s Park, she brings a unique perspective to real estate. She’s involved in numerous community initiatives, including serving as the Secretary of the Board for the Bentway Conservatory.

Tori manages our day-to-day operations. She also assists our buyers and any service providers we work with when need be. Her office administration and customer service background serve her well in these roles. If all of that weren’t enough, Tori also does our in-house marketing and social media management. When she isn’t busy keeping us organized, she enjoys life in High Park with her partner.

Cheyanne Clifford began her real estate career in her hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. However, after visiting Toronto, she fell in love with the big city. She packed up and moved her life and career and has never looked back. Her approachability and entrepreneurial spirit mean she always goes above and beyond to help her clients succeed.

Elias Ben Khelifa

Broker & Owner

Lorena Sabatino

Realtor®

Munira Ravji

Realtor® & Owner

Tori Weaver

Operations Manager

Cheyanne Clifford

Realtor®

Jesil Okuefuna

Jesil Okuefuna is an experienced filmmaker who has worked as a professional commercial, music video, and short film cinematographer for four years. He has two theatrically released short films and countless successful music videos to his credit. Jesil was born and raised in London, England, but now calls Canada home after falling in love with the culture, scenery, and people.

Chief Companionship Officers

No doubt about it: Munira and Elias’ beloved pooches are an integral part of our team! While Bam Bam is always chasing the next ball or stick, Chicharito (aka Cheech) is well known for his cuddles. They’re the best mascots we could ask for. (Psst..need dogfriendly park and patio recommendations? We’ve got you covered).

“3 words, one meaning: Best. Realtors. Ever.

If you’re on the hunt for an excellent realtor, look no further! The entire team at OLEA is top-notch. have never interacted with such an understanding, hardworking, organized, proactive, knowledgeable, and personable group of people. Their tremendous work ethic, community engagement, and values truly set them apart. My experience was like a breath of fresh air and I’m so grateful for having met them!”

- A.S.

Video Producer

Bam Bam & Chicharito

Building strong communities matters. From charitable work to community organization and political advocacy, we’re committed to giving back!

Our Team Awards

We work hard to be the best we can be for our clients. Here are some of our awards and achievements, as recognized by Royal LePage:

We Are a Royal LePage Team

Since 1913, Royal LePage has been a household name in Canadian real estate. Benefits of working with the company include access to innovative technology, unparalleled industry training, and a vast referral network of agents.

Here are a few numbers that speak to Royal LePage’s success:

18,000+ Royal LePage agents 100+ years serving Canadians 600+ locations across the country

The Signature Exceptional Experience

The brokerage we belong to, Royal LePage Signature, is a Toronto market leader. We were drawn to their commitment to integrity and dedication to clients—values we embody everyday.

There are three Royal LePage Signature offices in the GTA to serve you.

Our Local Network

The connections we make aren’t limited to the home buyers and sellers we work with. They extend to our network of trusted professionals!

To make your purchase as seamless as possible—and set you up for homeownership success— here are some of the experts we can connect you to:

Mortgage Brokers

Real Estate Lawyers

Professional Movers

Home Organizers

Home Inspectors

Expert Contractors

And So Many Others!

What Kind of Buyer Are You?

Buying a home is one of life’s biggest decisions. No matter where you are in your buying journey, we provide expertise, empathy, and a personalized approach to help you meet your goals.

We can help you purchase whether you are:

A First-Timer

From determining your budget to understanding contracts, we offer an educational approach so you can make informed decisions.

Move-Up Buyer

Should you buy or sell first? Timelines matter, and so does making this major transition in a way that works for you!

Real Estate Investor

Our investment knowledge ranges from what to look for in an income property to the capital gains taxes you can expect.

Downsizer

Ready to look for the perfect smaller space? Perhaps you’re helping a senior family member do so. Either way, we’ll help you navigate the process with compassion.

Condo Buyer

From maintenance fees to status certificates, we have the condo-buying expertise you need to secure your ideal unit.

“Munira and Elias are the dynamic duo! They are the best real estate agents we’ve ever worked with and great human beings as well!”

- M.A.

Our Steps to Buying

From the first consultation to closing day, our purchase process is both proven, and flexible enough to suit you and your family.

Your Consultation Pre-Approval

We’ll get to know you by discussing your needs and answering your questions. If you’re also selling, we’ll help determine the ideal timing and plan of action.

Obtaining a mortgage pre-approval from a lender is key. If you’d like, we can refer you to a professional we know and trust.

Offer Time Negotations

Together, we craft an offer that’s designed to be attractive to sellers while securing you the best price and conditions.

The Search Home Viewings

We search proactively for listings that meet your needs—and set up automatic alerts so you see relevant homes as soon as they hit the market.

We coordinate with sellers and their agents to set up viewings and walk you through homes of interest.

Careful Closing

It’s time to tackle the logistics and tie up loose ends. We’ll be there to support you through the final walkthrough, the paperwork, and beyond.

Our team members are certified negotiation experts (CNE). We use our negotiation expertise to get you the best possible deal, working with co-operating agents to ensure the process is smooth.

“Munira and Elias are truly the best! They are beyond professional, paying attention to the little details and going above and beyond for their clients!”

The Benefits of Pre-Approval

During the mortgage pre-approval process, a lender will look closely at your finances to determine how much financing you’ll likely receive.

