Guides
Answers, not jargon.
Straightforward guides on buying, selling and owning a home in Quebec. I wrote them the way I'd explain things sitting across from you, with the real numbers and checklists you can take with you.
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Buying
See allBuying a condo, with eyes open.
A condo is two purchases at once: the unit, and a share of a building run by other people. The unit is the easy part. Here is how to read the building before you are financially tied to it.
Law 16 and your condo, in plain terms.
Law 16 reformed how divided co-ownership is run, and most of what is written about it is aimed at syndicates. Here is the part that actually matters when a condo is bought or sold.
Choosing the right agent.
Choose the agent who prices on real data, represents your interest specifically, and tells you the truth even when it is not what you want to hear. The commission matters less than whether they get you the right result. Here is how to tell them apart.
The inspection, from both sides.
The same few hours does two different jobs. A seller who inspects before listing controls the story. A buyer who inspects before closing avoids the expensive surprise. Here is how it works on each side.
What to bring to the notary.
Bring two pieces of ID, your certified funds or wire confirmation, and proof of home insurance that starts on possession day. Those three are what actually reschedule a signing when they go missing.
Selling
See allWhat is my home worth?
Your home is worth what a buyer will pay today, which comes down to recent comparable sales, condition and timing. There is no reliable instant number online. Here is how a real estimate is built.
Prepare your home for sale.
Put the effort where buyers look first: the entrance, the kitchen, the bathroom and the light. A deep clean, decluttering and fixing the small visible annoyances pay off more than any expensive renovation before a sale.
New construction
See allMoney and taxes
See allYour mortgage payment.
Your monthly payment comes down to four things: the price, your down payment, the rate and the amortization. Test your numbers above, then see what really moves the total.
The welcome tax.
The welcome tax is a one-time transfer duty your municipality bills a few weeks after you buy. On a $500,000 home outside Montreal, it lands around $5,650. Estimate yours below, then see how it is calculated.
Closing costs, all of them.
On top of your down payment, keep a cushion aside for closing costs: welcome tax, notary fees, inspection, adjustments, mortgage-related costs. None of them is a surprise if you plan ahead, which is exactly what we do together before you make an offer.
Seasonal upkeep
See allReady for winter.
Before the first frost, three things protect your home: shut off the outdoor water, service the heating, and seal the air leaks. The rest makes winter more comfortable and less costly. Here is the full list.
When winter finds a weakness.
Three things cause almost all winter damage: ice dams, frozen pipes and condensation. None of them arrive without warning. Here is what the warning looks like and what to do about it.
After the thaw.
In spring, start with water: where the melt goes, whether the sump pump still runs, and whether the foundation moved. Then the roof, the AC and the yard. Here is the full list.