I would also say that it's important to do your background homework. Every professional provides a service - but some are better than others. Get some referrals on your real estate agent, your mortgage broker, etc.

If I had one other piece of advice, it would be to use a home inspector - they're truly on your side.

Canadian Mortgage Broker Reviews, User Generated Ratings, and Interest Rate Comparisons

There are some things you can do to ensure that you're going to get the best rates on your new or existing mortgage.

• Start the mortgage shopping process at least 60 days before you are going to sign the new deal.
• Get a copy of your credit report AND credit scores from both Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada. Once you've got your credit scores, you can ask creditors what their rates are roughly based on your credit score.
• Get a list of how many creditors will deal with you with your mortgage. Ask other people where they got their mortgages from.
• How much down payment can you come up with. The higher the down payment, the lower the interest rate you might have to pay.
• What are the best interest rates available. Is a fixed mortgage going to work better for you than a variable rate mortgage.

Giving yourself at least 60 days to research these items will give you time to get the best deal on your next mortgage.