A Step-by-Step Guide to Buying a Home
Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step first time buyer’s guide created by our team will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.
Do you already know your dream neighborhood—or are you still scoping out the area? Whether you’re leaning toward a chunk of land, cozy cabin, a home in town, or a family-friendly farmhouse, now’s the time to explore. What features light you up? What’s a dealbreaker? Start poking around listings, asking questions, exploring the different areas, and noticing price shifts. Trends and patterns tell a story—and the more you learn now, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s go time.
Before you get hypnotized by granite countertops and lakefront views, let’s talk budget. Not what the bank says you can spend—but what you’re actually comfortable spending. Pre-approvals often stretch higher than your happy place. So build a full picture: your income, expenses, lifestyle, and all those “extras” that come with homeownership—like property taxes, insurance, utilities, and snow removal (yes, even that). Trust us, your future self will thank you.
Here’s the deal—your dream home might be dreamy, but if your financing isn’t solid, it could slip right through your fingers. Before you get emotionally attached to that view or barn, check in with a mortgage pro. They'll look at your credit, job history, and financial situation to tell you what you actually qualify for. Need help? We can recommend our favourite all-star lenders. Bonus: Sellers take you way more seriously when you’ve got that prequalification in hand.
Can you buy a home without an agent? Sure. Can you also cut your own bangs or build IKEA furniture without the instructions? Yep—but why make it harder than it needs to be? A great agent (hi, that’s us 👋) will guide you through the search, the showings, the paperwork, and the whole wild ride. We know the local market like the back of our hand, and we’re here to help you avoid the potholes. You bring the vision—we’ll bring the strategy, support, and a little bit of house-hunting magic.
This is the fun part—but also where buyers can quickly feel overwhelmed. With your wishlist in hand and budget dialed in, we’ll start touring properties that match your goals (not just your dreams). We’ll help you evaluate each one with a clear eye and guide you through the pros and cons so you can make confident, informed decisions. Bonus: We also help protect you from falling in love with a money pit or that one listing with "cozy charm" a.k.a. wonky floors and a pack rat roommate.
Found the one? We’ll help you write a strong, strategic offer based on market data, property condition, and your personal goals. This includes advising on price, possession dates, subjects (aka conditions like financing or inspection), and more. If there’s competition, we’ll talk game plan. If there’s room to negotiate, we’ll flex those skills.
Once your offer is accepted (yay!), we enter the subject period—this is your chance to inspect the home, finalize your financing, and do any other due diligence before fully committing. We’ll help you manage timelines, get trusted pros lined up, and make sure everything checks out before removing subjects and making it official.
After subjects are removed, the countdown to keys is on! We’ll guide you through the pre-closing steps: coordinating with your lender and lawyer, booking your movers, finalizing insurance, setting up utilities, and preparing for possession day. There might be a few butterflies, but we’ve got your back every step of the way.
It’s possession day! 🎉 Whether you’re doing a full reno or just unpacking that first box of dishes, we’ll be here to celebrate your big win and answer any lingering questions. And no, our relationship doesn’t end here—we want to be your go-to for anything home-related now and in the future.
After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams.
With Your Cariboo Home Team, you get more than a transaction. You get local expertise, honest advice, and real people who genuinely care — today, tomorrow, and ten years from now.
Get In Touch With Our Team To Learn More
96 Cariboo Hwy 97 PO Box 55 100 Mile House, British Columbia V0K 2Z0, Canada
