THE RIGHT HOME FOR YOU Before you start shopping, know what you’re looking for in a home. Consider what you want now, and what you might want in the future. ■■ Size requirements: Do you need several bedrooms, more than one bathroom, or a garage? ■■ Special features: Do you want air conditioning, storage or hobby space, a fireplace or a swimming pool? Do you have family members with special needs? ■■ Lifestyles and stages: Do you plan to have children? Do you have teenagers who will be moving away soon? Are you close to retirement? ■■ Setting: Do you want to live in a city, the suburbs or a rural environment? ■■ Work: Are you willing to take on a long commute every morning? ■■ School: Where will your children go to school and how will they get there? ■■ Hobbies: Do you need a neighbourhood where you can walk? Take the kids to a park or indoor recreation facilities? ■■ Family and friends: How important is it to live close to them? ■■ Cultural: Do you want to be close to a place of worship or cultural community centres? Get more information from CMHC. CMHC offers worksheets and checklists to help you out. Simply visit www.cmhc.ca and type “home hunting” or “home feature” in the search box.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS CAN HELP Unless they’re looking for a brand new home (see the A Brand New Home section on page 3), most homebuyers will rely on a real estate agent to help them with the home selection and purchase process. Real estate agents will listen to your needs, show you suitable homes to visit, and negotiate on your behalf to help you get the best possible deal. They can also provide you with previous sale prices of comparable homes and information about neighbourhoods, as well as arrange the home inspection. Real estate agents are typically paid through a commission from the seller of the home.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is the Government of Canada’s national housing agency. We help Canadians access affordable and suitable housing. CMHC is your trusted source of information and advice on housing in Canada.
Canada Mor tgage and Housing Corporation 2
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