Find Me A Home

Looking for a place out here? Good call. It's Better Out Here.... and I'd love to help you find your spot.

I'm Samantha Roth. I help Buyers find homes and acreages across Central Alberta, and I live here too, in Carstairs, with my family. I know these towns, I know the back roads, and I know what it actually feels like to live in each one. That's the kind of thing you cannot get from a listing photo.

How buying works out here

If you have never bought a home (or it's been a while), here's the lay of the land:

1. Get pre-approved. Talk to a mortgage broker or your bank first, so you know your number before you fall in love with a place.
2. Figure out your must-haves. Acreage or in town? Shop? Number of bedrooms? School zone? Let's get clear on it.
3. Start the search. I'll set you up so you see the right listings as they hit the market.
4. Go see homes. We walk through them together and I tell you the good AND the bad.
5. Make an offer. I handle the paperwork and the negotiation. This is where having someone local really pays off.
6. Conditions. Financing, inspection, and for rural properties, things like water and septic.
7. Possession. You get the keys. Welcome home.

I'm with you the whole way. No question is a dumb question.

Financing, the basics

A few things worth knowing before you start (talk to a mortgage professional for the specifics, every situation is different):

• Get pre-approved before you shop. It tells you your budget and makes your offer stronger.
• Rural and acreage financing can work differently than a home in town. Some lenders treat them differently, so it helps to work with someone who has done rural before.
• Factor in the extras. Down payment, closing costs, and for acreages, things like water testing.
• A local mortgage broker can be worth their weight in gold out here. If you need a name, just ask. I know a few good ones.

Buying an acreage or rural property

Buying rural is a little different than buying in town, and it's worth going in with your eyes open. A few things to think about:

• Water. Is it a well, a co-op, or a cistern? How deep, how good, how much?
• Septic. What type, what condition, when was it last serviced?
• Access and roads. Gravel, snow clearing, who maintains it.
• Outbuildings and zoning. What's allowed, what's grandfathered, what you can build.
• Utilities and internet (yes, ask about internet).

None of this should scare you off. It just needs checking, and I know what to look for. I help Buyers through rural purchases all the time.

Where do you want to live?

Every town out here has its own feel. Most are an easy commute too. Carstairs and Crossfield are roughly ~30 to ~45 minutes from Calgary, so you can have the small-town life and still get to the city when you need to. Have a look around and see what fits:

~ Drive times are approximate, Highway 2 / QEII, off-peak.

Not sure yet? That's what I'm here for. Tell me what you're after and I'll help you narrow it down. Sundre and Water Valley are on my radar too, just ask.

Common questions about buying

Ready to start looking?

Let's talk. I'll get to know what you want, set up your search, and we'll go find it together.

It's Better Out Here. Let's find your place in it.