Costs

REALTY TAXES

Property owners have the option of paying their property taxes in eight instalments over the course of the calendar year. Mortgage companies may insist that they pay the property tax and collect it with your monthly mortgage payment. Taxes are reassessed on an ongoing basis.

HEATING

Home heating will usually be provided by natural gas, oil or electricity. Costs vary depending on the type of fuel, size of home, amount of insulation, exposure and usage.

ELECTRICITY

Costs vary greatly depending on usage, e.g. how many people you have in the home, the size of your home, how many energy efficient cost measures you have undertaken such as Energy Saver appliances. Usually billing is every second month or you can go on equal billing and pay monthly.

INSURANCE

Insurance is essential for all homeowners and is required by your mortgage company before it will release the funds to close the deal. Premiums are based on the replacement cost of the building and start at around $350 to $700 per year.

HOME INSPECTION

A home inspection is strongly recommended for most residential properties and will usually be a condition of the offer. Your Sales Representative can assist you in choosing your home inspector. This ranges from $350 – $500 depending on the size and value of the property.

APPRAISAL FEES

When you apply for a mortgage, the lender will want to see an appraisal on the property to ensure that the price you are paying falls within the accepted range of value for that type of property and that area of the city. The fee for this is usually between $250 – $350.

TITLE INSURANCE

Title insurance provides insurance against the future costs of remedying most problems with the title on your property. Ask your Sales Representative to explain the benefits and cost of this service.