Get pre-approved before you start visiting.
It tells sellers you're serious, speeds up your offer, and keeps you from falling in love with something outside your real budget.
Budget beyond the purchase price.
Notary fees, welcome tax (taxe de bienvenue), inspection costs, and moving expenses typically add up to 2–4% of the purchase price — plan for it upfront.
Always get an inspection, even in a hot market.
Skipping it to compete on speed can cost you far more later. A good inspector finds the $15,000 problem before it becomes your problem.
Don't skip the neighborhood, just the house.
Visit at different times of day — commute traffic, noise, parking — before falling for a listing photo. A perfect house on the wrong street is still the wrong street.
Know your must-haves vs. nice-to-haves before you look.
Buyers who go in without a clear list end up either overpaying for extras they didn't need or missing out because they hesitated on a good match.
Move fast when it's right, but never rushed.
In competitive markets, hesitation costs deals — but a rushed decision on a lifelong purchase costs more. The difference is having done your homework before you're standing in the kitchen.
Buying a home is the biggest decision most people make with the least practice — the right preparation is what turns it from stressful into exciting.