Stop Paying Rent

How to Stop Paying Rent and Own Your Own Home

Don’t pay another cent in rent to your landlord!

It’s a dream we all have – to own our own home and stop paying rent. But if you’re like most renters, you feel trapped within the walls of a house or apartment that doesn’t feel like yours. How could it when you’re not even permitted to bang in a nail or two without a hassle? You feel like you’re stuck in the renter’s rut with no way of rising up out of it and owning your own home

Well, don’t feel trapped anymore! It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been renting, or how insurmountable your financial situation may seem. The truth is, there are some little known facts that can help you get over the hump, and transfer your status from renter to homeowner. With this information, you will begin to see how you really can:

– save for a down payment

– stop lining your landlord’s pockets, and
– stop wasting thousands of dollars on rent.

6 Little Known Facts That Can Help You Buy Your First Home

The problem that most renters face isn’t your ability to meet a monthly payment. Goodness knows you must meet this monthly obligation every 30 days already. The problem is accumulating enough capital to make a down payment on something more permanent.

But saving for this lump sum doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. Consider the following 6 important points:

You can buy a home with much less down than you think.

There are some local or federal government programs (such as 1st time buyer programs) to help people get into the housing market. You can qualify as a first time buyer even if your spouse has owned a home before as long as your name was not registered. Ensure your real estate agent is informed and knowledgeable in this important area and can offer programs to help you with your options.

You may be able to get your lender to help you with your down payment and closing costs.

Even if you do not have enough cash for a down-payment, if you are debt-free, and own an asset free and clear (such as a car, for example), your lending institution may be able to lend you the down-payment for your home by securing it against this asset.

You may be able to find a seller to help you buy and finance your home.

Some sellers may be willing to hold a second mortgage for you as a “seller take-back.” In this case, the seller becomes your lending institution. Instead of paying this seller a lump-sum full amount for his or her home, you would pay monthly mortgage installments.

You may be able to create a cash down payment without actually going into debt.

By borrowing money for certain investments to a specified level, you may be able to generate a significant tax refund for yourself that you can use as a down-payment. While the money borrowed for these investments is technically a loan, the monthly amount paid can be small, and the money invested in both home and investment will be yours in the end.

You can buy a home even if you have problems with your credit rating.

If you can come up with more than the minimum down-payment, or can secure the loan with other equity, many lending institutions will consider you for a mortgage. Alternatively, a seller take-back mortgage could also help you in this situation.

You can, and should, get preapproved for a home loan before you go looking for a home.

Preapproval is easy, and can give you complete peace-of-mind when shopping for your home. Mortgage experts can obtain written preapproval for you at no cost and no obligation, and it can all be done quite easily over-the-phone. More than just a verbal approval from your lending institution, a written preapproval is as good as money in the bank. It entails a completed credit application, and a certificate which guarantees you a mortgage to the specified level when you find the home you’re looking for.

Consider dealing only with a professional who specializes in mortgages. Enlisting their services can make the difference between obtaining a mortgage, and being stuck in the renter’s rut forever. Typically there is no cost or obligation to enquire.

To sum up, there are many important issues you should be aware of that affect you as a renter. Why on earth would you continue to lose thousands by throwing it away on rent when with your agent you could take a few minutes to discuss your specific needs so that you can stop renting and start owning?

This conversation costs you nothing. And, of course, you shouldn’t have to feel obligated to buy a home at the time you review this. But by taking the time to explore your options, and learn about the ways you can afford to buy a home, think how prepared and relaxed you’ll be when you are ready to make this important step.

9 Buyer Traps & How to Avoid Them

No matter which way you look at it, buying a home is a major investment. But for many home buyers, it can be an even more expensive process than it needs to be because many fall prey to at least a few of the many common and costly mistakes which trap them into either:

* paying too much for the home they want, or
* losing their dream home to another buyer or,
* (worse) buying the wrong home for their needs.

A systemized approach to the home buying process can help you steer clear of these common traps, allowing you to not only cut costs, but also secure the home that’s best for you.

This important article discusses the 9 most common and costly of these homebuyer traps, how to identify them, and what you can do to avoid them.

The 9 Buyer Traps

Bidding Blind

What price should you offer when you bid on a home? Is the seller’s asking price too high, or does it represent a great deal? If you fail to research the market in order to understand what comparable homes are selling for, making your offer would be like bdding blind. Without this knowledge of market value, you could easily bid too much, or fail to make a competitive offer at all on an excellent value.

