By looking at your current financial situation, you can determine the price range of homes available to you. You may want to consider applying for a pre-approved mortgage. Pre-approval will not only define the price range of homes you can look at, but will also give you an advantage over competing purchasers when you make offers to vendors, since it shows you are taking things seriously enough to have looked into financing.

Which kind of mortgage is right for you? Whether to take a fixed rate or variable rate mortgage may depend on the stability of your income and your comfort level if interest rates start to rise.

You also need to bear in mind that if you have a down payment of less than 20% of the purchase price of the home, you will require a high-ratio mortgage. These mortgages have to be approved by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) or Genworth Corporation (formerly GE) and mortgage insurance is required.
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