3 Tips to Help You Buy a Home in Alberta
Buying a new home is exciting because you're planning for your future. I'm sure you want a house that fits with your lifestyle and future plans. Whether you’re growing your family or purchasing an investment property, there are certain things you need to think about when you’re buying a house in Alberta.
To Build or Buy? Your choice
Alberta is full of wide open spaces. Our cities are sprawling thanks to homebuyer demand's for detached single-family homes. One of the benefits to buying a home in Alberta is that you have an option to build your own home without breaking the bank.
The combination of good job opportunities and affordable real estate has made Alberta an attractive destination for lots of people - both domestic and foreign.
Homebuyers have the option to build a new house that's protected under Alberta’s New Home Warranty Program. You can get a custom home built on a piece of land in the suburbs at a lower cost than inner city housing. It will also come with a unique warranty option which is usually not available with the purchase of most traditional properties.
Weathering the Ups and Downs
Home insurance is a privatized industry here in Alberta and there are certain idiosyncrasies that come with insuring your home in this province. We get a lot of harsh weather like oversized hail squalls, severe thunderstorms and strong winds.
Finding the best home insurance is serious business and it’s worth taking your time to pick coverage that’s perfect for your home.
Make sure you ask questions about basic home insurance coverage as well as optional add-on to the policy. After the 2013 Alberta floods, insurance companies restructured their policies in an effort to minimize claims and of course, save money.
It’s important to ask about things like maximum limits and the additional options that are available if you want to buy better coverage because insurance companies may not always offer them to you.
Energy Efficiency is Important Out Here
Winters and summers bring severe temperatures and you’ll be cranking your thermostat (hotter or colder) to compensate for whatever is happening outside if your home isn’t energy efficient.
When you’re thinking of all the things you need to do before buying a home, make sure to include finding a good inspector to assess your new home’s energy efficiency.
While energy prices in Alberta are reasonable compared to some other provinces, monthly utilities can end up being very expensive if your windows aren’t properly sealed or your attic isn’t well-insulated. Energy efficiency in your home will save you money on electric and gas as well as on costly repairs to repair big ticket items such as your furnace and hot water tank.
If you're looking to buy a new home in Alberta, check out the 3 Hottest Neighbourhoods to Live in Calgary for more information on where to settle down.