Buying the Wrong Home.

What are you looking for in a home? A simple enough question, but the answer can be quite complex. More than one buyer has been swept up in the emotion and excitement of the buying process only to find themselves the owner of a home that is either too big or too small. Maybe they’re stuck with a longer than desired commute to work, or a dozen more fix-ups than they really want to deal with now that the excitement has died down. Take the time upfront to clearly define your wants and needs. Put it in writing and then use it as a yard stick with which to measure every home you look at.

Unclear Title.

Make sure very early on in the negotiation that you will own your new home free and clear by having a title search completed. The last thing you want to discover when you’re in the back stretch of a transaction is that there are encumbrances on the property such as tax liens, undisclosed owners, easements, leases or the like.

Inaccurate Survey.

As part of your offer to purchase, make sure you request an updated property survey which clearly marks your boundaries. If the survey is not current, you may find that there are structural changes that are not shown (e.g. additions to the house, a new swimming pool, a neighbor’s new fence which is extending a boundary line, etc.). Be very clear on these issues.

Undisclosed Fix-ups.

Don’t expect every seller to own up to every physical detail that will need to be attended to. Both you and the seller are out to maximize your investment. Ensure that you conduct a thorough inspection of the home early in the process. Consider hiring an independent inspector to objectively view the home inside and out, and make the final contract contingent upon this inspector’s report. This inspector should be able to give you a report of any item that needs to be fixed with associated, approximate cost.

Not Getting Mortgage Preapproval.

Preapproval is fast, easy and free. When you have a preapproved mortgage, you can shop for your home with a greater sense of freedom and security, knowing that the money will be there when you find the home of your dreams.

Contract Misses.

If a seller fails to comply to the letter of the contract by neglecting to attend to some repair issues, or changing the spirit of the agreement in some way, this could delay the final closing and settlement. Agree ahead of time on a dollar amount for an escrow fund to cover items that the seller fails to follow through on. Prepare a list of agreed issues, walk through them, and check them off one by one.

Hidden Costs.

Make sure you identify and uncover all costs – large and small – far enough ahead of time. When a transaction closes, you will sometimes find fees for this or that sneaking through after the “sub”-total – fees such as loan disbursement charges, underwriting fees etc. Understand these in advance by having your lender project total charges for you in writing.

Rushing the Closing.

Take your time during this critical part of the process, and insist on seeing all paperwork the day before you sign. Make sure this documentation perfectly reflects your understanding of the transaction, and that nothing has been added or subtracted. Is the interest rate right? Is everything covered? If you rush this process on the day of closing, you may run into a last minute snag that you can’t fix without compromising the terms of the deal, the financing, or even the sale itself.

One More Tip…

Find out if your agent offers a Buyer Profile System or “House-hunting Service,” which takes the guesswork out of finding just the right home that matches your needs. This type of program will crossmatch your criteria with ALL available homes on the market and supply you with printed information on an on-going basis. A program like this can help you to affordably move into
the home of your dreams.

Property Type

City

Price

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Sort Option

Listing ID
Total Finished Area
Price
Add date
Listing Status

Grid

List

Map

RSS

Save Search

Residential For Sale

1049 Evanston Road, Evanston, NS B0E 1J0

More Details

4Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

DetachedParking(s)

50Picture(s)

1,064Sqft

Listing courtesy of Cape Breton Realty

C$299000

Residential For Sale

1049 Evanston Road, Evanston, NS B0E 1J0

4Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

DetachedParking(s)

1,064Sqft

Listing courtesy of Cape Breton Realty

This well-maintained 4 bedroom, 2 bath side-split home is located just 10 minutes from the town of Port Hawkesbury and just around the corner from Strait Richmond Hospital. The property is on municipal water and sewer and includes a detached 24x24 garage with a gravel floor, perfect for storage or hobbies.

