Welcome to Brantford!
Did you know…
- Brantford is known as “The Telephone City”, because it’s where Alexander Graham Bell worked on the invention of the telephone at his home on Tutela Heights Road. In August 1876, Bell made the first long-distance call to Paris Ontario, 11km away. You can still visit the historic Bell Homestead today!
- The official flower of Brantford is the daffodil, as it resembles the old-style candlestick telephone.
- Brantford is the hometown of several celebrities, including Walter & Wayne Gretzky (NHL), Phil Hartman (television & movie star) and many more!
- Our city has been the setting of many Hollywood productions including The Handmaids Tale, Silent Hill and Murdoch Mysteries.
Brantford & Brant County’s Amenities
Highway Access: Our city is nestled along the 403 corridor between Hamilton and Woodstock, with access to Cambridge via Highway 24 to the north, and Simcoe/Norfolk County via Highway 24 to the south.
The Grand River: Kayak, canoe or fish along one of Southern Ontario’s largest rivers, flowing southward toward Lake Erie.
Walking Trails: Enjoy miles and miles of well maintained nature trails that criss-cross our city.
Brant Conservation Area: Camping, fishing, swimming and more on a huge nature reserve.
Elements Casino: Try your luck on the slots or at the tables & enjoy a great dinner!
Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre: This centre houses several swimming pools, hockey arenas, exercise rooms and fitness classes.
Our local neighbourhoods
North End: Mayfair, Greenbrier, Brier Park, Lynden Hills and Fairview
- This particular end of Brantford is loved by commuters who want quick access to the highway. Loads of shopping, dining, big box stores and Lynden Park Mall are nearby.
West End: Henderson, Sky Acres, Holmedale, Ava Heights and Oakhill
- Large properties, beautiful Victorian century homes and sprawling parks can be found here along the banks of the Grand River. The Brantford Golf & Country Club and the Brant Conservation Area are nearby for your enjoyment!
Central Brantford: Terrace Hill, North Ward, East Ward, Downtown
- Get closer to all the action! Harmony Square, Wilfred Laurier University, shopping and more! You’ll find newly remodeled century homes, quaint Brantford cottages, loads of student housing and family friendly neighbourhoods that are up-and-coming. This is a hotspot for savvy investors!
East End: Echo Place, Braneida, Eagle Place
- For those looking for more mature neighbourhoods with wider lots, front porches and meandering sidewalks, this is a phenomenal place to buy a home. With new construction and many remodeled homes, this side of town is a great spot for young families, first time homebuyers and investors.
Southwest End: West Brant, Shellard Lane, Old West Brant
- Loads of new construction, dotted with more established neighbourhoods throughout. This part of Brantford is ripe with new amenities, shopping and playgrounds for all the folks moving to town.
Frequently Asked Questions When Buying in Brantford
How much does it cost to use a REALTOR® in Brantford and Brant County?
Believe it or not, using a real estate agent to purchase your next home doesn’t cost you anything. More often than not, the buyer’s agent is paid a commission by the seller of the home. We will be happy to show you houses that meet your criteria, within your budget, and there won’t be any upfront costs to you!
How much does a house cost in Brantford or Brant County?
Obviously, the answer to this question varies. Factors that play into what your home will cost in Brantford & Brant County are determined by:
- the neighbourhood you choose
- the square footage of the home
- the features of the home (how many bedrooms and bathrooms, finished basement, etc.)
- the quality of the finishes in the home (is it updated with quality materials, or is it dated and needing repairs)
- the inventory of similar homes that are available to purchase in the current market
- any comparable sales that have taken place in that neighbourhood over the past 6 months
Once we determine those factors, we get a pretty good sense of what you can expect to pay for a home. The Kate Broddick Team can provide suggestions that will help check off as many boxes from your list of needs & wants, while still meeting your budget.
How long does it take to purchase a home in Brantford or Brant County?
Again, the answer to this varies.
When there is a short supply of homes for sale, there will be more buyers competing to purchase a single home. This is called a Sellers Market. You may find that homes sell very quickly, sometimes for over-asking price because so many buyers need to make a purchase before anyone else does. In this case, you’ll need to be ready to act quickly – as soon as a home comes on the market.
