I am not sure if this just applies to Manitoba or to the whole of Canada but we have to put 25% of the mortgage company"s valuation down on any property we buy. There is a way to put down as little as 5% but you have to have been employed for a minimum of two years and there are a number of other requirements as well. If you do not fit these requirements it is sometimes possible to get a 5% deposit if you buy extra insurance. As even the cheapest homes still cost quite a bit you can see that you need fair amount of cash available. The mortgage itself is reasonably easy to come by, provided you are employed and have a good credit history. The company checked our US and UK credit records, checked with Alan"s new employers and that was more or less that. As for how much you can borrow, about twice your annual salary, maybe just a little more. It depends on any other payments and debts you may have. Remember though, these people are in business to lend money, that"s how they make their money. So don"t be intimidated, just do your homework and they will be happy to help you.

If you are moving from the UK you will find the system of house buying very different. For a start the Realtors (estate agents) get much more involved. They accompany you to each viewing,deal with the legal side, do all the negotiating and so on. Once you find a Realtor you are comfortable with that person can show any home regardless of whether it is listed with his agency or another. The only time you are on your own is if you buy from an owner who has not listed the property with any agent.

The real estate write-ups are very different to the UK format. In the UK you get a full description of the age, type and position of the property; details about each room, right down to every power point and decor, that kind of thing. Here you get half a page of scant details, they tell you the square footage, basic room sizes (note they often do not give the details of the basement rooms which can be substantial) and that"s about it. It is very hard to try to visualize the properties just from the agents details.

Another thing to be aware of is the question of building regulations. Inside most city areas there are strict rules, licenses and checks. Outside the city limits it seems that anyone can throw up a pile of wood and call it a house. Some of them are lovely and very well built....some are rather more rustic. Be aware that most country properties will have well water and septic tank drainage. Get the water checked before you decide on a property, make sure it is not likely to run dry or be polluted. Finding a new source of water could be horribly expensive. Living in thecountry in Canada is in not like living in the country in the UK. Even in the wilds of Scotland or half way up a Welsh hillside there is more structure than there is here. I mean structure in the government sense, access to fire and ambulance service for example.

Beware, unlike the UK, where you can put in a verbal offer with no commitment on either side, here the offer has to be in writing and, provided the various points are accepted, it is a binding contract - the deposit is on the line here if you change your mind. The initial offer is very similar to the " exchange of contracts" in the UK. Make sure that your Realtor draws up the contract subject to getting loan approval and, if you are buying in the country, subject to water test etc.

Completion takes place quite fast, again compared with our experiences buying and selling inthe UK, it can be as little as two or three days, or up to about three months but usually much less than that.

Be prepared for a big property tax bill too. Like many areas of the US the tax system is way behind and you will find you have to pay a year or more in property taxes up front. Yes, I know that sounds weird but get the Realtor to explain it to you. The legal fees, on the other hand, are a pleasant surprise compared!

So, as newcomers to the country I would suggest finding a Realtor that you like and trust.... ask around at work etc. and let them guide you. As foreigners we do not know the " good" or " bad" areas of town and will be out of the loop when it comes to rumours and knowledge of events like the possible building of an airport or landfill site right next to that dream house you think you"ve seen.

Good luck :-)

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