The Hinchey Homes buyer guide.
A free, 14-page guide to buying a home in Durham and beyond: how buying with us works step by step, getting pre-approved, your down payment, first-time buyer programs, winning an offer, conditions and closing, closing costs and land transfer tax, and your first week in the home. Ask for it below and open it right away.
Durham and beyond
The
Buyer
Guide
How we help you find the right home, win it on the right terms and close without surprises.
Proven, Not Promised.
Hinchey Homes Real Estate Team. eXp Realty, Brokerage.
Get the guide
Your first name and email are all we need. The guide link appears as soon as you send the form.
Everything from your first search to the keys.
Welcome, and who you will work with
How we help buyers in Durham and beyond find the right home, win it on the right terms and close without surprises, and who on the team does what, from your consultation to the paperwork and the showing schedule.
What you get when you buy with us
Full buyer representation from your first search to the week after you move in: a search that goes past the usual alerts, homework before you offer, offer strategy and negotiation, conditions and closing managed for you, and help after the keys.
How buying with us works, in seven steps
The buyer consultation, pre-approval, your search strategy, showings, the offer and negotiation, conditions, and closing and move-in, with what happens at each step and who does it.
Getting ready and getting pre-approved
A wish list of must-haves, nice-to-haves and deal breakers to bring to your consultation, and how pre-approval works: who to talk to, how lenders set your limit, the stress test, and why to get it in writing.
Know your numbers: the down payment and default insurance
The documents most lenders ask for, the minimum down payment rules, when mortgage default insurance applies and how it is paid, and how to set your no-regrets price before you fall for a house.
Money programs for first-time buyers
The Ontario land transfer tax refund, the First Home Savings Account, the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan, the first-time buyers' GST/HST rebate on a new home and the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit, with who qualifies for each.
Winning the right home
How sellers weigh price and terms together, what we find out before we write, the ways to make your offer stronger without overpaying, and what happens after we submit: accepted, signed back or rejected.
Conditions and closing day
The common conditions (inspection, financing and a condo status certificate review), the checklist for the weeks before closing, and how closing day works, from the lawyers exchanging funds to getting your keys.
Closing costs and land transfer tax
What it costs to buy in Ontario on top of your down payment, when each cost is paid, the Ontario land transfer tax rates as the province states them, and why Durham Region has no municipal land transfer tax.
Your agreement, in plain English
The RECO Information Guide Ontario requires us to give you, your Buyer Representation Agreement with our brokerage, and how our fee is agreed in writing before we start.
Service levels
We offer three service levels and walk you through them at your consultation.
After you get the keys
Who to call for electricity, gas, mail forwarding and your licence address in Durham Region, and a first-week checklist for the new home.
The last page is how to book your free buyer consultation. Prefer to talk first? Call or text Shawn at 905-449-4422 or send us a message.
The guide is general information, not legal, tax or mortgage advice. Program rules, rates and limits change, so confirm the details with your lawyer, lender or accountant.
Hinchey Homes Real Estate Team, Shawn Hinchey, Broker, eXp Realty, Brokerage.