For buyers
Buying in Markham without guessing
The neighbourhood decision is the expensive one and it is the hardest to reverse. We spend most of our time there and the rest making sure the house you choose has no surprises in it.
The process
Six steps, in order
Most of what goes wrong for buyers is a step taken out of sequence. Looking at houses before the budget is real. Writing an offer before understanding the competition.
- Step 01
Work out the real number
A pre-approval is the most a lender will give you, which is not the same as what you should spend. We start from the monthly payment you are comfortable with and work backwards, then add closing costs, taxes and the first year of repairs.
- Step 02
Narrow to two or three neighbourhoods
Not twelve. Where you work, how you will get there, who is in school and what you do on a Saturday will cut the list fast. We will tell you honestly which parts of Markham your budget reaches.
- Step 03
See enough to calibrate, then stop looking
Most buyers need to walk through six to ten properties before they can judge value. After that, more viewings usually make the decision harder rather than clearer.
- Step 04
Check the things photographs hide
Grading and drainage, the age of the roof and furnace, wiring in older stock, what the street sounds like at rush hour and on a Saturday. We look at these before you fall in love, not after.
- Step 05
Write an offer that fits the situation
A single offer and a competing offer situation are different games. We will tell you which one you are in, what conditions are realistic and when to walk away.
- Step 06
Get to closing without surprises
We coordinate with your lawyer and lender, track the conditions and confirm the property is in the state you agreed on before the keys change hands.
What you can expect
Three things we will always do
Tell you when a house is wrong
Even when it costs us the transaction. A buyer who is talked into the wrong house is a client we lose permanently and deserve to.
Say what we do not know
We know Markham. If you ask us about a market we do not work in, you will get a referral rather than a guess dressed up as expertise.
Put the numbers in writing
Budget, closing costs and the comparable sales behind any price we recommend. Nothing important should live only in a conversation.
Start here
Which neighbourhood?
Twelve guides, each with price bands, property types, schools, transit and the honest trade-offs. Read two or three before we speak and the first conversation goes much further.
- N° 01
Unionville
Heritage main street, mature trees and the strongest name recognition in the city. Explore Unionville - N° 02
Markham Village
The original town centre, with older housing and genuinely deep lots. Explore Markham Village - N° 03
Cornell
Porches at the front, garages down the lane and a hospital at the edge. Explore Cornell - N° 04
Berczy Village
Family first, school driven and priced accordingly. Explore Berczy Village - N° 05
Cathedraltown
Built around a cathedral, with the strictest streetscape in the city. Explore Cathedraltown - N° 06
Wismer
Newer family housing with a GO station close enough to matter. Explore Wismer - N° 07
Greensborough
The northeast corner, built around a GO station. Explore Greensborough - N° 08
Angus Glen
Executive homes, a championship golf course and the largest lots in the north. Explore Angus Glen - N° 09
Box Grove
A historic hamlet with new housing built around it. Explore Box Grove - N° 10
Thornhill
Mature, established and split from Vaughan by Yonge Street. Explore Thornhill - N° 11
Milliken Mills
On the Toronto border, with the lowest entry point for a house. Explore Milliken Mills - N° 12
Downtown Markham
The only part of Markham built to be walked rather than driven. Explore Downtown Markham
Buyer questions
Does it cost me anything to work with a buyer agent?
In most Ontario residential transactions the compensation arrangement is set out in a written buyer representation agreement and the amounts involved are disclosed to you. Ask us to walk you through the agreement line by line before you sign it.
How many houses should I see before I buy?
Usually six to ten. Fewer and you cannot judge value. Many more and you are usually avoiding a decision rather than gathering information.
Should I waive the inspection to win?
We will tell you what the risk actually is on that specific property rather than giving you a blanket rule. On older Markham stock the risk is real and there are often ways to get comfort without waiving outright.
What does a home actually cost beyond the price?
Land transfer tax, legal fees, title insurance, adjustments, moving costs and the first year of repairs and furnishing. We give you a written list of these at the start so the number in your head is the real one.
Can you help me if I am buying from a builder?
Yes and you should bring us on the first visit to the presentation centre. Many builders will not register your representation afterwards and the sales representative there works for the builder.
What if I want to look outside Markham?
We will say so if another city genuinely suits you better and we will refer you to someone who knows that market. We would rather refer you than pretend to know Oakville.
Not advice. This page is general information about how we work with buyers. It is not legal, tax, mortgage or investment advice. Speak to a lawyer, an accountant and a mortgage professional about your own circumstances.
Representation. Ask us to explain the written representation agreement and how compensation works before you sign anything.
Book a 30-minute conversation
No pitch and no pressure. Tell us the situation and we will tell you plainly whether we are the right people for it.