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for a home purchase. With interest rates at their lowest level in decades, now is a splenâ€" did time to buy a house. And there is no shortage of mortgage money available. Because purchase of a house is the largest single investment most Canadians make in their lifetime, you should be thorâ€" ough in assessment of whether An official Offer to Purchase is a written contract setting out the exact terms under which you agree to buy the property. This should be prepared by a lawyer, if you want to be on the safe side, and if your offer is accepted by the seller it forms a legal contract. Your lawyer will then draw up the final docuâ€" mentation. eAE FERAA dRA his beautiful east Oakville home, I located south of Lakeshore Road and only steps from the lake, has been custom remodelled and totally updated. house, there are several ways to speed up the search process: Read the homesâ€"forâ€" sale advertisements in your local newspaper; drive around a neighborhood where you‘d like to live and note the contact teleâ€" phone numbers on any FOR SALE signs; or ask a wellâ€" established real estate firm to look for a house meeting your specifications. If you‘re in the market for a A large foyer with skylight leads into the grand living room with marble fireplace and bow window. Leaded glass French doors form the graceful entry point into a gorgeous family room with skylights, deluxe crankâ€"out winâ€" dows, and patio door to a large deck overâ€" looking the well treed rear yard. In some cases your friends or work colleagues may provide you with good wordâ€"ofâ€"mouth leads, if you let them know you‘re looking for a house. They may know of somebody who wants to sell his house priâ€" vately, thus avoiding paying a sales commission to a real estate agent. But you should be extra careful and cautious if you buy direct from a seller, even if you think you are getting the house at a bargain. Although a Realtor earns his or her commission from the seller, not the buyer, the agent will want both parties to be reaâ€" sonably satisfied from every transaction. That‘s because you will be a good source for referâ€" rals, and at some time in the future you may want to use that same agent to sell your home. You‘ll always think well of any realtor who behaves fairly to all concerned. As well, a real estate firm usually can steer you to a good source of mortgage financing for a home purchase. With interest rates at their lowest level in decades, now is a splenâ€" did time to buy a house. And there is no shortage of mortgage money available. Speed up the search you are getting good value from your investment. In fact, if you have narrowed down your choices to one parâ€" ticular house, before you put in a firm offer to buy you should hire the services of a profesâ€" sional appraiser. This will cost you anywhere between $100 and $200, but it could be one of the wisest expenditures you‘ll ever make. An appraiser will go over the property to assess its condition and give you a report. The report also should include the appraiser‘s estimate of the value of the property, taking into account recent sales in the same neighborhood of house similar in size and type. This value won‘t necessarily match the asking price of the seller, but it gives you a strong bargaining point when you get down to nutsâ€"andâ€"bolts negotiations. When you and the seller have reached accord on a purâ€" chase price, you have two options. You can make what‘s called a conditional offer, or you can make an Offer to Purchase. The first is in effect an offer to purchase, subject to certain specified conditions â€" such as arrangement of a mortgage, if you haven‘t already lined up mortgage financing. Usually a time limit is set for any condiâ€" tions. If they‘re not met within the specified time, the deal may be cancelled by the seller. This home is offered for sale at $549,900. For a private viewing, call Paul Schell, sales representative at Sutton Group, People and Properties Inc., at $44â€"5000, Two large additions in this lovely home include a massive master bedroom with deluxe ensuite, shower, and jacuzzi tub. The basement is completely finished with a deluxe nanny‘s quarters, and generâ€" ous playroom for the children.