DKREKeller Williams Lifestyles Realty, Brokerage (289) 212‑6270

For buyers in Strathroy, Middlesex & London

Buying a home in London or Strathroy

In Strathroy and the towns around it, the right house doesn't turn up every week. Being ready when it does is most of the job, and that starts well before you book a showing.

Hear about new listings firstCall or text (289) 212‑6270

By Daniel Kiekens, REALTOR® · Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty, Strathroy · Updated

Downtown London and the Thames River from the Kensington Bridge
Downtown London from the Kensington Bridge · Photo: Gogerr, CC BY 4.0

Downtown London from the Kensington Bridge · Photo: Gogerr, CC BY 4.0

Get the money settled first

A pre-approval isn't a formality and it isn't the same as a rate hold. It tells you the real number you're working with, which changes which towns are on your list. It also means that when the right place turns up on a Thursday, you're not spending Friday finding out whether you can buy it.

Budget for what sits on top of the price too — land transfer tax, legal fees, title insurance, the inspection, and on a well-and-septic property, the testing that goes with it. We'll go through the whole list before you make an offer rather than after.

What you're signing when you hire an agent

In Ontario we put your agreement with the brokerage in writing before we work for you. It sets out the term, the geographic area, what the brokerage does and how it gets paid. Read it. Ask about the length and the area instead of skipping to the signature — a short first term while you decide whether we're a fit is a perfectly reasonable thing to ask for.

You're also owed a plain explanation of how the brokerage represents you, and what changes if we happen to also represent the seller of a house you want. Ask for that conversation at the start.

From the first conversation to your new keys

Six steps, in three stretches. Here's what each one looks like with us.

01Getting started

  1. 1We figure out what you're afterWe sit down first and work out what you want, which is usually not what your search filters say. It makes every Saturday of showings count.
  2. 2You see everything, fastIncluding places that are wrong for you, so the right one has something to stand next to.

02Finding the one

  1. 3We look past the photosThe roof, the furnace, the water, the neighbours, what's planned nearby. On a country property the list gets longer; the full version is on the Southwest Middlesex page.
  2. 4We price the offer from real salesThe list price is what the seller hopes for. What counts is what similar homes actually sold for, and you'll see those.

03Making it yours

  1. 5We talk through the conditionsFinancing, inspection, water and septic where they apply, the status certificate on a condo. Waiving one can be the right call when there are other offers, and it's always a risk. You'll hear both sides from me.
  2. 6Firm, then keysEvery date tracked, with a heads-up before you need it.
Extremely knowledgeable and friendly! Whether you're ready to buy or browsing, Dan is the guy to go to! Abbey L. · Google review, May 2026

Buying in a small town

  • Tell me early what you want. Houses here list a few at a time, and I'll watch for yours.
  • Check what's planned near the property. A field behind a house isn't always going to be a field. We publish the development files that reach Strathroy-Caradoc and London council agendas, each with a link to the municipal record, so you can look before you offer.
  • Don't skip the inspection to win a bidding war. Not on a house whose mechanical room you haven't stood in.
Moving out from the city? We wrote a longer piece on what you get, with the census figures behind it. Moving from London to Strathroy, Komoka or Kilworth →
Buying in Strathroy → Buying rural → What's planned near you → Who we are →

Questions people ask me

What do I need before I start looking at houses?

A real pre-approval, which isn't the same as a rate hold, and a budget for what sits on top of the price: land transfer tax, legal fees, title insurance and the inspection. On a well-and-septic property add the water and septic testing.

Do I have to sign an agreement with a buyer's agent in Ontario?

Yes. The agreement with the brokerage is put in writing before we work for you, and it sets out the term, the area, what the brokerage does and how it gets paid. A short first term while you decide whether we're a fit is a reasonable thing to ask for.

Which conditions are worth keeping in an offer?

Financing, inspection, water and septic where they apply, and the status certificate on a condo. Waiving one is sometimes the right call when offers compete, and it's always a risk; you'll hear both halves of that from me.

Is there a municipal land transfer tax in Strathroy or London?

No. Only the Ontario land transfer tax applies in Strathroy-Caradoc, London and the rest of Middlesex. The second, municipal tax is Toronto's. The figures are worked through on the costs page.

How do I find out what's planned near a house?

We publish every development file that reaches Strathroy-Caradoc and London council agendas, with a link to the municipal record, on Council Watch. Look before you offer.

Tell me what you're looking for

Roughly is fine. I'll tell you what's around, what it's going for, and whether it's worth starting now or waiting.

Hear about new listings first

This describes how our team generally works and how the process runs in Ontario. It's general information, not advice on a specific property or transaction, and it is not legal, tax or financial advice. Representation, term and remuneration are agreed in writing before we act for you.