1. Figure out how much you can afford.  

Calculate your monthly income and debt.
Remember to include property taxes.

2. Get pre-approved for a mortgage. 
3. Determine what you want and need in a home.

Choose a location (downtown, urban, suburban, rural).
Choose a type (single family, townhouse, condo, loft).
Choose a price range.
Choose a size.

4. Research your target neighborhoods.

Look online for information [...]

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From the Financial Post:
Unlike Americans, who enjoy a sweetheart deal with the tax authorities in that their mortgage interest can be deducted from their income taxes, Canadians have to go through a few hoops in order to accomplish the same thing. The so-called Smith Manoeuvre, popularized first in British Columbia by Fraser Smith in a book [...]

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Don’t spend every last dime you have to buy a house, especially if you have no additional resources to get out of a financial jam. One of the best ways to get a sense of affordability is to look at what your are currently paying per month for rent. Is it comfortable? If so, [...]

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From our friends at HGTV.
Buying Secret #10: Keep your money where it is
It’s not wise to make any huge purchases or move your money around three to six months before buying a new home. You don’t want to take any big chances with your credit profile. Lenders need to see that you’re reliable and they [...]

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Take your time. In a slow market, you don’t have to jump on the first property you like. Look at as many as you can. You’re likely to notice which ones have lingered on the market and therefore might be open to a price reduction.
Check our foreclosures.  Consult an exclusive buyer agent who represents your interests only [...]

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Choosing a neighborhood is really important to your enjoyment of life and for resale.
STEP 1 - Define Your Perfect Neighborhood (how far to commute, what is your current neighborhood missing).
STEP 2 - Do the research including school information, crime statistics, parks and recreations centers.
STEP 3 - Visit the neighborhoods and and grade each one. Good [...]

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The best way of answering this is by doing a mortgage pre-approval on our site. We will tell you your price range same day. If you just want a quick idea, there are several rules of thumb. One is that a home’s asking price should be no more than 2.5 times your [...]

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Fixed rates creeping up! Bond market has been very active in the last month resulting in fixed rates beginning to rise with some lenders as of last friday - the popular 5 year fixed rate appears to be headed into the low 4.00% range this week. Variable still low as it is based on prime [...]

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