Buying · October 2, 2026 · 5 min read
Buying your first home in the GTA: the steps, in order
From pre-approval to picking up the keys, here is how buying your first home actually unfolds, and where we help along the way.
Buying a first home can feel like a hundred decisions at once. It’s easier when you know the order. Here’s how the process usually goes, step by step.
1. Get pre-approved
Talk to a lender or mortgage broker before you start looking. A pre-approval tells you how much you can borrow, can hold a rate for a set period and shows sellers you’re serious. Ask about first-time buyer programs and how much you’ll need for the down payment and closing costs.
2. Set your must-haves
Bedrooms, commute, schools, a yard, parking. We help you separate what you need from what would be nice, and match it to neighbourhoods that fit your budget.
3. Tour homes with a plan
We book the showings, walk every home with you and point out what the photos leave out. Before you make an offer, we pull the recent sales around the home so you know what it’s really worth.
4. Make an offer
- Price, backed by recent sales.
- Deposit, usually due soon after your offer is accepted.
- Conditions, such as financing and a home inspection, that protect you.
- Closing date and inclusions.
5. Conditions, then firm
If your offer is conditional, you arrange your inspection and final mortgage approval within the condition period. Once those are satisfied, the deal is firm.
6. Your lawyer and closing day
Your real estate lawyer reviews the agreement, searches the title, registers the purchase and handles the money on closing day. Then you pick up your keys.
You only buy your first home once. It should feel exciting, not overwhelming.
Starting to look? Book a buyer consultation and we’ll map out your budget, your neighbourhoods and your next steps.
