Frequently Asked Questions
What can we help you with?
General Questions
Visit Our Homes to learn about our latest Mosaic communities. When you find a Mosaic community that’s a match for you, you can request more information online. You can also visit a Home Store or call our sales team to learn more. With information changing regularly, direct contact with our team is the best source of all things current.
There are a few things unique to buying a pre-sale home.
The Disclosure Statement is an important document to review before buying a new home in a multi-family community. The Disclosure Statement is a comprehensive document provided by Mosaic that communicates specific details and information about the multi-family community and your new home. In short, a Disclosure Statement is designed to ensure there are no surprises after you’ve purchased your home.
Part of the new home purchase process includes entering into a purchase contract with Mosaic. At that time, you also provide a deposit to secure your new home. This deposit is held in trust, typically with a lawyer, and is used towards the purchase price of your home on closing, once the home is complete.
For starters, a new home is just that – new. From appliances to finish materials and all equipment, this will be the first time any component of your home will have been used. Think fresh, clean and easy to maintain, as everything is brand-new. Like a new car, your new home is reliable and is serviced by the manufacturer – in this case, Mosaic.
There’s also the added protection of Mosaic’s New Home Warranty. You’re covered if the unexpected occurs, providing peace of mind when you buy new. More details on Mosaic’s New Home Warranty can be found on our Home Care page.
The First Time Home Buyers’ Program is a provincial government program that reduces or eliminates the amount of property transfer tax you pay when you purchase your first home. If you qualify for the program, you may be eligible for either a full or partial exemption from the property transfer tax. Learn more here.
When buying a new home, you will pay deposits that are held in trust with a lawyer until your home is ready for you to move in. Once you move into your new Mosaic home, these deposits will be applied towards the purchase price of your home. These deposit amounts and the payment timing are outlined in your purchase contract, and communicated at the time you buy your new home.
Tax applies to the purchase of a home. The amount of tax varies depending on a number of factors that are influenced by the type of home and the cost of the home, as well as your specific situation. You may be eligible for special grants or benefits from the government that change the amount of tax you pay on a new home purchase. Try using a tax calculator to help calculate this. A member of our sales team can also walk you through the process if you visit one of our Home Stores.
When buying a new home, you may encounter the term “closing in escrow”. Escrow will occur if one or more of the conditions of the purchase of your home have not been met. These conditions can include many different terms, ranging from unforeseen delays at the land title office to a delay in the transfer of funds. While these conditions are being met, a trusted third party such as a lawyer or closing agent is responsible for holding onto the money or documents in escrow.
Escrow has an important legal function in buying a new home, as the trusted third party handles all vital documents involved in the close of your new home purchase, including insurance receipts, deposits and closing cost payments. Registering the mortgage and deed with the appropriate courts is also done by this third party. If you have additional questions about what closing in escrow means, feel free to visit one of our Home Stores to speak with our sales team.
A Mosaic Home is better. Better is found in the details, both big and small. Full of light, rich in detail and designed so that every inch counts. We often have homeowners move from one Mosaic community to the next after they discover our homes are better. To see for yourself, connect with our sales team.
Strata
Strata refers to a type of ownership that applies to most multi-family communities. Strata ownership homes are a popular housing choice for many reasons, including the convenience of sharing a property manager, increased security, and sharing operating costs and the costs of the great amenities often found in strata communities. Millions of Canadians live in strata housing.
As an owner in strata housing, you own your individual home and, together with your neighbours, you own the shared spaces around your home, which are often referred to as common property.
The Disclosure Statement you receive when buying a new home within a strata corporation will include a budget that details strata fee costs. Strata governance, budgets and operations vary from community to community; however, strata fees typically cover things like landscaping, regular maintenance, insurance, garbage disposal and the upkeep of shared amenity spaces like a clubhouse, gym or pool.
Mortgages
When buying a home, a mortgage is often used to help with financing the purchase. The total funds required to buy your new home are typically comprised of a down payment, which could be funds you have saved or are gifted by family, and money loaned by a bank or other financial institution. There are two common types of mortgages: conventional and high ratio.
Conventional
A conventional mortgage applies when the amount of money borrowed does not exceed 80% of the value of your home. For example, if you purchase a home that is valued at $400,000, your conventional mortgage would be less than $320,000 and your total down payment would be more than $80,000.
High Ratio
Your mortgage is high ratio when the amount borrowed is more than 80% of the value of your home. In this scenario, you are required to have your mortgage insured. The one-time premium for this insurance varies, based on the amount of your mortgage and the total mortgage-to-price ratio. Current mortgage insurance premium rates are available online from Sagan and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
There are numerous options to check out when shopping for a mortgage. Banks, trust companies and other financial institutions offer a variety of mortgage options to finance your new home purchase. You may want to start with your current bank or a mortgage broker. Be sure to speak to someone who specializes in residential mortgages, as they will have the most up-to-date information to answer any of your questions. Our teams at any of our Home Stores can always recommend an independent mortgage advisor, should that be helpful.
A mortgage pre-approval is when a lender (bank, financial institution, etc.) pre-approves the maximum amount they will lend you.
When you receive a mortgage pre-approval, you have a guaranteed mortgage rate for a set amount of time (usually for 120 days, could be up to 48 months with special builder programs). If mortgage rates go down during this period, you will get the benefit of a lower rate. If mortgage rates go up, your lower rate is locked in and will not change.
We recommend arranging a mortgage pre-approval, as there are no costs or obligations to secure a pre-approval, and this will put you in a better position to efficiently shop for a home that’s a fit for you.
If you are a Mosaic homeowner that has not moved in yet, reach out to our project sales team today to learn more about how securing a mortgage early can help you.
For Mosaic Homeowners
Visit the Home Care section of this website to request an appointment with one of our Home Care technicians. If you prefer to speak with our Home Care team via phone, please call 604.685.3888.
If our Home Store for your community is still open, the team that assisted you with your home purchase is available daily in person at the Home Store or over the phone.
If our Home Store for your community is closed, please call the Sales Coordinator that we have introduced you to. While we complete the construction of your home, we will stay in touch mostly through email, so please watch for our updates. If you’re missing our Sales Coordinator’s contact details, please call our main office at 604.685.3888 and let our team know your name, your community and the reason for your call, and we’ll connect you with the right person to assist you. You can also click on the web page for your community to find out the current contact details for the team.
There are a number of pieces of equipment in your new home that are backed by the original manufacturer’s warranty. When permitted, we transfer the warranty to you when you complete the purchase of your new home. Check your Home Care book for details on the equipment and associated warranties.