Questions to Ask when buying a New Home
Visit your financial institution and ask to be pre-approved for a mortgage - this will help you know how much you can afford and consequently focus your search for your "new" home; Make a list of "wants" versus "needs"; Visit display suites, compare asking prices and...
First Home, First Hints
Congratulations! You're about to move out of an apartment into your first home. What a great move, but you need to know a few things and buy a few things.Remember there will be no "building manager" to take care of things for you - you're it! First things first. Let...
Thinking of Buying a House? Do your Homework First
I think it was Will Rogers who said "A fellow that owns his own home is always just coming out of the hardware store…" Most homeowners would agree but, often in the excitement of house-hunting, we tend to overlook some of the sobering realities. Before you start, be...
Costs and Value Benefits of Owning a Home
There is no doubt that one of the more pleasant and exciting times for most people is when they have decided to buy a home. This excitement exists whether or not you are buying for the first time or the fourteenth time. There is no doubt that the experienced home...
“But I can’t afford to buy….”
Many people would like to start building equity in their own home, but are held back by concerns about cost.In fact, the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation estimates that 40 per cent of renters in Canada today can afford to buy their own home. If affordable...
Cottage Retirement
Many Canadians find that after living and working many years in the city, they crave a simpler lifestyle in their retirement. This view has led to the increasing popularity of the "retirement cottage". Cottages once enjoyed only in the summer are now being converted...
Real vs. Personal Property
The last thing you need on moving day is a battle over that wonderful antique mirror in the master bathroom! Yet most buyers take very little time to look at the "extras" in a home before they make an offer. As a result, they may discover that the beautiful fixtures...
Costs and Considerations when Buying a Home
In the excitement of beginning a search for a home, many people jump right in without considering all of the elements that make a home truly right for them. It is a complicated and personal process. An unsuitable choice can be costly in many ways - you could lose...
Market Time and Price Reductions
"How long has it been on the market"? This is a question many buyers ask. The thought behind it is often one of two things. Either there's something wrong with the home or the price is too high. Both of these notions may need clarification. Let me deal with the first...
Becoming a homeowner: What a great decision!
Île des Soeurs, August 23, 2005 – Buying a house surely provides numerous financial benefits.It also allows you to improve your quality of life and to benefit from a stable environment and unrivalled privacy, which translates into more freedom and a strong feeling of...