Needs vs. Wants
What features do I want in a home? What features do I need in a home?

A small investment of time and effort right at the start can pay tremendous dividends. Take the time to organize your thoughts and think seriously about what sort of home you want before you start looking. It will simplify the process, save you time, and help lead you to the right home for you.

Before you start your search important questions to ask yourself are:

Where do I want to live? (community/general area)
How much should I expect to spend on purchasing a home?
Are schools a factor?
Do I want an older home or a new one?
What style of home do I prefer? (ranch, colonial, split-level, multi-level, town home, condominium, multi-family, bungalow, other)
How much renovation and remodelling am I willing to do?
Is being close to public transportation important?
Do I have special physical requirements, such as wheel chair access?
Do I have pets to consider?
What sort of lot would I like? (small yard, large yard, fenced, garage, patio/deck, other buildings)
How many bedrooms do I need? How many would I like to have?
How many bathrooms do I need? How many would I like to have?
How big a house do I want? How many rooms? How many square feet?
What features are important? (air conditioning, carpeting, ceramic tile floors, hardwood floors, eat-in kitchen, separate dining room, formal living room, family room, den, library, basement, separate laundry room, fireplace, workshop, other)

Your Mortgage
Find out about your mortgage options before you start looking. There's nothing more frustrating that falling in love with a home, only to find out you can’t afford it.

Pre-qualifying for a mortgage is the best way to find out how much you can afford. Your financial institution will look at your income, expenses and debt to determine how much they will lend you. Combine that amount with the money you have for a down payment, and that’s your budget.

Once you have pre-qualified, consider applying for a pre-approved loan. Then, when you find the home you want to buy, it will speed up the purchasing process.

Mortgage options
Mortgages are available through a number of financial institutions; your bank is only one option. Shop around for competitive rates and options.

First-time Buyers and Investors
Why buy?

Two out of three Canadian families own a home – that's one of the highest rates of home ownership in the world. And for good reason.

It's a great investment. And with with increasing house prices, it's all the more important for first-time buyers to get a foot on the first rung of the property ladder.

Did you know that...

Homeownership is the single largest source of savings for Canadian households.
Unlike other investments, which can be quite volatile, the increase in the value of homes is relatively steady. The average house price in Canada has increased every year since 1998.
The return on your investment in your home can be substantial. In 2004, the average house price in Canada rose to a record $227,210 – a 9% increase in just one year and a 27% increase over four years.

Homeowners can use the equity in their homes as security for other loans.
Building equity in your first home is the first step on the property ladder. It gets you into the market, keeps you in touch with increasing house prices, and puts you in a good position to trade up to bigger and better houses as your circumstances allow.