Simply. It’s the process of qualifying for a mortgage with a bank or other lender. Your income, debt, assets, and other info will be used to determine the amount a bank will give you to buy a home. It’s the most important step before shopping for homes as you'll know your comfortable budget. 

On average, it can take between 1-3 months to find a home and work through the process. It  can be longer or sooner heavily depending on your situation, timeframe, and the property you’re looking for!

In most purchases, the buyer does not have to pay Realtor fees. The agent commissions for your purchase are typically paid out by the seller at the end of the closing process. 

This may be a little bias because I've lived in Edmonton my whole life... however word has spread about the draws of living here. I'll keep it to my top three for this section: 

1.) Affordability - compared to other major cities in Canada, Edmonton still remains one of the most affordable places to buy a home, live, while offering diverse amenities and services. 

2.) Job Market - Alberta is known widely as an Oil Sector, Edmonton is home to many working in the field but many other big sectors are based here such as Tech, Finance, Education, Heathcare, etc. Even if these aren't your fields, there are many other options.

3.) Lifestyle - Others may disagree because of our weather but Edmonton offers a wide variety of events, festivals, sports, concerts, restaurants and more which create a great atmosphere. Let's not forget watching the Edmonton Oilers at Roger's Place!