Don't Wait to Buy a House, Buy a House and Wait: A Practical Guide for the First-time Home Buyer or Investor

Ashley Thomson is a full librarian at Laurentian University and co-editor or co-author of nine books, most recently Margaret Atwood: A Reference Guide, 1988-2005.

Murray Smith’s interest in home owning started when he was in Grade 7
and continued on past his years at Carleton University, from which he
graduated with a degree in economics. To date, he has personally bought
13 properties and has worked for two national real-estate companies.

Although some of Smith’s assumptions are questionable—are houses
still appreciating at 7 percent a year across the country?—his
emphasis on the importance of figuring out what you can afford before
you put in a bid for a home is well considered. Also provided are a
checklist of what to look for in a house; a list of the do’s and
don’ts of making an offer; tips on negotiating (as well as tips on
moving); and ideas on maintaining an environmentally friendly home.

The author’s ideas, presented in a friendly and approachable style
reminiscent of The Wealthy Barber, deserve a positive reception. If the
cover is to be believed, however, the book hardly needs my
recommendation, since it seems to have already nudged out the
competition to become an “over-night Canadian bestseller.”