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With so many differing opinions about real estate these days, buying or selling a home can seem like a daunting task, especially for the everyday person who has little or no real estate experience. But as author Sarah Daniels explains, the process doesn't have to be painful, and people can come away from the experience feeling happy with the outcome. Covering the basics from A to Z, Welcome Home walks the reader through the various stages of home buying and selling in Canada, all the while adding her own insider secrets and tips. Filled with entertaining, instructive stories and written in an approachable, coversational tone, Daniels offers helpful advice on mortgage financing, interest rates, brokers, and the questions you need to ask about mortgages; how to find a good realtor, the right property, and negotiate a fair deal; how to get your home ready to sell, what renovations to consider and how to effectively stage your home; buying resale vs newly built; and renting out your basement as a mortgage helper.

With so many differing opinions about real estate these days, buying or selling a home can seem like a daunting task, especially for the everyday person who has little or no real estate experience. But as author Sarah Daniels explains, the process doesn't have to be painful, and people can come away from the experience feeling happy with the outcome. Covering the basics from A to Z, Welcome Home walks the reader through the various stages of home buying and selling in Canada, all the while adding her own insider secrets and tips. Filled with entertaining, instructive stories and written in an approachable, coversational tone, Daniels offers helpful advice on mortgage financing, interest rates, brokers, and the questions you need to ask about mortgages; how to find a good realtor, the right property, and negotiate a fair deal; how to get your home ready to sell, what renovations to consider and how to effectively stage your home; buying resale vs newly built; and renting out your basement as a mortgage helper.

Acknowledgements ixIntroduction 1PART 1 Getting Ready 5Chapter 1 Mortgage Financing 101 7Chapter 2 Doing Your "Homework" 21Chapter 3 How to Find a Realtor Who Is Right for You 31Chapter 4 The Pros and Cons of Selling Your Own Home 49PART 2 Sell Before You Buy 59Chapter 5 Getting Your Home Ready to Sell 61Chapter 6 Pricing Your Home 77Chapter 7: "Subject to Sale" Offers and Other "Subject to" Conditions You Should Know About 87PART 3: The Nitty-Gritty Of Purchasing 105Chapter 8: Buying or Selling a Strata Property (Condo or Townhome) 107Chapter 9: Newly Built Homes Versus Re-sale Homes 117Chapter 10: Market Conditions 129Chapter 11: What to Look Out For, and What Not To Do! 141Chapter 12: The Offer, the Negotiation and the Close 153Chapter 13: The Home Inspection--Don't Buy a Home without One! 177Chapter 14: Between the Firm Deal and the Move-In Date 187Chapter 15: Adding a Mortgage Helper to Your Home 199A Final Word 209Glossary of Terms You May Encounter Along the Way! 210Index 225