If you’re new to Canada, your first priority would be to find a residential place to live with your family. Typically, newcomers in Canada opt for rented apartments or houses as their initial dwelling.

Canada’s housing market has traditionally been stable for buyers and renters, with a recent increase in interest rates indicating a contraction in housing prices.

A study conducted in 2018 asserted that over 44% of the 11,53,400 recent immigrants lived in a private dwelling owned by a household member. While this is less than the national average for the Canadian-born population, it indicates a significant portion of newcomers who own their property within five years of residing in Canada. 

Because of this combination of housing policies & economic conditions, buying a home in Canada has become really easy for newcomers. 

Where Are The Properties To Rent? 

Once you have chosen the kind of place you wish to live in and have thought about the monthly budget, there are many resources that you will be able to find.   

For instance, one of the simplest places to locate properties is to visit the neighborhood where you want to rent. Then, you can further ask the superintendent if there are any places to rent or not. 

If you need to search a large area for rental houses, you may do the same thing online using tools like Google Maps. 

Some places to rent include: 

  • Realtor.ca

It’s a website that allows you to search for properties for sale and rent in Canada. You can utilize filters to narrow your search by location, property type, price, etc. 

  • Zumper

It is a website that facilitates the search for rental housing in Canada. You can find what you’re looking for and refine your results by price, amount of bedrooms, and much more.

  • PadMapper

PadMapper is another site that facilitates the search for rental housing in Canada. You can find what you’re looking for and refine your results by price, amount of bedrooms, and more. Each apartment building’s location is also displayed on a map. 

  • Your Local Library

Some libraries offer resources & workshops on finding houses, reading leases, etc. You can even look for public libraries in your area. 

  • Bulletin boards in grocery shops, libraries, health clinics, community centers, service clubs, etc. 
  • Finding a place to live, learning your rights and obligations as a tenant, and other housing-related services are all available from your local immigrant settlement agency. A quick web search of the services provided in your city, province, or district can help you understand the available services. 

Where Can I Buy Properties In Canada?

There are various tools that newcomers can use to buy a property in Canada. They are: 

  • Realtor.ca 

This website is excellent for buying prospects as well. Realtors and feature listings curate the results for both commercial and residential properties. 

  • Real Estate Agencies

While many people might choose not to employ a realtor, getting representation can make the process much easier. Remember that realtors only get paid on successfully closing deals, meaning they are at lower risk. 

  • Classifieds

Kijjiji, a Facebook Marketplace, and more can be an excellent way of finding private places for sale. However, while there is no mediator in this approach, it can be pretty risky to do private deals of property without having any representation. 

  • Local settlement services

Settlement services for Canadian immigrants can also offer help with finding places to buy. But, again, it is best to visit Compass or Connect or search for local settlement services to learn more. 

What Type Of Properties Can I Find In Canada? 

The properties include: 

  • Apartments

These are single-family units in a building/ house. Most apartments have 2-3 bedrooms. In addition, ‘Bachelor’ units have a combined living area and a bedroom. 

  • Single-family detached

It’s a home that contains a unit alone. 

  • Duplexes or triplexes

It’s a house that’s divided into 2-3 units. It’s common for the house owner to live in one unit while renting it out to others. 

  • Townhouse

Multiple dwellings are constructed next to one another and share common walls. These can also be stacked. Thus, the top floors will be segregated from the bottom floors. 

  • Rooms

The homes can be divided into separate bedrooms rented to individuals who share common spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, etc. 

How To Tell If I Am Being Scammed? 

Housing scams occur while one searches for a place. Moreover, newcomers can be specifically vulnerable, so they fall into these traps.

Here are some tips to prevent scams: 

  • Already rented apartments that are listed more than twice
  • Missing amenities
  • Suspicious payment and money requests
  • Little to no background check to enter a lease or buy an agreement 

As a newcomer, one can also take the following protective measures. 

  • Never deal in cash 
  • Never enter an agreement without visiting the property
  • Speak with present or past tenants 
  • Hire a realtor to ensure your contract is legally valid
  • Demand a written lease that aligns with the province’s landlord and tenant 

Lastly, you must ensure that a realtor is registered with provincial boards if you decide to employ one. Moreover, always check your realtor’s credentials, including knowing if they are registered with a relevant provincial board authority, what properties they have sold, who are their past clients, and so on. 

These are just some examples of the free tools and resources you can use. Thus, by using such tools, you can quickly and efficiently find a home in Canada!