Buying a home

Whether it is your first place or your fourth, the work that decides the outcome happens before you write an offer.

Every home buyers page

Work out the real number before you fall in love with a house.

What a real pre-approval involves, and why most of what people call one is not.

The arithmetic lenders actually run, and how to change the answer.

The programs, the incentives, and the mistakes that cost first-time buyers the most.

Alberta-specific rules, costs and timelines for a first purchase.

The purchase itself, and second properties.

Start to finish: offer, conditions, lawyer, funding, keys.

A second residence used year-round for family or work, and how lenders treat it.

New builds, self-builds, and buying something that needs work.

Draw schedules and progress advances on a build in progress.

Buying from a builder: deposits, completion dates and rate-hold risk.

Self-build and owner-builder financing, including land and holdbacks.

Buying and renovating on a single mortgage at the time of purchase.

Financing work on a home you already own, and which route costs least.

A pre-approval takes a day or two and changes how you shop.