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Family Planning – Buying a Home and Qualifying for a Mortgage When Growing a Family

March 9, 2021 by Sara Gillooly Leave a Comment

“Life is constantly changing. We grow as people our families are ever changing. Home is where our hearts are and our houses are were we share the memories of that moment in time” – Sara Gillooly

If you’re planning on starting a family, or expanding your current family, chances are you’re due for a home upgrade. Perhaps you need a second bedroom, a backyard for the kids to run around or just an overall bigger space. Even if you’re not quite ready to buy, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what you want out of your future home. It’s also a good idea to start looking sooner than later.

This is where a Realtor can help. A Real Estate Agent can help guide you through the entire buying process from start to finish. They can help you guide you to which type of home, neighborhood, and property features are best for you and your family. They can even set you up with a customized search; any time a property matches your criteria, you can view it in person to see if it fits your family’s needs. The more properties you see, the better feel you’ll get for what’s out there.

Basically, if you can avoid waiting until the last minute then you won’t feel rushed or pressured into a property that doesn’t work for you and your family. And when you’re finally ready to make an offer, you will feel confident in your decision knowing that you already shopped the market.

You’ll also want to think about your budget and finances (especially if you’re planning on going on maternity leave). One question that we get asked all the time is – “Can I qualify for a mortgage while I’m on maternity leave?”. The short answer is – yes you can! However, it’s important to budget and plan ahead of time. This is where a Mortgage broker can help you plan. They will put together a financial plan for you by asking some important questions. I.e. What will your financial situation be like while on maternity leave? Do you plan on going back to work? If so, when? And are you going to be on reduced hours when you’re working again?

The more you understand your finances, the more you will know what to expect. And the more you know what to expect, the better you’ll be able to plan. You will also feel much more at ease – if the financial part of your conversation is already taken care of, then you’ll reduce your stress and will be able to focus on your pregnancy.

So, if you’re planning on having a family in the near future and are looking for a new home, reach out to me. I’ve helped many families find their dream home, and would love to help yours as well.

Check out Herjit Driver from Driver Mortgages and Nicole Plaza from Lifelounge with Nicole

Filed Under: Real Estate Tagged With: Buying a Home, Mortgage and Financing

About Sara Gillooly

Sara Gillooly is an agent with RE/MAX All Points in Coquitlam, BC. She has been recognized within the top 10% of agents in Vancouver, and is now a highly regarded and regularly referred agent in The Greater Vancouver Area.

From a young age, Sara watched and learned from her parents’ success in Real Estate. She continued to build on her knowledge through diverse real estate experiences – everything from being an agent, to real estate investment and redevelopment, to commercial real estate. She has even been a property manager in Arizona. She believes in staying informed and educated, which is why she is continuously learning about current market conditions and their effect on the real estate industry in The Lower Mainland.

With such a strong background in so many facets of the business, Sara is able to provide exceptional service to her clients. She is usually referred to others by word of mouth for her level of expertise, honesty and care. She is a dedicated, persistent and excellent negotiator who will always fight for the best interest of her clients. Sara truly goes above and beyond.

Even in her personal life, Sara has always felt the need to help others. She has been repeatedly recognized as a leader in her community since she was a student. Her notable achievements include working as a Human Rights Advocate in Geneva, Switzerland for the United Nations and having established her own charity.

If you’re looking for an experienced Realtor® to help you with your buying or selling needs, Sara will be there every step of the way.

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Sara Gillooly Real Estate - RE/MAX All Points
Sara Gillooly Real Estate - RE/MAX All Points
5.0
Based on 38 reviews
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Raj C
Raj C
23:21 27 May 21
Working with Sara is fantastic! Trustworthy and experienced realtor who gives you honest advice to help you make the best decision regarding the sale or purchase of your home. She is very knowledgeable about the market on both sides and made everything so easy!!
Peter Stepaniuk
Peter Stepaniuk
04:56 29 Jan 21
As first time home buyers we had a lot of questions and didn't really know where to start. We initially met Sara at an open house of one of her properties, and we are extremely glad we did. She made the entire home buying process very easy. She was honest and we really felt as if she was looking out for our best interests. We would definitely recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell their home!
Lisa Down
Lisa Down
20:43 10 Dec 20
Sara is an amazing realtor to work with. She is very diligent and hard working. She is so thorough when it comes to researching everything about a property (including all the strata minutes) and she is honest and upfront about whether she thinks it is a wise property to buy. She will fight for the best price for you. She demonstrates integrity and knowledge in her field. Sara was so accommodating and flexible for us as well. When we had limited time to view properties in the lower mainland, she managed to book 12 viewings in a couple days for us so that we could see all the places we wanted to while we were in the area. Plus she was great with our child. I would highly recommend Sara Gillooly as your realtor!
Teresa Cruz
Teresa Cruz
23:33 18 Nov 20
My husband and I lucked out getting Sara as our realtor during the search for our first condo. We met her at an open house and our first impression was of someone who listened to what you wanted and didn't try to make the listing match that. She is very honest about what the strengths/weaknesses of each property and doesn't try to push you into anything you don't want. She took the time to get to know us and what we were looking for, and really kept that in mind in her recommendations and when we went to open houses together. Sara is very responsive and professional and cares about her clients. She also has some excellent recommendations for mortgage brokers/financial planners/home inspectors/etc. She also worked some things into our purchasing contract that saved us money. Overall, I cannot recommend Sara highly enough.
Wesley Brookes
Wesley Brookes
16:52 14 Nov 20
Sara was THE perfect ally to have for the purchase of our first property. She was patient with us and made sure to explain each of the phases of the search and purchase process clearly. She is not just interested in a sale. She really has your best interests at heart. Several times she was the one asking the hard and important questions that wouldn’t have even crossed our minds. I would 100% recommend her to others and will most definitely be calling her down the road when and if we decide to sell. Thanks Sara.
Kevin Nand
Kevin Nand
02:19 31 Oct 20
Most honest opinion you’ll ever get. Helped us purchase our first home. There was no pressure and insured that we never settled. Very professional and friendly. Wouldn’t consider anyone else
Anne Marchant
Anne Marchant
20:25 22 Feb 20
From our first contact with Sara Gillooly, she has been quick to respond and worked tirelessly on my behalf.Sara assessed our property and recommended some up-grades. She provided us with contacts for professional trades- people, who were efficient, competent and within budget. Her staging transformed our fifteen year old apartment, into a fabulous, urban chic home with a modern flare.Sara was very diligent about assessing the market and helping set a price. She meticulously checked all offers and followed up promptly, day and night.Sara’s knowledge and years of experience in the real estate industry made what could have been a long and stressful process, quick and seamless.Sara Gillooly was a pleasure to work with and we could not be happier with our sale. We recommend her to anyone buying or selling a property in Greater Vancouver area and Lower Mainland.
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