Ontario real estate decision centre
No hidden menus and no article maze. Choose your situation and get a practical route through the mortgage, property and professional questions that matter now.
Explore directly
Every choice opens practical AskRajiv guidance.
Published Ontario guides
Search every published guide or narrow the library by content type.
Answer
Enter competition with a written ceiling, condition strategy and walk-away rule. Competition compresses time and encourages buyers to raise price or remove protection. The winning offer can still be a poor result when the payment, shortfall or property risk exceeds the plan.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026
Read the practical answer →Answer
Proceed firmly only after identifying every unresolved risk and how the buyer would close if the preferred lender declines. A firm offer is binding without the buyer protections normally provided by conditions. A pre-approval does not guarantee the borrower, property, appraisal and closing funds will satisfy the lender.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026
Read the practical answer →Answer
Use a sale condition when the purchase genuinely depends on the existing sale; otherwise document the financing and contingency plan first. Buying before selling can secure the next home but may expose the buyer to carrying two properties or failing to close if the existing sale is delayed or produces less equity.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026
Read the practical answer →Answer
Give an experienced real-estate lawyer enough time to review current and complete condo documents. A condominium can have financial, legal, insurance, rule or special-assessment concerns that affect ownership costs, use, resale and lender acceptance.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026
Read the practical answer →Answer
Base the decision on the property, available inspection options and the buyer’s repair reserve. Removing an inspection condition may help in competition, but the buyer can inherit expensive problems that were not visible during a showing.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026
Read the practical answer →Answer
Set the period from the work required and professional availability, not a generic number of days. The lender may need borrower documents, property review, appraisal, insurer approval and clarification of down-payment transactions before the buyer can safely waive financing.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026
Read the practical answer →Answer
Choose conditions for the specific buyer and property. A firm offer is not automatically better for the buyer. Conditions can protect financing, inspection, status-certificate, insurance, lawyer-review or sale-related needs. Removing them transfers unresolved risk to the buyer.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026
Read the practical answer →Answer
Set an evidence-supported value range, a mortgage-tested ceiling and a walk-away number before negotiations. The asking price is marketing, not proof of value. Compare recent sales, condition, competition, budget and appraisal exposure.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026
Read the practical answer →Answer
Choose according to timeline, contract risk, cash-flow capacity, appraisal exposure and tolerance for uncertainty—not the appeal of “new” versus “used.” New construction can provide more time to save and a new property, but the future closing, adjustments, occupancy period and appraisal create risks that do not appear in the advertised price. Resale offers more current information but often requires faster financing and condition decisions.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026
Read the practical answer →Answer
Compare the total monthly cost, cash reserve, ownership responsibilities, restrictions and expected length of ownership—not the list price alone. The best property type is not decided by purchase price alone. Maintenance responsibility, condo fees, reserve funds, rules, insurance, renovation freedom and future resale can change both affordability and lifestyle.
Reviewed by Rajiv Verma, Mortgage Broker · Sep 2, 2026
Read the practical answer →