However when there is an abundance of homes for sale in the area, you have the luxury of it being a Buyers Market. This offers you the opportunity to shop around, taking your time to make informed decisions. More homes for sale means you’ve got more to choose from and more time to pick one that suits your needs.
It’s the principle of Supply vs. Demand. The Kate Broddick Team can help you, regardless of whether it’s a Buyers or Sellers Market, making sure you get the right home at the best price.
How can I make sure I’m seeing ALL available properties for sale within my budget?
We can set you up in our Our VIP Buyer System where you’ll receive every new listing (whether it’s one of ours, or not!) that comes on the market in your desired location, price range, and with the features you’re looking for.
Instead of having to spend hours scouring the web and contacting agent after agent only to be let down after the property you finally find that you love is sold – again! Our VIP Buyer system provides you with instant notification of new listings and allows you to pick which homes you want to view before most buyers ever get the chance.
YOUR NEW HOME IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
You are steps away from finding your new home. We want to help you find your next home quickly, and make your buying experience as smooth as possible.
We can give you the most useful information about the neighbourhoods you’re looking in. And we’ll always provide you with expert advice so you can be sure you’re making an informed decision about your new home purchase.
USE OF THE MLS® HOME LISTING SERVICE
The Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) is the single most useful tool in place today to buy a home. Our Team can sell, lease and provide information to you about any property that is listed on the MLS®. You may want to have someone other than the Real Estate Agent that has listed the property working for you. Remember, the listing agent may have seller’s best interests at heart, including obtaining the best possible price for that home.
Why Choose The Kate Broddick Team in Brantford & Brant County?
As your Real Estate Agent, we are always working with your best interests in mind! When we are working on your behalf, we will negotiate the best price and ensure you have the representation you need. Still not convinced? Here are even more reasons to consider The Kate Broddick Team!
It doesn’t cost you a thing!
That’s right! Under most circumstances, buyers don’t pay their real estate agent’s commission. Generally speaking, the REALTOR® commissions are paid by the sellers of the property. So why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of all the knowledge and buying power that Team Kate has to offer?
We can assist you in determining your buying power
That is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity. If you give us some basic information about your available savings, income and current debt, I can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. Banks, credit unions or other lenders may be the best fit for you!
We have many resources to assist you in your home search
Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised on the market, and it will take some investigation to find all available properties. Our Team not only uses the MLS®, but other websites, forums and networking strategies to find all possible properties that fit your search criteria.
We can provide objective information about each property
We have access to a variety of resources and can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, etc. There are two things you’ll want to know: first, will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell? These are the questions we can help answer.
We can assist you in the negotiation process
There are a myriad of negotiating factors, including (but not limited to) price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. We will advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required for your situation.
We provide due diligence during the evaluation of the property
Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. We’ll assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do these investigations and provide you with written reports.
We can help close the sale of your new home
Between the initial sales agreement and closing, questions may arise. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most buyers. We’ll assist you in resolving these issues and move the transaction to closing.
If you’re looking to buy a property in the Brantford, Brant County or surrounding area, please contact The Kate Broddick Team with Revel Realty Inc.
A Guide to Buying Your First Home in Brantford & Brant County
When you’re ready to purchase your first home in Brantford, you’re going to want some simple and straightforward information and professional advice to get you started.
Follow this guide below to see what happens when you purchase a home, from start to finish! The Kate Broddick Team can help make the process as simple and streamlined as you’ve been hoping for.
STEPS TO BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME
The following are the general steps that you’ll take to buying a home, if you’re a first time home buyer.
Get Pre-approved For A Mortgage
You’ll first start by speaking to your bank, credit union or a mortgage broker and find out what you could reasonably afford in the purchase of a home.
One of them will pre-approve you for a mortgage which will let you know how much financing you can get from a lender (bank). Having this information will also help you budget and help you narrow down the house or condo you can afford.
Read: The Basic Steps To Getting Pre-Approved For a Mortgage
Decide on Your List of Must Haves
If you are determined to own a home in a certain part of town, with a certain number of bedrooms and bathrooms, make a list of these must haves. Note all the neighbourhood information, house features, home upgrades, and number of rooms etc. that you desire the most.
