Your First Home Starts with a Plan

Buying your first home is an exciting step—but it can also feel overwhelming. At Valko Financial, we’re here to take the pressure off and guide you through the process with clarity, confidence, and real support every step of the way.

From understanding what you can afford to securing the best rate and accessing first-time buyer programs, we simplify the journey from “just looking” to “keys in hand.” We work with top lenders to find the right mortgage for your needs—so you don’t have to shop around or guess what’s next.

To get started, you’ll need a few basics: your employment and income details, credit history, a down payment (as little as 5% with CMHC insurance), and an idea of your monthly budget and lifestyle goals. But if you don’t have it all figured out yet, that’s okay. We’re here to help you build the plan that gets you home.

How much do I need for a down payment?

In Canada, the minimum down payment depends on the price of the home:

5% for homes up to $500,000
10% on the portion between $500,000 and $999,999
20% for homes priced at $1 million or more

If your down payment is less than 20%, mortgage default insurance (like CMHC insurance) is required.

Not sure where you stand? We’ll help you calculate what you need, explore your options, and build a plan that works for your budget.

What costs should I expect besides the down payment?

In addition to your down payment, you’ll need to budget for several closing and upfront costs, including:

Legal fees
Land transfer tax (varies by province; rebates available for first-time buyers)
Home inspection and appraisal
Title insurance
Mortgage default insurance (if your down payment is less than 20%)
Adjustments (such as prepaid property taxes or utilities)
Moving expenses and utility hookups

A good rule of thumb is to set aside 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price for these costs.

At Valko Financial, we’ll walk you through all expected expenses so there are no surprises—and you can plan with confidence.

Can I use RRSPs or get help from family for my down payment?

Yes! There are two common ways to boost your down payment:

RRSPs through the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP):
If you're a first-time homebuyer (or haven’t owned a home in the last four years), you can withdraw up to $60,000 tax-free from your RRSPs to put toward your down payment. You’ll have 15 years to repay the amount back into your RRSP.
A gifted down payment from family:
Many buyers receive financial help from family in the form of a gifted down payment. Lenders typically require a signed gift letter confirming the funds are a gift—not a loan—and that they don’t need to be repaid.

We just renewed our mortgage with Samantha. She was excellent and made the process very easy. She responded to my questions often within an hour of me emailing and got us a great deal. We felt very taken care of.

Stacey L

7 days ago

I had the pleasure of using Valko Fianancial for three homes now. I cannot reiterate how smooth and easy the whole process was from start to finish. I worked with Matt S this time around. And he was very calm, easy to chat with and got all the stuff in place making it a super stress free closing. I highly recommend them as they tend to find the best rates at the time of purchase and really talk to you about it. Answer all your questions respectively. 5 ⭐️!

Natalie Nagy

9 days ago

We absolutely love our new home and we couldn’t have done it without Cindy White! She went over and beyond to make sure we felt comfortable with our purchase. Cindy was transparent and awesome to work with. This is our second time working with Cindy, highly recommended.

Eston Simon

17 days ago

Let’s Take the First Step Together

Buying your first home doesn’t have to be scary. With the right guidance, it’s exciting, empowering, and entirely possible.

Apply Online Download First Time Buyer Guide