basics of home ownership FOR NEWCOMERS

From NEWS CANADA

Coming to a new country can be both an exciting and overwhelming experience.

Before finding a permanent place to live, many people start out renting or living with relatives.

Once you get a bit more settled, you may be ready to buy your first home.

As a little guidance, consider the following before you start that home ownership journey:

Purchase price. Find out how much you can afford. Sitting down with a mortgage specialist is free and some specialists will come to you. They can help you figure out what type of mortgage is best for you, and how much of a down payment you need. The mortgage specialist can calculate just how much you are pre-approved to borrow, and how much you have to spend on a home.

Must-haves. Make a list of all the things that are important to you. For example, consider location – Do you want to stay in the same area? Be close to friends or relatives? How long are you prepared to commute for work? Or are you ready for a change? City or suburbs? Consider if schools, malls or recreational centres are important, too.

Compromises. Living in a city comes with public transportation and often the ability to walk to restaurants, stores and other conveniences.

The downside of being in a city may be that you won’t get as big a house or yard as you would in the suburbs.

Options. Do you want a detached house or would a town-home or semi-detached house meet your needs?

How big do you need your garage or yard to be? And are you handy or do you need a home that is ready to move into?

These are all questions your realtor will ask, so it’s a good idea to think about them ahead of time.

For more information, log on to rbc.com/newcomers.

REMEMBER, adults also need vaccines!

From NEWS CANADA

Most parents recognize the benefits of vaccines and make sure their children get all their recommended shots.

What about their own protection? Here are five facts you might not know about adult vaccination.

Vaccination is not child’s play. Some diseases are more common in adults, even healthy ones. For example, if you had chickenpox as a child, you may get the painful and blistering shingles rash as an adult. The shingles vaccine can help protect your health as you get older.

Only three per cent of adults are up-to-date. For some diseases, protection from vaccination can decrease as you age. Getting another dose, called a “booster shot”, can increase immunity and provide the best protection. Some adults may also have missed one or more of their vaccines when they were a child. Did you know you should have one dose of tetanus and diphtheria vaccine every ten years?

You may bring home more than memories from your vacation. In some countries, vaccination programs and healthcare systems are not as effective as they are here. This means many diseases can be imported from outside of Canada. Two of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases affecting travellers are hepatitis A and B.

Wisdom is not an effective shield. As we get older, our immune systems can get weaker. Many vaccines are recommended for adults 65 and older, especially the annual flu shot. Doctors and healthcare professionals will make sure you are fully protected.

Getting vaccinated creates “community immunity”. When most people in a community have been vaccinated against a disease, the chance of an outbreak is greatly reduced. Community immunity protects those who may be vulnerable to the disease, such as babies too young to be immunized, adults 65 and older, and people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

More info at Canada.ca/vaccines.