C$299000

Residential For Sale

1049 Evanston Road, Evanston, NS B0E 1J0

Listing courtesy of Cape Breton Realty

4Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

C$299000

Residential For Sale

16 Joan Elizabeth Way, Porters Lake, NS B3E 1N9

More Details

3Bedroom(s)

3Bathroom(s)

AttachedParking(s)

49Picture(s)

4,824Sqft

Listing courtesy of Engel & Volkers

C$1750000

Residential For Sale

16 Joan Elizabeth Way, Porters Lake, NS B3E 1N9

3Bedroom(s)

3Bathroom(s)

AttachedParking(s)

4,824Sqft

Listing courtesy of Engel & Volkers

One of the most picturesque lakefront views on Porter's Lake, boasting southern exposure and over 350 ft of glorious lakefront, with a custom docking system in place.

C$1750000

Residential For Sale

16 Joan Elizabeth Way, Porters Lake, NS B3E 1N9

Listing courtesy of Engel & Volkers

3Bedroom(s)

3Bathroom(s)

C$1750000

Residential For Sale

659 West Liscomb Point Road, Liscomb, NS B0A 2J0

More Details

2Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

GravelParking(s)

20Picture(s)

1,168Sqft

Listing courtesy of Engel & Volkers

C$465000

Residential For Sale

659 West Liscomb Point Road, Liscomb, NS B0A 2J0

2Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

GravelParking(s)

1,168Sqft

Listing courtesy of Engel & Volkers

Coastal Living at Its Finest Welcome to your energy-efficient oasis on the serene shores of Liscomb Harbour, where panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean greet you daily. This newly built, one-level home features two spacious bedrooms and an open-concept kitchen and living area, perfectly designed for modern coastal living.

C$465000

Residential For Sale

659 West Liscomb Point Road, Liscomb, NS B0A 2J0

Listing courtesy of Engel & Volkers

2Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

C$465000

Residential For Sale

9399 Ns-16, Cooks Cove, NS B0H 1N0

More Details

4Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

Circular DrivewayParking(s)

18Picture(s)

1,658Sqft

Listing courtesy of PG Direct Realty Ltd.

C$349000

Residential For Sale

9399 Ns-16, Cooks Cove, NS B0H 1N0

4Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

Circular DrivewayParking(s)

1,658Sqft

Listing courtesy of PG Direct Realty Ltd.

Visit REALTOR® website for additional information. Set on a rise with sweeping views of Cooks Cove and Chedebucto Bay, this century home blends history, privacy, and potential—just five minutes from Guysborough. The 4-bedroom home sits on 10 acres with an additional half-acre of oceanfront, featuring a private sandy beach and outbuildings.

C$349000

Residential For Sale

9399 Ns-16, Cooks Cove, NS B0H 1N0

Listing courtesy of PG Direct Realty Ltd.

4Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

C$349000

Residential For Sale

868 Egypt Road, Little Harbour, NS B0K 1X0

More Details

3Bedroom(s)

3Bathroom(s)

AttachedParking(s)

47Picture(s)

2,150Sqft

Listing courtesy of Blinkhorn Real Estate Ltd.

C$1020000

Residential For Sale

868 Egypt Road, Little Harbour, NS B0K 1X0

3Bedroom(s)

3Bathroom(s)

AttachedParking(s)

2,150Sqft

Listing courtesy of Blinkhorn Real Estate Ltd.

Welcome to Leslie Park at 868 Egypt Road, Little Harbour, an extraordinary estate that seamlessly merges practical living with stunning natural beauty. This unique property features a 90x100 garage with a partially finished bachelor unit, ideal for an indoor showroom or workshop.

C$1020000

Residential For Sale

868 Egypt Road, Little Harbour, NS B0K 1X0

Listing courtesy of Blinkhorn Real Estate Ltd.

3Bedroom(s)

3Bathroom(s)

C$1020000

Residential For Sale

165 King Street, Chester, NS B0J 1J0

More Details

2Bedroom(s)

3Bathroom(s)

GravelParking(s)

29Picture(s)

1,204Sqft

Listing courtesy of Duckworth Real Estate(Chester)

C$749000

Residential For Sale

165 King Street, Chester, NS B0J 1J0

2Bedroom(s)

3Bathroom(s)

GravelParking(s)

1,204Sqft

Listing courtesy of Duckworth Real Estate(Chester)

Central village home with over 1200 square feet of living space, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and two parking spots! On the quiet part of King Street, you will sleep soundly here. Entering the home, the first thing you will notice are the lush natural views from the main living room vaulted ceiling windows.

