First-home search tools for newcomers in Canada enable them to find a place that can be their home. Mostly, new immigrants in Canada will have to reside in their apartments or rented houses as their first homes.
Typically, the Canadian housing market has shown consistency toward its buyers and renters, with a rise in interest rates recently. This increase in interest rates has also indicated a contraction in the price of housing.
In 2018, Statistics Canada conducted a study claiming that 44 percent of the recent immigrants, nearly 1,153,400, resided in private housing owned by their family members. This figure is within the national average for those born in Canada but implies a great number of newcomers who own property within five years of arriving in Canada.
A number of factors clubbed together have made it more feasible for newcomers to buy their first home in Canada. These are primarily related to economic conditions and housing policies. Moreover, the same 2018 study also states that newcomers on first arriving here would prefer to rent a home.
First-home search tools for newcomers in Canada- where to find rental properties?
Once an individual selects the kind of location he prefers, where they would like to reside, and the monthly or annual budget, they can access a broader range of resources to find rental places.
For instance, one simple way to buy a house is by visiting neighborhoods of your choice and then checking for buildings with rental signs. They could be existing properties or upcoming available properties.
In the case of individuals searching for properties on a wider scale, they can proceed with Google Maps.
Other rental apartments or housing properties include the following:
- PadMapper– This platform enables you to search for Canadian rental apartments. It allows you to find the location, with the number of bedrooms and a pricing filter. Also, each apartment’s location is visible on a map.
- Realtor.ca– The website lets people find sale or rental properties in Canada. Get the filters to streamline the search by price, location, type of property, etc.
- Local newspaper’s Classified section– A classified website, Kijiji, is available where individuals can find rental or sale apartments. It also helps one find other stuff required for the new house, like furniture and appliances. One of the most preferred choices is the Facebook Marketplace, which enables them to connect with the platform’s communities and individuals.
- Zumper– Another website for rental apartments in Canada, and there are filters available for the number of bedrooms, price, and search location.
- Local Library– A few libraries provide workshops and resources to find houses, rent apartments and read leases. Go ahead and search for public libraries existing nearby your area.
- Local Immigrant Settlement Agency– Several Immigrant Settlement Agencies provide services related to housing. These include finding places to reside, tenants’ responsibilities and rights, etc. Notably, these apply exclusively to permanent residents, temporary residents, and protected individuals. To understand the available services, conducting a quick-web search prevailing in one’s city, province, or district is crucial. Government-funded websites, such as Compasses to Connect, are also valuable tools. Such search tools can amalgamate and find out settlement services throughout Canada.
First-home search tools for newcomers in Canada- finding properties to buy
Newcomers in Canada will be able to access various tools to find or purchase a home in Canada. A few of the tools include the following:
- Realtor.ca– This particular website is the best alternative for purchasing prospects. The Realtors and feature listings produce the outcomes for commercial and residential properties. This site has specific listings for Realtors to represent the home-buying process.
- Private real estate agencies– Several individuals choose the non-employment of Realtors in their home search. Acquiring a representation will make the process more convenient. Hence, one must remember that Realtors can obtain paid commission when they successfully close deals. This implies that they’re at a lower risk.
- Classifieds– Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, and others can prove beneficial for finding private locations for sale. Meanwhile, this method has no intermediary, and private property dealings without representation could be risk-taking.
- Local Settlement Services– Newcomers can also access settlement services that provide them with locations or properties they can purchase. Compass Connect is useful for finding settlement services.
The type of properties available in Canada
Newcomers in Canada can access various types of rental and permanent housing available in Canada. These will include the following:
- Apartments– Apartments are single-family homes inside of a structure or house. One, two, or three bedrooms are standard for flats. “Bachelor” apartments feature a combined living and sleeping space;
- A single-family detached house is one that has just one unit and is on its own land.
- A home that has been divided into two units (a duplex) or three units (a triplex). It is typical for the home’s owner to reside in one unit while renting out the others;
- Townhouse: a structure with three or more units erected next to one another and sharing walls. These may also be piled to provide a barrier between the top and bottom floors; or
- Rooms: Houses may be divided into private bedrooms that tenants rent to use communal areas like bathrooms and kitchens.
Housing Scams- how to avoid them?
Unfortunately, housing frauds are out there, and newcomers can be particularly at risk. When looking for rental or purchase agreements, a few things to consider are:
- Apartments that have already been rented yet are listed twice or phantom rents;
lack of amenities; - Suspicious demands for money or payments (in Canada, cheques or e-transfers are typically accepted forms of payment);
- Minimal to no background checks are required to enter a lease or purchase deal.
As a result, new purchasers or tenants might take specific precautions to safeguard themselves, including:
- Never transact with cash;
- Never sign a contract without seeing the property first; If at all possible, speak with the present or previous tenants;
- Demand a formal lease that complies with the landlord and tenant board’s regulations in your province; or
- To ensure that your agreement is enforceable and valid under the law, work with a realtor or representation.
Last but not least, if one should opt to hire a realtor, it is advisable to confirm that they are registered with their various provincial boards. Always examine your realtors’ qualifications, including their registration with the appropriate provincial governing body, the properties they may have assisted in closing in the past, and the experiences of previous clients who have worked with them.
The above resources and tools will help them to carry out the home search more conveniently and efficiently.
