Home buying extravaganza -- With mortgage rates at historic lows, now is the perfect time for time for moving up, sizing down or making the jump from renter to first-time home buyer. If you're thinking about joining the house-hunting horde this year, first take a swing through the neighbourhood we call Bankrate Canada's 2004 Home Buyer's Guide for a look at the entire home-buying process, from preliminary preparations to leaving the closing table with a new deed in your hands.

First steps

	O V E R N I G H T   A V E R A G E S *
	Today +/- Last Week Variable open mtg 4.71% 4.71% Variable closed mtg 4.34% 4.36% 2 yr fixed open mtg 9.23% 9.23% 5 yr fixed closed mtg 6.43% 6.45% 10 yr fixed closed mtg 7.10% 7.10% More overnight averages

How much house can you afford? -- Let us help you do the math by figuring your housing expenses against your income.

Should you use a mortgage broker? -- More and more home-buyers are discovering that working with mortgage brokers can save them time, money and stress. Even better, you don't pay them a cent.

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Financing

How to choose a mortgage -- Understand the basics and the lingo to be on your way to owning your home.

No-money-down mortgages -- Mortgages that don't require a down payment sound tempting but can be a mixed blessing.

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Shopping

How to assess the value of a home -- Putting a price on a home, whether you're buying or selling, can be tough. Here are some tools to help figure out fair market value.

Inspect the neighbourhood -- In the hurry to close on your new house, you didn't pay enough attention to the overall neighbourhood. Here's how to make sure your dream home isn't located on nightmare avenue.

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Contract to closing

Upfront costs of buying a home -- Most people know the price of the home they want to buy, but they don't realize all of the other costs that are involved in buying a home.

How to win a bidding war -- Caught in a battle over the house of your dreams? Here's how to make the winning bid.

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First-time home buyer

Anatomy of a deal -- Ever wondered what happens once you put in an offer? One real estate expert draws back the curtains.

Ugly duckling homes -- With hard work and a little imagination, you can turn your ugly duckling buy into a swan of a home.

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