C$749000

Residential For Sale

165 King Street, Chester, NS B0J 1J0

Listing courtesy of Duckworth Real Estate(Chester)

2Bedroom(s)

3Bathroom(s)

C$749000

Residential For Sale

3419 Claremont Street, Halifax, NS B3L 3L6

More Details

3Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

ConcreteParking(s)

36Picture(s)

1,935Sqft

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Select Realty

C$625000

Residential For Sale

3419 Claremont Street, Halifax, NS B3L 3L6

3Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

ConcreteParking(s)

1,935Sqft

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Select Realty

Welcome to 3419 Claremont Street! This delightful 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home is nestled on a quiet, tree-lined street in Halifax’s established West End.

C$625000

Residential For Sale

3419 Claremont Street, Halifax, NS B3L 3L6

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Select Realty

3Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

C$625000

Residential For Sale

3066 Canaan Road, Canaan, NS B0M 1W0

More Details

2Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

DoubleParking(s)

20Picture(s)

1,148Sqft

Listing courtesy of Royal LePage Cumberland Realty Ltd.

C$179900

Residential For Sale

3066 Canaan Road, Canaan, NS B0M 1W0

2Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

DoubleParking(s)

1,148Sqft

Listing courtesy of Royal LePage Cumberland Realty Ltd.

Introducing 3066 Canaan Road in Canaan NS! This quaint bungalow is located in a quiet country setting boasting 5 acres of land including a large pond on the property.

C$179900

Residential For Sale

3066 Canaan Road, Canaan, NS B0M 1W0

Listing courtesy of Royal LePage Cumberland Realty Ltd.

2Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

C$179900

Residential For Sale

18 Coronet Ave, Halifax, NS B3N 1L5

More Details

1Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

SingleParking(s)

13Picture(s)

897Sqft

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Select Realty

C$294900

Residential For Sale

18 Coronet Ave, Halifax, NS B3N 1L5

1Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

SingleParking(s)

897Sqft

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Select Realty

Exceptional redevelopment opportunity situated on a quiet tree-lined street in the Armdale neighbourhood of Halifax. This rare lot holds an existing house that is ready for demolition and the owner has plans for a 4-unit build. The plans have received development permit approval from HRM subject to completing subdivision approval of the lot.

C$294900

Residential For Sale

18 Coronet Ave, Halifax, NS B3N 1L5

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Select Realty

1Bedroom(s)

1Bathroom(s)

C$294900

Residential For Sale

5-19 Old Guysborough Road, Goffs, NS B2T 0N2

More Details

1Bathroom(s)

AttachedParking(s)

22Picture(s)

730Sqft

Listing courtesy of Sutton Group Professional Realty

C$119900

Residential For Sale

5-19 Old Guysborough Road, Goffs, NS B2T 0N2

1Bathroom(s)

AttachedParking(s)

730Sqft

Listing courtesy of Sutton Group Professional Realty

This single unit in the building, is part of an exclusive 9/10-unit garage and storage complex offering overnight accommodations for owners or guests. Ideally located just two minutes from the airport, the facility is designed for convenience, security, and flexibility.

C$119900

Residential For Sale

5-19 Old Guysborough Road, Goffs, NS B2T 0N2

Listing courtesy of Sutton Group Professional Realty

1Bathroom(s)

C$119900

Residential For Sale

266 Green Street, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0

More Details

3Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

DoubleParking(s)

34Picture(s)

2,436Sqft

Listing courtesy of EXIT Realty Inter Lake

C$479000

Residential For Sale

266 Green Street, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0

3Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

DoubleParking(s)

2,436Sqft

Listing courtesy of EXIT Realty Inter Lake

This beauty—she’s a total classic. Think: the charming house in a location straight out of a Hallmark movie, where the main character starts a new chapter and everything clicks. Yep, that one. Except this time, it’s real—and it’s right here in the historic (and totally vibrant) Town of Lunenburg. Everything you need is on one level in this 3-bedroom, 1.

C$479000

Residential For Sale

266 Green Street, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0

Listing courtesy of EXIT Realty Inter Lake

3Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

C$479000

Residential For Sale

226 Clementsport Road, Clementsport, NS B0S 1E0

More Details

2Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

DoubleParking(s)

40Picture(s)

1,543Sqft

Listing courtesy of Royal LePage Atlantic - Valley(Windsor)

C$299900

Residential For Sale

226 Clementsport Road, Clementsport, NS B0S 1E0

2Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

DoubleParking(s)

1,543Sqft

Listing courtesy of Royal LePage Atlantic - Valley(Windsor)

Motivated sellers! This well-maintained home has been in the same family since its construction and offers peace, tranquility, and a true connection to nature. From the front balcony, it’s the perfect spot for birdwatching, while evenings can be spent stargazing or going for a hike through the wooded backyard.

