You've already taken the first step by visiting EncoreMasterBuilder.com. 

Next, we recommend that you go through each topic in our Frequently Asked Questions section (you're already in it!) You'll find a lot of helpful information, especially if you're buying a new home for the first time.

After familiarizing yourself with the information in our FAQ, the next step you'll want to take is browsing our locations, house plans, and current listings. This will give you a good idea of where we build, what models we have, and what we have available for immediate possession (along with the price of those properties).

Next, you'll want to speak with a mortgage broker or financial lending institution (ie: the bank) to determine the amount of mortgage you can pre-qualify to receive. Mortgage Brokers will shop different lending institutions on your behalf, striving to obtain the best possible rate. It is important to remember that the best rate is not always the best deal though. Our Sales Counselors are more than happy to discuss these options with you.

It's now up to you to select a neighbourhood, then visit us in one of our Show Homes to discover if Encore Master Builder is the right builder for you and your family.

Any Mortgage Broker or Financial Lending Institution (ie: the bank) will be able to determine what you can afford based on your current income, household debt, available savings, and credit score.

As a general guideline, you can easily estimate what you can afford by calculating your Gross Debt Service ratio in the following way:

Gross Debt Service ratio (GDS)
The GDS looks at your proposed new housing costs (mortgage payments, property taxes, and heating costs). Generally speaking, this amount should be no more than 32% of your gross monthly income. For example, if your gross monthly income is $4,000, you should not be spending more than $1,280 in monthly housing expenses.

Keep in mind that this number is a prescribed maximum and that you should strive for a somewhat lower ratio in order to maintain a more affordable lifestyle.

With this number in hand, you can now use our Mortgage Payment Calculator to determine a mortgage amount that will fit within your current budget.

NOTE: Before falling in love with a potential new home, we strongly recommend that you discuss financing options with the lender of your choice. This will help you stay within your price range and spend your time looking at homes you can reasonably afford.

We are happy to sit down with you to discuss any of these issues — to help make your “dream home” both affordable and enjoyable.

Encore Master Builder supplies our clients with limited professional lawyer services and we cover all closing costs associated with the sale (ie. land title transfer, registration, compliance fees, etc). These fees are included in the price of your new home*.

NOTE: Some mortgage lenders will require that you (their client) obtain a third-party lawyer independent of the one offered by Encore Master Builder. In these cases, you will be required to waive the services offered by Encore, and you will become responsible for the costs associated with that third-party lawyer.

When deciding on a lender, it is important to ask the following question up front: Will you allow our builder to provide a lawyer on our behalf?

The answer to this question can save you many hundreds of dollars!

Many builders do not allow changes after your initial contract has been signed. In fact, some builders don't allow changes at any stage.

But Encore Master Builder wants your new home to be your dream home. We fully understand that things may come up during the building process that you simply hadn't considered on the day you signed the contract.

When you purchase a new home from Encore, we want you to be part of the whole experience, so we allow changes both prior to construction and during construction.

Of course, there are times when we may have passed a point in construction where making a change is either no longer possible or extremely costly. In these cases, we'll discuss your options with you and allow you to make a decision.

Your Project Manager is always available to discuss changes or additions and is able to provide price and timeline estimates in a timely fashion.

The construction of a new home is an extremely complicated process, involving thousands of steps, hundreds of regulations, and dozens of contractors.

Construction on a new home should never be undertaken without the builder having a thorough knowledge of soil conditions, regulatory requirements, construction best-practises, moisture protection strategies, and a host of other industry-specific knowledge.

The Master Home Builder Certification is only granted to Builders that have received and maintained adequate training in every aspect of the home building process. Accredited certification is provided by the Professional Home Builders Institute of Alberta, and only to individuals who have already had a minimum of 5 years experience in an eligible position.

Accredited Master Home Builder certification is maintained by a requirement to obtain ongoing training, year after year.

Encore Master Builder Inc. is an accredited Master Home Builder.

We strongly recommend that you never consider building with any individual or company that does not have this certification.

It's the difference between hoping you'll get a great home, and knowing you will.

Selling your existing home is always a major consideration when purchasing (or planning to purchase) a new home. Needing the equity built up in your current home — or simply needing a place to live — are both very real concerns.

But this shouldn't prevent you from shopping for a new home, or even signing a purchase contract when the price, product, and location are all too perfect to pass up.

When you sign a contract to purchase a new home, just ensure that the contract includes a conditional clause stating that the purchase of the new home is conditional upon the sale of your current home (and by a specific pre-determined date).

The builder may require that you agree to certain conditions related to that clause (for example, that you list your house with a professional realtor), but a conditional clause will provide peace of mind in the event that your house does not sell.

Don't let the down payment be the barrier to your homeownership dreams. There are many mortgage products that allow you to achieve homeownership with little or no down payment at all. Be sure you speak to your lender about all your down payment options.

Beyond mortgage products, there are other sources to consider for your down payment needs. You can use your savings, or a gift from a parent or relative. Or did you know Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) can be used towards the purchase of a first home?

The Federal Government of Canada has a First-Time Homebuyers' Plan (HBP) that allows you to use money in your RRSP to purchase your first home. For example, the current HBP lets first-time buyers withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSPs to buy or build a home. RRSPs are a great way to secure your financial future while enjoying tax benefits today.

Additional considerations when using your RRSP:

• The amount you withdraw must be repaid within 15 years, beginning in the third year after the withdrawal.
• You can create an RRSP with borrowed money and use the tax refund as a down payment.
• You can establish an RRSP with borrowed money and withdraw the money as a down payment through HBP.

You can set up an RRSP through your bank or other financial institutions like credit unions or insurance companies. Visit Canada Revenue Agency for more information on setting up an RRSP and the Homebuyers' Plan.