Your mortgage is officially pre-approved and now it’s time get out there and start hunting for your dream home.

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we need to make sure that you’re aware of the 15 most common  and costly home buyer mistakes and most importantly, HOW TO AVOID THEM!

With that in mind, I’m going to hold your hand through the entire home buying process by posting a “Home Buyer Tip”  twice a week for the next eight weeks to ensure you have a  stress-free buying experience.

If you’d like to get the entire report revealing all 15 buyer mistakes, all in one shot, please visit my website.

For most of us, buying a home is the single biggest financial transaction we will make.  It’s exciting and fulfilling, but it can also be overwhelming, even downright frightening.

The pitfalls are many but fortunately most are commonplace and we can tell you how to avoid them. Real estate agents, bankers, lawyers, accountants and other experts in the real estate game each have their own lists of the worst mistakes a buyer can make. 

This series will look at some of the common mistakes made by home buyers (especially first time buyers).

Mistake #1: Confused buyers – don’t start looking until you figure out what you are looking for!

There may be a big difference between the kind of home you want and the kind of home you need. To avoid wasting time, causing yourself and your real estate agent frustration, and running the risk of regretting your choice later, realize that it’s important to satisfy the needs first and the wants last. In the long run, the greatest view in the world is not likely to make up for not having enough bedrooms.

Here’s an example of a simple checklist, courtesy of CMHC, you could use to help clarify and identify your ideal home.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for mistake #2!