Understanding Closing Costs Before You Buy That Property

Closing costs are an important aspect to consider when purchasing a property, as they can significantly impact the total cost of buying a home. Closing costs are the fees and expenses associated with finalizing a real estate transaction, and they are paid by both the buyer and the seller. These costs cover various services and tasks required to transfer ownership of the property from the seller to the buyer. It’s essential to understand what closing costs entail to be financially prepared for the homebuying process.

Here are some common types of closing costs that buyers may encounter:

Loan-Related Costs: These fees are associated with obtaining a mortgage and may include:

  • Loan origination fee: A charge from the lender for processing the loan.
  • Application fee: A fee for processing your mortgage application.
  • Credit report fee: The cost of obtaining your credit report.

Appraisal Fee: The lender will require an appraisal to determine the property’s fair market value.

Inspection Costs: These fees cover various inspections, such as a home inspection, pest inspection, well, septic and others.

Title Search and Title Insurance: The title search ensures that the property’s title is clear, and title insurance protects against any potential issues with the title.

Attorney Fees: All Ontario Transactions require an attorney to be Involved and execute the closing.

Property Taxes: Buyers often need to prepay property taxes at closing.

Recording Fees: Charges for recording the new deed and other documents with the Ontario government office.

Homeowners Insurance: Buyers typically need to prepay the first year’s premium at closing.

Survey Fee: The cost of surveying the property’s boundaries.

Courier Fee and Wire Transfer Fee: Charges for sending important documents and funds securely.

It’s important to note that closing costs can vary significantly depending on factors such as the property’s location, the purchase price, and the type of mortgage. Typically, closing costs are around 2% of the home’s purchase price.

In conclusion, understanding closing costs is crucial for any prospective homebuyer. Being aware of these expenses and budgeting for them will help you avoid any surprises and make the homebuying process smoother.  The C.R.E.S.I. Team is here to help, our experienced and professional realtors can explain closing costs and guide you through the process.  Plus we have a team of professionals to assist with anything and everything that will or possibly could arise when buying or selling a home.

Thoughts on the Handling of Non-Payment of Rent Applications at the Landlord Tenant Board

It’s time to address a critical issue — the handling of NON-PAYMENT OF RENT applications at the LANDLORD AND TENANT BOARD LTB).

Currently, the board is backlogged with 53,000 cases, and the majority of these are non-payment of rent applications (N4). According to the Landlord and Tenant Board’s 2022-2023 annual report, there were a total of 64,450 landlord applications, with 37,690 being N4 non-payment of rent applications. This is completely unacceptable! The sheer volume of these cases demonstrates a broken system that is not serving the needs of landlords or tenants, further contributing to the housing crisis in Ontario.

Read More »

How to Turn $150K Into a $200K Down Payment: A Playbook for First-Time Buyers

Buying a first home is a huge milestone,​ but for many Canadians, saving for the down payment can feel like an uphill battle. Rising home prices and borrowing costs have made this a significant challenge—but with the right strategy, there’s a way to help your clients stretch their savings further.

The Secret Weapons: RRSP and FHSA

These government programs are tailor-made for first-time buyers.

Read More »

House Prices Are Low, Now Is The Right Time To Invest In Real Estate

“Be Fearful When Others Are Greedy and Be Greedy When Others Are Fearful’ 

 ~ Warren Buffet

This quote fits in with how the state of the real estate market is going. Right now, home prices are lower and the interest rates are higher. This is causing uncertainty and some people will not buy. You can be certain in this, prices and interest rates will continue to go up and down. No market situation is forever. People will always need a roof over their heads, that is FOREVER!  

Read More »