Kenora Home & Cottage Realty

We understand that purchasing a home or cottage is one of the largest financial transactions you’ll ever make. At Kenora Home & Cottage Realty we are committed to making that transaction as seamless and stress-free as possible. With years of experience in the Kenora and Lake of the Woods real estate market, we have the committed, knowledgeable and trusted professionals that will guide you through the process. We know the real estate market in our area and we understand its changing real estate values. Here are some of the reasons you should work with a real estate agent to purchase your property:

• You won’t need to know everything about purchasing real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. Realtors are required to take continuing education in order to stay abreast of all the latest developments with respect to the complex laws and regulations in real estate. Your agent will use his or her expertise in the purchasing process to advise you of your rights, options and obligations.
• Our agents are on call and usually available seven days a week to show you properties.
• Your agent knows the neighbourhoods in the city, in the country and on the lake.
• Your real estate agent will show you a number of relevant properties and is able to aid you in purchasing any home or cottage that is for sale in our community regardless of whose ’for sale’ sign is on the property.
• Often, the best buys don’t make it to the newspaper ads. Our agents search the hot sheets every day to find the perfect fit for each client.
• At Kenora Home & Cottage Realty Inc. we will use our effective buying system to find the right property for you.
• Negotiating price is an art. Your agent will negotiate objectively in order to achieve the best deal for you.
• Your real estate agent is accustomed to handling the volumes of paperwork involved in a transaction and is trained to put together a legally binding contract.
• Many questions can arise that were overlooked in the excitement of closing. Our agents remain available and are ready to assist before, during and after the transaction.

Choosing an Agent: Just as you shop for your property, you should also shop for your agent. Choose someone who you feel has your best interests in mind. A home is likely the most expensive acquisition you will make in your lifetime, so buy it working with someone you trust.

Pre-Qualifying for a Mortgage: Before you begin looking, meet with your banker or mortgage broker and establish a relationship in order to determine how large a mortgage you qualify for and what your payments will be. This is important, as this will help you decide a comfortable spending range. Don’t feel you should buy a home for the highest amount you qualify for. You decide how much you are comfortable spending and together we will find a home in your range.

We all have a wish list when it comes to buying a property, but we quickly learn that occasionally, compromises must be made. Our buying system will help you identify the difference between a ’want’ and a ’need’. For example, you would like a third bathroom, but you absolutely ’need ’ a third bedroom. Helping you to prioritize your wants and needs is where we can help. As we are showing you properties, your wants and needs may change and we will review these changes so you may adjust your priority list. This will help focus on the type of property you should (and shouldn’t) be considering. Working closely with your agent will help create the clearest picture of your future home or cottage.

When you purchase real estate you will be asked to sign binding legal contracts and forms, which can often be intimidating. We want to take the pressure and stress out of this part of the process by introducing and explaining various forms and documents to you ahead of time. This gives you an opportunity to become comfortable with each document prior to signing.

Once you decide to submit an offer on a home or cottage, we will carefully prepare all documents on your behalf, including a legally binding Agreement of Purchase and Sale. We will walk you through the process, and include all appropriate conditions to best protect your interests. We will make certain you have a good understanding of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale before you sign it. Once we have an accepted Agreement, we will guide you through all inspections and make sure all conditions are fulfilled in the required timeframes.

Whether you are buying a waterfront property or recreational vacant land, you should be aware that our area is unique and diversified in many ways. The Kenora District is abundant in large and small lakes, including the lakes that fetch top dollar in our area - Lake of the Woods, Black Sturgeon, Longbow Lake and the Winnipeg River. These bodies of water and numerous others in our area are distinctive in terms of permitted uses, capacity for future development and regulations put into place to protect the use of those lakes and rivers. We possess extensive neighbourhood knowledge throughout cabin country, including the areas of Minaki, Sioux Narrows, Nestor Falls and surrounding lakes.

A few of the questions that might arise when purchasing recreational property: What does it mean to have legal access to my property and does the Road Access Act protect me? Do I/can I own the shoreline? What is a shoreline road allowance? Can I put a dock on my shoreline? What are restrictive covenants or Riparian Rights and how do they affect my use and enjoyment of my property? We take the time to address these and other unique issues that might come up when purchasing a waterfront property. Our Kenora Home & Cottage Buying System is designed to help make your dream of owning waterfront property come true! Call or email us for details.