The Romans have a saying...

The Romans say "Rus in Urbe" which means  City in the Country. Saint John New Brunswick is really just that a city but in a country setting within minutes or it is just a view away. Our location geographically is superior because we are close to the USA border, accessible by boat along a long beautiful shoreline called the Bay of Fundy, and our scenery is bar none spectacular with vistas of beautiful countryside and beaches for FREE just about any direction you travel.

So as a REALTOR educating individuals about  Real Estate in the Greater Saint John area is a joy as there is potential in just about every property I see, because as my  backdrop, which is my canvas is County in the City called Saint John New Brunswick. We naturally have it, without even trying.

According to the experts who are  experts in why people purchase goods and services I have been validated with my opinion that people will purchase what they want to purchase when they feel like purchasing anything based on a number of factors in their life. Needs and wants are the motivators period and telling them your best pitch just doesn't work. We really don't need to live and be happy by owning a home. An apartment, works just dandy to keep your family safe and warm.

However if one wants to obtain an investment and build equity, owning a home is still the best asset on the planet for the majority of Canadians and in Saint John New Brunswick it is still great value.Educating people about owning a home is my forte especially when it comes to Saint John, and its surrounding communities.

Are you a first time home buyer? Are you transitioning to another type of home accommodations because the family has grown, or just plain old life is changing course?Here is my 7 point short list as to how to go about the home ownership transaction. Maybe this will be a refresher tip for some people but if not, my simple formula is worth the read:

1. Create a budget and start to save for a home. Reduce credit card debt, reduce the wants and save for the needs. Tough love is needed here but it is the only way to go for the long haul.Get help if needed to figure a budget out. Credit Counseling Services of Atlantic Canada are superb for dealing with debt issues.Visit them at www.solveyourdebts.com
2. Be practical and think about what you need in a home and where do you want to live.
3. Visit every bank in town and speak to their mortgage brokers. They are there to help you and not judge, remember you are the customer. This exercise is about relationship building and most banks offer similar products with small twists of accountability and repayment  built in the mortgage document. Finding the right bank is essential to the long term of a home investment, especially if life takes a turn for the worse, you want someone you can relate to and understands your financial picture.
4. Once that portion of the house phase is complete then interview REALTORS to assist you in the house buying process. Its ok to do that as it will build your knowledge and confidence with this new journey of home buying or update you on the latest in the industry.www.solveyourdebts.ca
5. Be upfront with them and ask them all the questions you can think of. Not all the answers will be known but once again look for the relationship qualities that you like in this person because if you are going to be viewing lots of homes and spending lots of time with a REALTOR it is very nice if you can get along and be on the same page  and laugh along the way.
6. Let the REALTOR be your educator, not your decision maker or the influencer of purchasing a home whether it is your first or fifth. To me being a REALTOR is equivalent to having a  personal legal council on call 24/7 for consultation. REALTORS are trained to know the industry just like any other professional. We are trained to dig to obtain the information you request of us to the best of our knowledge. We must divulge the good and the bad, and be totally transparent when representing your interests within the transaction.
7. Once you decide on the home, with the banking in place, let the REALTOR guide you through the transaction to completion. As a REALTOR I offer a complete end to end service and I see it through until you move in and are at your new digs drinking a cup of coffee, of course with a smile.

Kim Cookson is the preferred REALTOR for UK 2 New Brunswick and is the preferred REALTOR for the National Bank of Canada in Saint John, New Brunswick Kim has been in the business for 36 years.
Kim can be reached at 866 693 2259 or kim@cabinstocastles.ca and kimmy.cookson@gmail.com