From there you’ll be able to begin your search for a home using your list of must-haves as the search criteria. While doing your home search you may find that you may have to compromise on some of the things you want.
Ask to be Set Up to Receive Free MLS® Listings
We will set you up with our free service that will automatically send you MLS® listings of houses that meet your budget and search criteria. These listings will be sent to your inbox up to 24 hours before the general public sees them, and you will find out about hot new listings first.
Simply email one of our real estate agents to start receiving listings in your inbox every day.
Sign a Buyer Rep. Agreement With a REALTOR®
The Buyer Rep. agreement states that your real estate agent will be working on your behalf to find and negotiate on a property of your choosing. In most cases, your agent’s commission will be paid by the seller, so it generally doesn’t cost you anything to use their services.
Set Up Showings at the Houses You’re Interested In
If you find any particular homes for sale that you’d like to view in person, let your real estate agent know as soon as possible. They will book a private showing at these houses for you, at a mutually convenient time.
At showings, make sure to take a really good look around each property for things you want and possible issues. Above all, make sure you can see yourself living there and being comfortable. If you really like a place, you can even book a second showing a day or two later.
Make an Offer on a House
Once you’ve finally decided on a house you love, discuss it with your agent. Your agent will put together a reasonable offer, discuss it with you, and send you the papers to sign (usually done via email).
For the offer, your agent will look up comparable homes that have sold recently in the area, and help come up with an offer that works for you and the seller.
Find out the difference between a conditional offer and a firm offer.
Note: sometimes your first offer won’t be accepted immediately by the seller. This is when your agent will negotiate on your behalf and will work with you to come to an agreement that is mutually accepted.
Pay Your Deposit on the Home
Once your offer has been accepted, you will be required to put a deposit on the home. Deposits are a different form of payment than the down payment you put on the home.
A deposit can be anywhere from $5000 to $20,000 or more. The sellers determine the deposit amount and it is a good-faith payment to show the sellers that you’re truly interested and serious about buying the property.
The amount you put into your deposit goes towards the total sale price you’ll pay for the home. If you suddenly pull out of the deal before closing day, you will forfeit your deposit payment to the sellers.
Fulfill Any Conditions on Your Offer
If your offer was conditional to receiving financing, or a home inspection, or any other condition, you will need to fulfill these conditions within an allotted time-frame before the house can officially be yours.
You will want to ensure you have definitely secured the financing needed, and the house has been inspected for any problems before the deal is done. Your agent will guide you through these conditions, and show you how to get them fulfilled on time. It’s not hard at all.
Before you hire a home inspector, read our guide on important things to know before hiring a home inspector.
Start Creating Your Moving Checklist
Once all of your conditions have been fulfilled, the sellers will put a sold sign on the front lawn which will soon be yours. Right now is a very good time for you to start getting organized for moving day (also known as closing day) when you’ll get the keys to your new house.
You can use our moving checklist as a guide to help get yourself organized before the big move.
Book Your Final Walkthrough
You may request a final walkthrough of the property before closing day. This is always a good idea and highly advised because it is a chance to take measurements, snap a few photographs, and just reacquaint yourself with the home that will soon be yours.
Your agent will need to check with the sellers that the time/date you’re requesting is mutually acceptable.
Sign All the Final Paperwork
In addition to booking the moving truck and setting up the new utility accounts at your new home, you’ll need to make an appointment at your lawyer’s office prior to closing day.
This is when you will sign all the final paperwork and ensure everything is ready to go with the sale.
Get Your Keys and Move In
On closing day, your lawyer will transfer the mortgage money from your bank into the account of your sellers. Once all money has exchanged hands, you will be advised on where you can pick up the keys to your new home, and start moving in.
You can read Closing On a House – Professional Tips and Advice for help getting your properly prepared for closing day.
Take All the Advice You Can from Your Agent
Our REALTORS® are always happy to help you and will be there to guide and inform you during each stage. Take advantage of their knowledge and by doing so you’ll contribute to making the buying process as simple and hitch-free as possible.