First-Time Buyer Specialists
Amir guides first-time buyers through every step with patience, expertise, and zero pressure.
Your Roadmap to Homeownership
Breaking down the home-buying journey into 8 clear, manageable steps — so you always know what's coming next.
Before anything else, review your credit score and financial picture. A score of 680+ typically unlocks the best mortgage rates. We'll walk you through what lenders look for and how to strengthen your position before applying.
A mortgage pre-approval gives you a firm budget, locks in a rate for 90–120 days, and makes your offers far more competitive. We'll connect you with trusted GTA mortgage professionals and walk you through first-time buyer programs including the FHSA and RRSP Home Buyers' Plan.
We help you distinguish between your non-negotiables and nice-to-haves — bedrooms, neighbourhood, commute, school district, lot size, and more. Getting clarity here saves weeks of searching and prevents buyer's remorse down the road.
With your criteria defined, we build a customized search strategy. You'll get real-time MLS alerts, plus access to off-market and pre-market listings through our RE/MAX network — giving you an edge other buyers don't have. We tour properties together and help you evaluate each one objectively.
When you find the right home, Amir crafts a strategic, competitive offer based on deep market analysis. We advise on price, deposit, conditions, and closing date — protecting your interests at every step. In a multiple-offer situation, our offer strategy makes the difference between winning and losing.
We coordinate a professional home inspection to uncover any issues with the property before you're legally committed. Your financing condition ensures your mortgage is fully confirmed. We review all results with you and advise on how to proceed — negotiate, walk away, or close with confidence.
Once conditions are removed, your lawyer takes over the legal and title transfer process. We walk you through what to expect — connecting you with a real estate lawyer, arranging your final walkthrough, confirming utilities setup, and ensuring no detail is missed before closing day.
Closing day arrives — keys in hand, home is yours! Amir stays in touch through closing day and beyond, ready to answer questions about your new home, connect you with trusted trades, or help you plan for the future. This is just the beginning of a long relationship.
Free Money on the Table
The Canadian and Ontario governments offer significant financial assistance for first-time buyers. Make sure you're taking full advantage.
Contribute up to $8,000 per year (lifetime limit: $40,000) to a registered account. Contributions are tax-deductible, investment grows tax-free, and withdrawals for a first home purchase are also tax-free. Combine with your RRSP for maximum savings power.
A shared-equity mortgage from CMHC — the government contributes 5% (or 10% for new construction) of the purchase price toward your down payment. This reduces your monthly mortgage payment with no interest charged on the government's share.
Ontario first-time buyers are eligible for a full rebate of provincial Land Transfer Tax on homes up to $368,000, with a partial rebate on higher-priced homes — up to a maximum of $4,000. Toronto buyers also get a separate municipal LTT rebate of up to $4,475.
Withdraw up to $35,000 from your RRSP tax-free to put toward your first home down payment. Couples can each withdraw $35,000 for a combined $70,000 boost. The amount must be repaid to your RRSP over 15 years — interest-free.
Program eligibility and limits change periodically. Amir will confirm exactly which programs apply to your situation during your free consultation.
Ask Amir About These ProgramsDon't Be Surprised
Beyond the purchase price and down payment, budget approximately 1.5–4% of the home's value for these closing and move-in costs.
5% minimum on homes under $500K; 10% on $500K–$999K portion; 20% required for $1M+. CMHC insurance applies below 20%.
Ontario provincial LTT applies province-wide. Toronto buyers pay an additional municipal LTT. First-time buyers are eligible for rebates up to $8,475 combined.
Real estate lawyer fees for title search, document review, title transfer, and closing coordination. Disbursements are additional.
A professional inspection uncovers structural, mechanical, or safety issues before you remove conditions. Never skip this step — it's worth every dollar.
A one-time premium that protects against title defects, survey issues, zoning violations discovered after closing, and fraud. Your lawyer will arrange this.
Professional movers vary based on distance, volume, and time of year. Summer moves cost more. Book early and get at least three quotes.
Your mortgage lender requires proof of home insurance before funding. Premiums vary by property type, location, and coverage level.
If the seller has prepaid property taxes beyond the closing date, you'll owe them a credit for that period. Your lawyer calculates this at closing.
Transferring hydro, gas, water, and internet to your name — some utilities may require deposits for new accounts. Budget a small amount for setup fees.
Your Questions Answered
The questions we hear most from first-time buyers in Mississauga and the GTA — answered honestly.
The minimum depends on the home's purchase price. For homes under $500,000: 5% minimum. For homes between $500,000 and $999,999: 5% on the first $500,000 plus 10% on the remainder. For homes priced at $1,000,000 or more: 20% minimum down payment required (no CMHC insurance available). First-time buyers can boost their down payment using the FHSA (up to $40,000 tax-free) and the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan (up to $35,000, or $70,000 for couples). Amir will help you calculate exactly what you'll need at your free consultation.
Most lenders require a minimum credit score of 620 to qualify for a mortgage, but a score of 680 or higher typically unlocks the best interest rates and the widest range of mortgage products. If your score is lower, don't panic — there are steps you can take to improve it relatively quickly: pay down revolving debt, ensure no missed payments, and avoid applying for new credit before your mortgage. We'll connect you with a trusted mortgage broker who can give you a realistic assessment and a roadmap to qualification.
Yes — and as a buyer, working with Amir costs you nothing directly. In Ontario, the buyer's agent commission is typically paid by the seller out of the sale proceeds. You receive full professional representation, market analysis, negotiation expertise, and transaction management at zero direct cost to you. Buying without an agent means negotiating alone against a professional listing agent who represents only the seller's interests. Having Amir in your corner levels the playing field significantly — especially for first-time buyers who are unfamiliar with the process.
Canada's mortgage stress test requires that you qualify for a mortgage at the higher of: your actual contract rate plus 2%, or the Bank of Canada's qualifying rate (currently around 5.25%). This means even if your approved mortgage rate is 5%, you must prove you can afford payments at 7%. The stress test reduces the maximum purchase price you qualify for — typically by about 20%. This is why your pre-approval amount may be lower than you expect based on your income. Getting pre-approved early tells you exactly where you stand so you can shop with confidence.
The timeline varies by buyer, market, and property type. From your first consultation to an accepted offer, most of our first-time buyers are looking at 4–10 weeks of active searching. The closing period (from accepted offer to key possession) is typically 30–90 days as negotiated. If you're just starting — getting pre-approved, learning the market, and clarifying your priorities — add 2–4 weeks before active searching. In total, budget 3–6 months from starting the process to moving in. Amir has helped buyers close in as little as 3 weeks when circumstances required it.
A buyer's agent is a licensed real estate professional who represents your interests exclusively in a transaction — not the seller's. Your buyer's agent's job is to find you the right property, negotiate the best possible price and terms, and guide you through the entire purchase process. In Ontario, the buyer's agent commission is traditionally offered by the seller as part of the MLS listing and is paid from sale proceeds — meaning you typically pay nothing out of pocket for full professional representation. There are no fees to start working with Amir, no upfront costs, and no obligation until you're ready to make an offer.
Book a free, no-pressure consultation with Amir. Whether you're ready to start searching or just have questions, Amir will give you honest, expert guidance and a clear roadmap forward.