First-Time Buyers
Know the numbers before you fall in love with the listing.
Buying your first home in Alberta is a financial decision wrapped in a lot of feelings. Hannah helps you understand what you can afford, what lenders look at, and what to prepare so the offer process is grounded in real numbers.
What you will learn
The six things first-time buyers actually need to understand.
Most first-time buyer questions come back to the same handful of topics. Here is what we cover before you start writing offers.
Affordability
A real number based on income, debts, and the payment range that fits your life, not just the maximum a lender will approve.
Down payment
Minimum down payment rules, gifted down payment requirements, RRSP Home Buyers' Plan, and how the source of your funds is documented.
Pre-approval
A documented review of your income, credit, and savings with a held rate for a set period so you can shop with a real budget.
Documents
A short, specific list of what your lender will actually need, not a generic catch-all checklist.
Offer confidence
Realistic financing conditions, timelines for lender approval, and what to expect from the lawyer at signing.
Application to funding
What happens after the offer is accepted: conditions, appraisal, insurer review, and the path to keys.
Pre-approval explained
What a real pre-approval actually looks like.
A real pre-approval is more than a website calculator. It is a documented review of your income, credit, and down payment, with a held interest rate for a set period.
You leave with three things: a working purchase range you are comfortable with, a rate hold that protects you while you shop, and a plan for how to write offers with realistic financing conditions.
A simple five-step timeline
- 01
Conversation
A short call to understand your timeline, income type, and goals.
- 02
Pre-approval
Documented income and credit review with a held rate.
- 03
Offer
Write with realistic financing conditions and a working budget.
- 04
Conditions
Appraisal, lender approval, and any remaining documents.
- 05
Lawyer and signing
Final paperwork, costs, and keys.
Documents and prep
A short, specific document list.
Most first-time buyers can gather these in a single evening. Anything additional, Hannah will request only if your specific lender requires it.
- Government-issued photo ID
- Two most recent pay stubs
- Last two years of T4s and Notice of Assessment
- Ninety days of statements showing your down payment
- Letter of employment if requested by the lender
- List of current debts and monthly payment amounts
Two next steps
Get a snapshot, then talk it through.
The Mortgage Readiness Check is a short questionnaire that tells you whether you are ready to plan, worth a review, or better off preparing first. It takes less than one minute.
The Mortgage Check-In is a personal conversation with Hannah to walk through your situation, your numbers, and the lender options that fit.
Content on this page is general education only. It is not an offer of credit, a rate guarantee, an approval, or personal financial advice. Pre-approval does not guarantee final mortgage approval; final approval depends on the property and full lender underwriting.
Ready when you are
Start with the Mortgage Readiness Check.
Less than one minute, no credit pull, no obligation. You will get a general readiness snapshot and a clear next step for your first home conversation with Hannah.