Buying, Owning and Selling a Home in Canada

by Kerr, Margaret; Kurtz, Joann

• ISBN13: 9780471645641
• ISBN10: 0471645648
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-16
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

If you've ever bought, owned, or sold a home--or are about to--you know how exciting and how daunting it can be. Buying, Owning and Selling a Home in Canada, Second Edition, completely revised and updated, tells you absolutely everything you need to know about the joys and headaches of owning a home. Complete on-volume reference on every stage of owning a home. Covers shopping for a mortgage; negotiating your agreement of purchase and sale; signing contracts with renovators, movers, and others; understanding those mpenetrable insurance policies; dealing with problem neighbours and much more. Your "operating manual" for legal issues as well as the everyday problems of home ownership. Written in plain English that's easy to understand. Includes helpful, practical checklists and forms. Tells you what you need to know to prevent and solve many problems on your own. What you need to ask lawyers and other professionals--it may even help to reduce the fees you'll have to pay. Completely revised and updated including: how to look for a home on the Internet and how you can use your home to save, or get more money. Expand information on such topics as: condominium ownership, making offers on a home, and homeowner's insurance, to name just a few.

Author Biography

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.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Buying A Home

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...

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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?

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

You're Home

Now What?

Practical Matters

Problems in Your New Home

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

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

Home Safety and Accident Prevention

Fire Safety

Carbon Monoxide Safety

Accident Prevention

Preventing Water Damage

"To Do" Lists

Emergency Phone Numbers

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

Nightmares With the Neighbours

Nuisances and Annoyances

Problems with Your Immediate Neighbours

The Construction Zone

If the Tables Are Turned

Money Troubles

Some Solutions to Money Troubles

Mortgage Foreclosure and Sale

Property Taxes

Family Law Considerations

How Litigation May Affect Your Home

Bankruptcy and Insolven<$$$>

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