While some buyers choose to forgo pre-approval, we don’t recommend it. Here are just a few benefits of taking this crucial step:

It can help you when you’re setting a budget

Pre-approval shows sellers you’re a serious buyer

It brings you one step closer to homeownership

You can begin to plan for monthly mortgage payments

It allows you to lock in current interest rates

Searching for Your Perfect Place

We don’t believe you should settle for a home you just like when you can find one you love. That’s why we take the time to learn what you’re looking for—and draw on our community expertise to help you find it!

Our proactive search process goes beyond the MLS to include local REALTORS® and homeowners, among others.

If you can’t attend in-person showings, we understand. Whether you’re an international buyer or have a busy schedule, we’re happy to conduct them via FaceTime.

Take Advantage of Every Opportunity

In a competitive market, acting quickly can mean the difference between securing your ideal home and missing out.

We set automated alerts so you’re notified when properties matching your criteria are listed. As soon as you see one that grabs your attention, we’ll be standing by to set up a viewing!

Making an Irresistible Offer

Once you find “the one,” it’s time to craft your offer. It needs to work for you , and be competitive enough to appeal to sellers. Here are just a few things we’ll consider.

Your Dollar Amount

Is the property’s asking price above or below market value? Are there likely to be multiple offers? Should you leave room to negotiate— or submit your highest possible bid right out of the gate?

There are many questions to consider when you’re deciding how much to offer. We have the local market knowledge to answer them— and help you settle on the ideal number.

The Deposit

A high deposit can make your offer more attractive to sellers. Simply put, this is the portion of your down payment that will be due within 24 hours or one business day after offer acceptance. That said, bringing it ‘herewith’ when submitting your offer can show sellers you’re serious (and potentially make them view your bid favourably).

While there’s no minimum for a deposit, at least 5% of your purchase price is typical in Toronto. Remember that you must have immediate access to these funds!

Conditions

Including home-buying conditions in your offer can protect you from worstcase scenarios. They state that certain events must occur—or you can walk away from your purchase without penalty and your deposit is returned in full.

As a rule, sellers prefer offers without conditions, but you shouldn’t forgo them unless you understand the implications—and have other protections in place. Together, we can look at your circumstances to create a competitive bid— without putting you at unnecessary risk.

We had a really great experience with the whole team! They are all great communicators and helped us every step of the way, making the process feel straight forward and not too stressful. They clearly know the market well and we just felt in good hands, and they were just a pleasure to be around. I cannot recommend them highly enough. We will be using them again for all our real estate needs.

- N.K.

Here are a few of the most common conditions:

Status Certificate Review

Your condo purchase is contingent on your lawyer’s successful review of your status certificate (a document detailing the financial health of the condo corporation).

Inspection

This condition states that your purchase depends on a satisfactory home inspection.

Financing

A financing condition makes your purchase contingent on your ability to secure your mortgage or preferred mortgage rate.

Understanding Closing Costs

Along with the sticker price, there are some additional, one-time fees that come with buying a home. Generally speaking, you can expect them to equal around 1.5 to 4% of your purchase price.

Here are some of the major costs to expect:

Costs Due Upfront Deposit

Part of your down payment, usually at least 5% of your purchase price

Appraisal Fee

Required by most lenders, who may or may not cover the cost (typically $200-$400)

Home Inspection

If you get a professional inspection, you can expect to pay around $300$900+

Due on Closing

Legal Fees

The cost of working with a lawyer typically ranges from a few hundred dollars to around $2000.

Land Transfer Tax

You’ll pay provincial and municipal land transfer taxes, which exist on sliding scales based on the price of your home (ranging from 0.5% on the first $55,000 and 2.5% on any amount over $2 million at the upper end).

If you’re buying a new-build, you’ll be charged 13% HST (the GST and PST combined). Fortunately, you can get a large portion of this cost back.

Title Insurance

This insurance protects you and your lender from losses related to your home’s title. It usually costs around $300-$500.

Other costs Adjustments

From utilities to property taxes, you may have to reimburse the seller for some prepaid homeownership costs.

From home insurance to moving services, there are an assortment of other costs to cover. We’re happy to discuss them with you in more detail.

Negotiating for Your Interests

To get the best price and conditions, working with a professional who has experience at the bargaining table is key.

What we offer is certified negotiation expertise and a cooperative approach, which allows us to work well with sellers and other Realtors®. We also do our homework, leveraging local market data on your behalf!

Multiple Offers Happen

We won’t deny that the back and forth of negotiations can be stressful, especially when there are multiple offers at play. Luckily, we’ve helped countless buyers navigate competitive situations successfully!

Careful Closing

The closing phase of your purchase is bound to be exciting, but there are still a few final steps to take. You’ll need to:

Sign your mortgage paperwork (if you haven’t yet)

Secure insurance for your new home

Meet with your lawyer and transfer any remaining fees

We’ll be available to help you in any way we can. We’ll also coordinate with the other parties involved so nothing gets overlooked. Once all the details are taken care of, it’s time to celebrate!

We want you to know that this doesn’t have to be ‘goodbye.’ We’d love to connect, stay in touch, and answer any questions that arise in the years ahead.

Let’s Continue the Conversation!

Ready to buy? We’re here to support you. To start, let’s talk about your buying needs—and figure out if we’re the right match! All you have to do is reach out.