Edmonton Journal

Knowledge is (Buying) Power

- DAVID RYNING

Step into Nadine Lewis’s kitchen.

Here you will find good food, good company and the contagious excitement of a homebuyer whose new purchase has exceeded her wildest expectatio­ns.

Effusive and engaging, Lewis talks about her love of cooking and how her new kitchen inspires her day and night. “I just walk in here and I feel like whipping something up,” she said. “Sometimes I come in here at 11 o’clock at night and I’ll just start cooking.” And while the kitchen is her favourite place, Lewis also lists the open-concept design, nine-foot ceilings, fireplace and large, luxurious shower as particular attraction­s of her new home, along with Creekwood Collection­s neighbourh­ood amenities like a nearby pond and walking trails.

She bought the townhouse after an intensive search. “First of all, I didn’t know what I wanted,” she said. “I went to so many – and I do mean SO many – homes in this area. But then I stumbled upon this.” She was taken not only by the townhome itself, but also by the surroundin­g area. One landmark, directly across the street, has especially won her over. “I just love the pond,” she said. “It’s the best feature — outside of my actual place — it’s just beautiful. I literally couldn’t have asked for a better location.” Although Lewis doesn’t have school-aged kids, the proximity of schools and other amenities also factored into her buying decision. “You look at resale value and what kind of area it’s going to be,” she said. Lewis’s considerat­ion of resale value is a reminder that buying a home is a huge financial decision.

And although much of the home-buying experience is about finding the property that best fits your lifestyle and personalit­y, it is equally important to find the right financing option.

Lewis recommends pre-qualifying to make shopping easier. “I think it’s important to pre-qualify,” Lewis said. “You don’t want to love the place and then find out you can’t qualify.”

Shopping for a home and a mortgage can be daunting, especially for first-time buyers. “Initially it was kind of scary; you want to make sure you know everything you need to know,” Lewis said.

For Nadine Lewis, her own research and help from profession­als in the field were the main ingredient­s of a happy home-buying experience. As a result, she found the home, and kitchen, of her dreams.

If you are interested in a Caspia townhome or any of the other products available in Creekwood Collection­s, including single-family homes, estate homes and paired homes, visit Livethecol­lections. com for more informatio­n.

“I went to so many – and I do mean SO many – homes in this area. But then I stumbled upon this.”

 ?? Laughing dog Photograph­y INC. ?? Homebuyer Nadine Lewis talks about her new townhouse in Creekwood Collection­s
Laughing dog Photograph­y INC. Homebuyer Nadine Lewis talks about her new townhouse in Creekwood Collection­s

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