Blog series: Buying a home this fall? These 7 tips could help you land your dream home

Buying a home this fall? These 7 tips could help you land your dream home

Whether you’re buying a house for the first time, or selling your first home and buying your second, navigating the competitive fall housing market takes dedication. These 7 tips can help you put your best foot forward.

Today, we start with tip #1:

Set out on foot

One of the best ways to learn about your future neighbourhood is to visit the area in person – both during the day, and at dusk.

There are simply things you can hear, smell, and see on foot that you might miss if you’re on wheels.

For instance, it’s common for clients to want to avoid ‘busy’ streets due to traffic and noise. So when a listing is viewed digitally, one might be inclined to nix looking at houses located on “busy” streets like Dundas Street, Pape Avenue, Leslie Street, Main Street, and more.

But when you’re out physically visiting these areas, you’ll notice that what you perceive online can be vastly different from your experience in person: Pape south of Gerrard starts anew; Leslie Street is not a through street north of Gerrard; and Main Street north of Danforth is surprisingly quainter and more residential than its counterpart south of Danforth.

While Google street view can provide an indication of a neighbourhood’s appeal, there is truly nothing better than an in-person visit. 

So, get out of the car and walk through the neighbourhood. You’ll find the cool coffee shops and local eats that make a neighbourhood feel like home. And you could find exclusive listings

While you’re at it, keep your eyes wide open for “coming soon to MLS” signs

This labour day weekend, I walked around for less than two hours in Leslieville and I happened upon not one, but two, exclusive, “coming soon” listings that haven’t yet hit the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). These listings are currently advertised solely by the listing agent and their brokerage, versus being listed publicly on the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) MLS, Realtor.ca, and other listing syndicates.

Finding an exclusive listing is an opportunity to learn about a home before the larger MLS public takes notice – talk about a head start!

So, take some time to enjoy the fall, to hear the crunch of the fallen leaves beneath your feet, and to enjoy a latte from a local coffee shop.

Perhaps you’ll even stumble upon a gem like the Leslieville doll house. Most importantly, you’ll be putting your best house-hunting foot forward, while you set out on foot in your favourite neighbourhoods.

See you tomorrow for tip #2!