Calgary Home Buyer's Guide

Set your price range. Decide on a range you are comfortable with first, so every showing is a home that fits.
Set your criteria. Community, property type, commute, schools, must-haves versus nice-to-haves.
Get current listings. I can send you current MLS® listings that match your search, plus recent comparable sales.
See homes. I arrange showings and point out what photographs hide.
Review the history. Before you write, I pull days on market, prior listings and comparable sales.
Write the offer. Price, deposit, conditions, possession date — each one is negotiable.
Conditions. An inspection, usually, plus anything else written into the offer, like reviewing condo documents. This is where problems surface, and where you can still walk.
Waive conditions. Once waived, the deal is firm.
Lawyers and funds. Your lawyer handles title and the closing paperwork.
Possession day. Keys.

Questions at any stage: 403-464-6672.

Things specific to buying in Calgary

Check the catchment yourself. The Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic School District each set their own boundaries, and they get redrawn. I confirm the address with the board before you count on a school.
Look up at the roof. Hail storms hit Calgary most summers. Roof age and material, siding and window condition all matter, so I make sure the inspector checks them.
Test for radon. Radon shows up in homes all over the city. Health Canada suggests a long-term test once you are living in the home.
Basement suites. The City of Calgary keeps a Secondary Suite Registry. If a listing mentions a suite, I check whether it is on it.
Read the condo paperwork. Bylaws and board minutes tell you the rules on pets, renting out the unit and age limits.
The RPR. On most freehold homes the seller supplies a Real Property Report, which shows the buildings and fences on the lot.