Residents are wanting what's best for their families when it comes to housing in Okotoks, and it can be a difficult and financially demanding decision whether one is going to buy or rent a piece of property.

Some may not know where to start and unless they have the of money in the bank to buy, a loan may be required.

Jay Magnussen, local realtor, says your local bank or mortgage broker is a good way to start your home-buying journey.

"You need to talk to somebody on the financial side of things [and] you need to talk to your bank or mortgage-broker, whichever you prefer," he says. "Find out what you're qualified for, what you're able to spend, that's the first step and then once you have that established, you have to decide how much of that qualification amount you are willing to spend."

Magnussen says whether you're in a higher or lower income bracket, the proper financial steps are key to finding that perfect home.

"Its not about whether or not you're lower income, it's any income bracket," he says. "You still need to do your homework and find out where you're at and what you can purchase and what your needs are and where you want to look, there's lots of different options and that will help you establish where you're going to be looking and what you're going to be looking for."

When asked if it's better to buy or rent, Magnussen says there's no wrong or right answer.

"That depends on the person," he says. "I know people who rent all their life and I know people who own homes all their life and know people who've done both. When you buy a home, the money you're putting into your home, you have a good chance of getting it out. Real estate is like any other commodity; it goes up and it goes down."

Magnussen says once you've been able to go through the numbers and preferences, there's plenty of great communities to choose from in the Foothills and any realtor is more than qualified to help you find the best home.

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