Resources
Buyer's Guide
Buying in Barrie, Innisfil, Springwater or Oro-Medonte is a different exercise than buying in the GTA — the inventory, the well and septic questions, and the commute all matter. Here's the order I walk buyers through, start to finish.
Read the Home Buyers Guide
Turn the pages below, or download your own copy to keep.
Page 1 of 16
Download the guide (PDF)
1. Get your financing in place
Speak with a lender or mortgage broker before you start looking. A written pre-approval tells you your price ceiling, locks a rate for a set period, and makes your offer credible when a seller compares it against others.
2. Set your must-haves and your budget ceiling
Separate the things you cannot change — commute, school catchment, lot size, number of bedrooms — from the things you can renovate later. We use that list to filter listings so you're not touring homes that were never going to work.
3. Search and tour
You can search every available listing on this site and book a showing on any property. I'll also flag homes coming up in your pocket of Barrie or the county before they gather attention.
4. Review the numbers before you offer
Before writing, we look at comparable sales, days on market, and what the property needs. That's what sets your price, not the asking price.
5. Offer, conditions and negotiation
An offer sets out price, closing date, deposit, inclusions and conditions — commonly financing, home inspection, and status certificate review on a condominium. Conditions are your protection; we only remove them deliberately.
6. From firm deal to closing
Once conditions are waived the deal is firm. Your lawyer handles title, adjustments and registration. Plan for closing costs beyond your down payment: land transfer tax, legal fees, title insurance, and any adjustments for taxes or utilities.
Budget for these closing costs
- Deposit — paid when your offer is accepted and credited to your purchase price at closing
- Ontario land transfer tax — calculated on the purchase price; first-time buyers may qualify for a rebate
- Legal fees and disbursements
- Home inspection
- Title insurance
- Property tax and utility adjustments set by your lawyer
- Moving costs and immediate repairs
Start looking
Browse current listings across Barrie and Simcoe County, or call me at (705) 796-6348 and we'll talk through your search first.
Questions about buying?
Send me what you're trying to do and I'll reply with straight answers.