C$299900

Residential For Sale

226 Clementsport Road, Clementsport, NS B0S 1E0

Listing courtesy of Royal LePage Atlantic - Valley(Windsor)

2Bedroom(s)

2Bathroom(s)

C$299900

4825 Results returned.Per Page

Stop Paying Rent

How to Stop Paying Rent and Own Your Own Home

Don’t pay another cent in rent to your landlord!

– save for a down payment

– stop lining your landlord’s pockets, and – stop wasting thousands of dollars on rent.

6 Little Known Facts That Can Help You Buy Your First Home

The problem that most renters face isn’t your ability to meet a monthly payment. Goodness knows you must meet this monthly obligation every 30 days already. The problem is accumulating enough capital to make a down payment on something more permanent.

But saving for this lump sum doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. Consider the following 6 important points:

You can buy a home with much less down than you think.

You may be able to get your lender to help you with your down payment and closing costs.

Even if you do not have enough cash for a down-payment, if you are debt-free, and own an asset free and clear (such as a car, for example), your lending institution may be able to lend you the down-payment for your home by securing it against this asset.

You may be able to find a seller to help you buy and finance your home.

Some sellers may be willing to hold a second mortgage for you as a “seller take-back.” In this case, the seller becomes your lending institution. Instead of paying this seller a lump-sum full amount for his or her home, you would pay monthly mortgage installments.

You may be able to create a cash down payment without actually going into debt.

You can buy a home even if you have problems with your credit rating.

If you can come up with more than the minimum down-payment, or can secure the loan with other equity, many lending institutions will consider you for a mortgage. Alternatively, a seller take-back mortgage could also help you in this situation.

You can, and should, get preapproved for a home loan before you go looking for a home.

Consider dealing only with a professional who specializes in mortgages. Enlisting their services can make the difference between obtaining a mortgage, and being stuck in the renter’s rut forever. Typically there is no cost or obligation to enquire.

9 Buyer Traps & How to Avoid Them

No matter which way you look at it, buying a home is a major investment. But for many home buyers, it can be an even more expensive process than it needs to be because many fall prey to at least a few of the many common and costly mistakes which trap them into either:

* paying too much for the home they want, or * losing their dream home to another buyer or, * (worse) buying the wrong home for their needs.

A systemized approach to the home buying process can help you steer clear of these common traps, allowing you to not only cut costs, but also secure the home that’s best for you.

This important article discusses the 9 most common and costly of these homebuyer traps, how to identify them, and what you can do to avoid them.

The 9 Buyer Traps

Bidding Blind

Buying the Wrong Home.

Unclear Title.

Inaccurate Survey.

Undisclosed Fix-ups.

Not Getting Mortgage Preapproval.

Preapproval is fast, easy and free. When you have a preapproved mortgage, you can shop for your home with a greater sense of freedom and security, knowing that the money will be there when you find the home of your dreams.

Contract Misses.

Hidden Costs.

Rushing the Closing.

One More Tip…

Residential For Sale

1049 Evanston Road, Evanston, NS B0E 1J0

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

16 Joan Elizabeth Way, Porters Lake, NS B3E 1N9

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

659 West Liscomb Point Road, Liscomb, NS B0A 2J0

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

9399 Ns-16, Cooks Cove, NS B0H 1N0

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

868 Egypt Road, Little Harbour, NS B0K 1X0

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

165 King Street, Chester, NS B0J 1J0

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

3419 Claremont Street, Halifax, NS B3L 3L6

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

3066 Canaan Road, Canaan, NS B0M 1W0

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

18 Coronet Ave, Halifax, NS B3N 1L5

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

5-19 Old Guysborough Road, Goffs, NS B2T 0N2

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

266 Green Street, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

Residential For Sale

– stop lining your landlord’s pockets, and
– stop wasting thousands of dollars on rent.

* paying too much for the home they want, or
* losing their dream home to another buyer or,
* (worse) buying the wrong home for their needs.