New home taxes
Alas, new homes are taxable! Indeed, buyers will be burdened by additional charges of 5% for the Goods and Services Tax [GST] and 9.975% for the Quebec Sales Tax [QST]. There is hope, though. It is possible to [...]
Buying tips
8 questions to ask in the sales office
Buying a brand-new home is a very different process than purchasing one on the resale market. And more often than not, it is less known! It is important to be well prepared before visiting a sales office because you [...]
A complete worry-free guide to buying your new home
Buying a home or condo is undoubtedly one of the most stressful steps in one’s life. At GuideHabitation.ca, we have spent the last several years observing this purchase process from both sides of the transaction. One thing is [...]
Buying a Condo Off-Plan: Mitigating the Risks
There are many advantages to buying a condo off-plan, but there are also risks involved. We’re here to tell you what they are, and how to best protect yourself. Buying a condo off-plan can be a good idea. [...]
How much to invest in personalizing your new home?
It is normal for a new owner to want to add a personal touch to his or her new dream dwelling: a sauna, a patio, a stylish countertop, etc. Here are six key elements you need to know [...]
Condominium Soundproofing: When Noises Affect the Quality of Life
Condo soundproofing has greatly improved over the last 20 years. Despite that, noise is still the second most important cause of discord between owners. Survival guide . . . Jocelyne Miller, a retired teacher, lives in her first [...]
Inspections and visits during the construction of your house
You have bought a custom-built house or a condo and you wish to follow the construction step by step. It is legitimate, desirable and even possible legally. La Garantie construction résidentielle (GCR) also protects you in case of [...]
Buying a home off-plan: unrealistic expectations?
Whether because of popular culture or due to the experiences of friends and family, first-time home buyers are often more familiar with the resale market or “second-hand houses.” Therefore, when they start the process of buying a brand-new [...]
Buying a house with a RRSP… Without having a RRSP
You have savings to buy your first house and you are short but not by much? Here is a strategy that allows to convert a bank loan in a RRSP and then to use the associated tax refund [...]
Buying a Parking Spot with a Condo?
Future condo buyers are unanimous: a parking spot is very important, if not a must. Some consider the resale value, others simply the handy and practical aspect. “But wow is it expensive!”, tells me a young computer consultant who [...]
