You've moved to Canada. Congratulations! It's a time of many changes for you and your family. If you're like most immigrants to Canada, one of the things you'll almost certainly want to consider is buying a home to settle into. Owning a home is a source of pride, satisfaction, and accomplishment, not to mention an investment that can grow over time to benefit you and your family.

Here are some of the key findings from a study done by Genworth Financial:

• The desire to own a home in Canada was nearly universal (91 per cent) among new arrivals.
• Half of all immigrants to Canada (52 per cent) successfully purchased a home within three years of arriving.
• Well-priced and conveniently-located detached dwellings in safe neighbourhoods were the top pick, followed by townhouses and semi-detached dwellings. Condominiums apartments rounded out the most popular options.
• 72 per cent of respondents recognized that buying a home without a credit history in Canada is a barrier and that it is important to immediately begin building a personal credit rating.
• Two-thirds (66 per cent) said they lacked information about financing options and half (45 per cent) said it is difficult to find information about financing a home purchase that is available in a language that is easy for them to understand.
• The average home price paid by immigrant homeowners in the survey was $393,000.

Our goal is to put it all together information and guide, to benefit you as you set out to make your dream of homeownership in Canada a reality.
Check out this guide from CMHC, The Newcomer's Guide to Canadian Housing.

This guide for newcomers to the Canadian housing market, written in clear English, has everything needed to understand how to rent or buy a home.is filled with helpful information.