I met Navin a little more than two years ago. She was showing me a condo after I sold my home. She worked very hard to help me through every step of the process and I was signing the following week. 

This year, I needed another realtor and Navin was the answer once again.  

I’ve had other realtors in the past, but Navin showed me what a true realtor is all about.  She is knowledgeable, professional and goes the extra mile to help her customers.  From now on, Navin SOMANI will be my realtor of choice!!!

-Ronni V.D

"Working with Navin on buying our first home was a huge blessing. Her expertise and professionalism, coupled with her positive attitude was very helpful in navigating the currently stressful market and purchasing our home (while also expecting a baby!).We would recommend her and her partner Michael in a heartbeat to anyone looking to buy, rent or sell. They help make the experience painless and enjoyable. Thank you Navin!"

-Suganya and Rathusha

“I’ve learnt through my experience that it is imperative to have a realtor assisting in the process who has a wide range of attributes designed to be tough and warm at the same time. I’m sure many house transactions fail due to the realtor not having the skills to execute the negotiations correctly, and become too fixated on their own worth rather than their customers ultimate desire. This is certainly not the case with Ms Somani. I found her to be very professional, yet with an acute ability to make me comfortable that I was not being aggressively sold to. It is easy for Realtors to be seen in a negative light, and in some instances for good reason. However, Ms Somani’s demeanor, candor, and passion for doing the right thing for her selling customer, coupled with her desire to ensure the buyer is comfortable will put any house seller and buyer at ease.

I am therefore very enthusiastic to recommend her services to others in my position.”

Regards,
Duncan Taylor
Former Owner of:
52 Apple Hill, Baie D’Urfe, Quebec

TOP 5 QUESTIONS WE REALTORS GET ASKED

1. I’m thinking about buying my first home. Where do I start?

     Step 1 is to get pre-approved for a mortgage. A pre-approval lets you know how much you can spend and locks you in at the current interest rate for 90 days or more, allowing you to shop with confidence. 

2.  Is there a “best“ time of year price-wise to buy a home?

   “There really isn’t. Prices depend on a number of factors like supply, demand and other housing market conditions. These can vary greatly from city to city, and from one neighbourhood to the next. With the current sellers market, low inventory and low mortgage rate.."Best" time may seem like a thing of the past for the time being.

3. How does mortgage loan insurance work?

   There is a common misconception that mortgage loan insurance protects the borrower. This is not the case. Mortgage loan insurance is there to protect the lender against default in payments by the homebuyer. If the buyer has a down payment of less than 20 per cent of the purchase price, the lender will purchase default insurance and pass that cost on to the borrower. This can be paid up front or tacked on to the mortgage payments and stretched out over time. Mortgage loan insurance is offered by companies like Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., Genworth Financial Canada, Canada Guaranty, or another approved private insurer.

4.  Can I buy a home with no down payment?

   The down payment is an essential part of your purchase. There are private lenders who offer mortgages with zero down, but the interest rate will likely be much higher and the cost to you will be much greater in the long run. This is generally not recommended. Don’t cut corners and risk your home and investment. Save up at least five per cent of the purchase price, and consider reducing your home-buying budget to make it more affordable.

Aside from good ol’ scrimping and saving, you can also take advantage of the first-time Home Buyer’s Plan to borrow from your RRSPs – tax free!

5. What does the new mortgage stress test mean?

   The new mortgage rules require that all mortgage applicants qualify at a rate that’s two per cent higher than your contracted rate or the Bank of Canada’s five-year benchmark rate. This is to ensure that borrowers will be able to make their mortgage payments should interest rates increase.