Posted by: Karim Ali
Coffee with Karim
First-Time Home Buyer Seminar
Buying your first home in Ottawa can feel like a lot.
You’re trying to understand mortgages, down payments, closing costs, inspections, lawyers, offers, conditions, neighbourhoods, market timing, and a dozen other things people usually only explain once you’re already in the middle of it.
That’s exactly why we’re hosting a free first-time home buyer seminar in Ottawa.
Education-First
This event is built mostly for brand-new buyers who are still early in the process, especially if you’re thinking of buying in the next 6 months to a year or more. You do not need to be pre-approved. You do not need to know exactly what you want yet. You do not even need to be sure that buying is the right move.
The point is to help you understand the process before you’re under pressure.
Event Details
First-Time Home Buyer Seminar
Date: Thursday, June 4th, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Royal LePage, 1500 Bank Street, Ottawa
Cost: Free
Registration: Register on Eventbrite
Spots are limited, so please register ahead of time if you’re planning to attend.
Who This Seminar Is For
This seminar is a good fit if:
You’re thinking about buying your first home in Ottawa but have no idea where to start.
You’re 6 to 12+ months away and want to understand what to prepare for.
You’re wondering how much money you actually need to buy.
You’re unsure what happens between getting pre-approved, seeing homes, making an offer, doing an inspection, and closing.
You want to ask questions in a casual setting without feeling like you’re being pushed into anything.
Active buyers are welcome too, but the event is designed especially for people who are still learning.
What We’ll Cover
We’ll walk through the home buying process in the same general order you’re likely to experience it.
Chris Allard, Mortgage Broker, will cover the financing side, including affordability, pre-approvals, down payments, FHSA/RRSP basics, monthly costs, rate holds, and common financing mistakes.
Karim Ali, REALTOR®, will explain the home search process, including how searches are set up, how showings work, what to know before making an offer, deposits, conditions, resale concerns, and how to think through whether a property is actually worth pursuing.
Mark Hodgson, Home Inspector, will go over what inspectors look for, what buyers can watch for during showings, inspection costs and timelines, and some of the bigger risks that can come up with different types of homes.
Adrian Taylor, Real Estate Lawyer, will explain the legal and closing side, including title, closing costs, adjustments, condo status certificates, insurance, and legal issues buyers should understand before closing.
We’ll also have a market panel and Q&A, where you can ask questions about the Ottawa market, what buyers are running into right now, and what the process looks like in real life.
Casual, Local, and Practical
There will be light snacks, a casual intro, short presentations from each professional, and time afterward for networking and one-on-one questions. The goal is for you to leave with a clearer understanding of the process, what it costs, where buyers can get into trouble, and what your next step should be.
Register for the Free Seminar
If you’re thinking about buying your first home in Ottawa, even if it’s still a year away, this is a good place to start.
Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-time-home-buyer-seminar-ottawa-ontario-tickets-1989027552954
Limited spots available.
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