In these changing times, many couples choose to purchase homes pre-wedding – and sometimes even while they're planning so they can start newly married life in their own abode. As first time home buyers, it's hard to know how to go about it – where to look, what to look for, how much you can afford. That's where HomeLife Results comes in to lend their expertise.

Lisa Hamilton and Maryanne Fitzgerald have an honest and 'no pressure' approach to real estate and tell us that they're genuinely passionate about finding the right home for each of their clients – a refreshing attitude that we think engaged and newly married couples will love and appreciate. We met with Lisa and Maryanne in their comfy Hamilton office to find out more about how this friendly and professional team can guide first time homebuyers through each step of the process. Here's what we discovered…

Personally speaking…

Both Lisa and Maryanne are Hamilton natives with an interest in local real estate even before they decided to pursue it as a career. In her blog, Lisa admits that her interest is really more of an addiction. "I have been personally investing in real estate for over twenty years… So, I’ve taken my addiction and my willingness to gab to just about anybody… and I’ve turned them into a successful career!"

Both Lisa and Maryanne are Licensed Realtors and members of the Realtor’s Association of Hamilton-Burlington. "We're licensed to sell," they say with a smile. Their training was through HomeLife Corporate, which in addition to plenty of personal experience, and contacts built up over the years, gives them the expertise needed for home buyers and sellers alike to choose this real estate duo.

Maryanne says she loves both working with people and real estate and bringing these two loves together means that you can trust she'll take care of you throughout the process. And with over ten years of business and marketing experience, it's clear that Maryanne not only has the passion for the job, but the experience, too.

Since real estate in the local community is what they’ve designed their own futures around, Lisa and Maryanne give back to the community they know and love whenever they can. For example, by donating a portion of their commissions to Habitat for Humanity and The Good Shephard. It's up to the client where the money goes, and the donation is made in their name.

Your home buying comfort zone

Buying a home, even if it’s not your first home, can sometimes be overwhelming when it comes to budget, options and legalities. So having two real estate divas on your side to walk you through it all is likely to be a breath of fresh air. Lisa and Maryanne want you to be happy with your house and with the process of finding it. In fact, working with first time home buyers is one of the aspects of their job that keeps them inspired when it comes to real estate. They’ve made it their job to make sure each couple understands, and are comfortable with, each step of the way.

Part of staying within your comfort zone is to really listen to what each couple is looking for and showing them only the homes that fit their criteria. There’s no sense spending a lot of time at locations that the couple won’t love or can’t afford. With Lisa and Maryanne, it’s not just about finding any home for you; it’s about finding the right home for you.

Lisa and Maryanne genuinely care and want you to be happy, so they approach each sale with an honest, straight forward, and no pressure approach, and a constant effort for achieving higher standards. "We're two divas with a deal," they told us.

Added incentive

Understanding that new home buyers may be on a smaller budget, Lisa and Maryanne offer an incentive when you buy with them. You have a choice of either a free home cleaning, a one year home warranty, or a free home inspection, each with a value of about $300.

HomeLife Results has also teamed up with The Brick to offer new home buyers discounts of up to 70% on furniture to help furnish your new home, even if you're on a budget.

Expert tips: online, in The Ring and in person

Having seen just about everything over the course of buying and selling homes for themselves and their clients, Lisa and Maryanne are eager to share their knowledge and expertise.

Here are a few tips they think couples should know before getting serious about buying a home…
• Make sure you can afford to buy a home at this time (talk to a financial advisor, your bank, or get a referral from Lisa and Maryanne).
• Figure out what you need and want out of your home before you start looking.
• Talk to a professional (who they can recommend to you) about the planning process.

Maryanne and Lisa's website (www.twodivasandadeal.com) comes with its own tool box of sorts, aimed at helping home buyers (and sellers) get started and brushed up on their options and possibilities, all from the comfort of their computer room.

One of the coolest features we found on the website was the Calculators section. A mortgage qualifier helps you figure out how much you can afford. The 15 year vs. 30 year mortgage calculator compares the two mortgage terms and helps you decide which one would be better for you. Among others is also the mortgage loan calculator, which determines your estimated monthly payment and periodic payment schedule so you can budget in advance and be prepared.

Walking you through it…

The best way to reach Lisa or Maryanne is to call them at the office (905-318-3800) and have them paged. "We will answer within thirty minutes," promises Lisa.

When you book an appointment with them, they'll sit down with you and go over the home buying process. "We make sure they know what they can afford, we will refer them to mortgage specialists if they need one," says Lisa. "We go over the whole buying process so they know exactly what to expect from choosing a home right to closing day." And these two divas will be with you every step of the way.

In other words…

"Maryanne helped me find my dream home in two days. She was extremely patient with me. I had very specific ideas about what I wanted and what I wanted to spend. Maryanne listened very carefully to my concerns about each house that we viewed and hunted with me until we found exactly what I wanted, in the type of neighbourhood that I wanted, and within my budget." – J.B., September 2009

"My husband and I have moved a few times over the years. Never have we had an agent who went so 'above and beyond' the call of duty. Any other agent has disappeared when the papers were signed. We were both amazed at all the extra things you did for us even after the deal was closed – sending papers to our lawyer, driving 3 hours to pick up a key, finding us a good home inspector and an insurance company that gave us a better rate than the one we had – to name just a few things. Just wanted to let you know we really appreciate all your extras and will be sure to refer you to anyone we hear of who is moving. Thanks so much for making a hectic time so much easier for us." – M.R., August 2009

Contacting HomeLife Results

Lisa Hamilton and Maryanne Fitzgerald at HomeLife Results can be reached by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 905-318-3800. You can also visit HomeLife Results online at http://www.twodivasandadeal.com.