Home Girl: The Single Woman's Guide to Buying Real Estate in Canada »

Brenda Bouw has been a writer and journalist for more than 15 years, working in print and broadcast newsrooms across the country in cities such as Toronto, Hamilton, Edmonton and Fredericton. She bought and sold three homes in the Toronto area before age 35 and is currently living in Vancouver with her dog Rufus.

More information about Brenda Bouw and Home Girl: The Single Womens' Guide to Buying Canadian Real Estate is available at www.brendabouw.com

Statistics show that Canadian women now outnumber men in buying a house or condo. Women see the value in owning property. They are no longer waiting for, or expecting, a “Mr. Right” to come along before taking one of the key financial steps of their lives. Such is the case with the author of Home Girls: The Single Woman’s Guide to Buying Real Estate in Canada

Brenda Bouw’s own experiences in buying and selling real estate, and those of other single women she interviewed for the book—as well as insights from real estate professionals—are built into this informative and entertaining guide. If you are looking at buying a first property, you’ll find out about the pitfalls you need to avoid and the necessary steps you must take to make that purchase a success story. If you already own real estate, you might be interested in renovating your house, buying an investment property or even becoming a landlord. Here are some of the key concepts:

• How to tell if you’re ready to own your own home

• What to look for in a house

• The role of a real estate agent

• The offer, the deal, the closing and the aftermath

• The dozens of little expenses that you might not be aware of before it’s time to pay for them

• What renovations to tackle yourself, and when it’s time to call a pro

• How to become a landlord—and if you really want to be one

It is a truism that women tend to be more focused, organized and informed when it comes to making major purchases. Home Girl is the perfect book to give you an edge when it comes to understanding the process and negotiating your best deal. From thinking about buying a property, to getting the keys from your lawyer and popping the cork, Home Girl is the perfect companion to have along for the ride.

Foreword     ix
Acknowledgements     xiii
Introduction     1
Are You Ready?     7
Buying Smart and Solo     9
Renting vs. Owning     13
Can You Afford It?     17
You're Ready, But Not So Fast!     21
Congratulations!     23
The Perfect Agent     25
It's Not You-It's Me     32
Buying from a Floor Plan     35
Going It Alone     36
Real Estate Agents Are People, Too     38
Living Happily Ever After     38
Location, Location, Location     45
House or Condo?     43
"Wow, this space is huge-or is it?"     44
New or Resale?     45
Get to Know Your Builder     48
Miss Fix It?     50
Safe and Sound     51
Up Close and Personal: Neighbours     53
Resale Potential     56
Location Lowdown     57
Your Finances     59
Your Credit Rating     60
Bank or Broker?     63
How Much Home Can You Afford?     65
Preapproval Reprise     68
Understanding Mortgages     69
The Home Buyer's Plan     73
Which Type of Mortgage Is Right for Me?     75
Other Expenses that Can Add Up     77
Insurance of All Kinds     81
Making the Offer     85
Before You Bid     87
Put It in Writing     88
What Price Should You Offer?     88
Terms and Conditions of Sale     91
Buying a Resale Condo     103
Presenting the Offer     103
Offers and Counter-Offers     104
Buying a New Home or Condo from a Builder     105
They Said Yes! Now What?     113
Dealing with Buyer's Remorse     115
What if I Lose My Job?     116
Before You Get the Keys     117
Closing Day     129
Maybe It's a "Money Pit" But It's Your Money Pit     131
Safety First     133
Budgeting for Real Life     134
The Fun Spending     137
Budgeting: The Whole Story     140
Renovate Right     145
Why Renovate?     149
Golden Rules of Renovation     161
Advice from Homeowners     163
Becoming a Landlord     167
Second Suites (also known as "Granny Flats")     168
Finding the Perfect Tenant     176
Before You Add Landlord to Your List of Titles...     181
What to Do About Problem Tenants     183
The Vacancy Issue     185
Is It Time to Sell?     189
To Be, or Not to Be, Your Own Agent     190
The Price Is Right     193
Make a Good First Impression     195
The Five Senses of Home Selling     198
It's Not Just What's Inside that Counts     201
The Winner Is...     205
Buying a Second Property     209
Are You a Two-Home Woman?     210
Financing the Second Home     212
Before You Go Second-Home Hunting     213
Guide to Inspecting Recreational Property     217
Becoming a Second-Home Owner     218
Conclusion: Buy Yourself     221
Index     223