Buying, Owning and Selling a Home in Canada

Margaret Kerr and JoAnn Kurtz are lawyers with experience in dealing face-to-face with clients' questions and concerns. They have written a number of books, including Make It Legal: What Every Canadian Entrepreneur Needs to Know About the Law, Facing a Death in the Family, and Wills and Estates for Canadians for Dummies-- Planning Kit.

Acknowledgements BUYING A HOME Chapter 1: A Manual for Homeowners Deciding to Buy a Home (or at Least This Book) Once You Own a Home Questions This Book Answers It's Great to Live in Canada...But... Chapter 2: What Can You Afford? When is the Best Time to Buy? Knowing What You Can Afford What Does It Cost to Buy and Own a Home? How Much Money Do You Have for Your New Home? Down Payments Mortgages The Maximum Price to Pay for Your Home Chapter 3: Where Do You Want to Live? Think About What You Want Go House-Hunting with a Real Estate Agent Homes for Sale By Vendor Homes that Aren't for Sale Chapter 4: Evaluating the Houses You See Location of Your Home To Be Features of the Home Condition of the Home Special Considerations for Condominiums Special Considerations for Homes Under Construction Chapter 5: Making An Offer to Purchase Getting the Home You Want (At the Right Price) Making Your Offer The Nature of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale The Contents of Your Offer It's Important to Have a Lawyer Review Your Offer Private Sales The Responsibility to Close Chapter 6: The Purchaser's Lawyer Do You Need a Lawyer? What Does a Lawyer Actually Do? How Much Will a Lawyer Cost? How Do You Choose a Lawyer? Chapter 7: Morgages What Is a Mortgage? Speaking the Morgagee's Language Chooseing the Mortgage Options That Are Right for You Where to Get a Mortgage Applying for a Mortgage Insurance When You Get a Mortgage Mortgages Through the Vendor An Eye to the Future Paying Off and Discharging Your Mortgage Chapter 8: Homeowner's Insurance Why You Need Insurance A Homeowner's Policy What Can You Insure? What Causes of Damage Can You Insure Against? How Much Insurance Coverage Should You Have? How Do You Get Insurance? How Much Will Your Insurance Cost? How Do You Make a Claim? Chapter 9: Moving To Your New Home Preliminary Planning Choosing the Right Mover Deciding What You Want the Mover to Do Packing for Your Move Moving Day After Your Move Long Distance Moves Tax Breaks OWNING A HOME Chapter 10: You're Home. Now What? Practical Matters Problems in Your New Home Chapter 11: Repairs and Renovations Why Are You Doing This to Yourself? Preliminary Planning for a Renovation or Major Repair What's Involved in a Renovation or Major Repair? Who Will Do the Work? How Do You Find the Help You Need? The Repair or Renovation Contract Tips for Surviving Your Renovation or Major Repair When Problems Arise Chapter 12: Home Security Neighbourhood Watch Outside Your Home When You're Away Doors and Windows Alarm Systems Protection for Your Valuables In the Event of a Burglary Chapter 13: Home Safety and Accident Prevention Fire Safety Carbon Monoxide Safety Accident Prevention Preventing Water Damage "To Do" Lists Emergency Phone Numbers Chapter 14: Visitors Welcome and Unwelcome Who Can Come onto Your Property? What Can You Do to Keep People Out? What Can You Do if Someone Gets In? How Do You Treat the People Who Come In? Social Hosts and Drunk Drivers Animal Visitors Chapter 15: Nightmares With the Neighbours Nuisances and Annoyances Problems with Your Immediate Neighbours The Construction Zone If the Tables Are Turned Chapter 16: Money Troubles Some Solutions to Money Troubles Mortgage Foreclosure and Sale Property Taxes Family Law Considerations How Litigation May Affect Your Home Bankruptcy and Insolvency Expropriation SELLING YOUR HOME Chapter 17: Getting Ready to Sell When Is the Best Time to Sell? Good News about Taxes on the Sale of a Home Getting Your Act Together Getting Your Home's Act Together Chapter 18: Putting Your Home Up For Sale The Sale Process When You Use a Real Estate Agent How to Find a Real Estate Agent The Legal Relationship Between You and Your Real Estate Agent The Sale Process When You Sell Privately Chapter 19: From Offer to Closing Reviewing an Offer to Purchase Bidding Wars The Anatomy of an Offer The Vendor's Lawyer Your Responsibilities Until Closing The Responsibility to Close Chapter 20: Goodbye and Good Luck Appendix Index Order Page