You may view the guidebook by clicking here.

Rent vs Own Calculator: Considering buying a house, but not sure it’s worth it for you in the long run? What is the best financial decision for you? Use this calculator to compare your renting costs against those of owning your own home.

Mortgage Pre-Qualification: So you’re pretty sure you really want to buy a home, but are you financially capable of it? There are many factors that you need to consider and balance while making this decision. This calculator will give you a good idea of whether you’ll qualify for a how much of a mortgage.

Monthly Payments: OK, you want to buy a house and you know you can get financing, but what is the true month to month payment you will need to be responsible for? This calculator will reveal how those house prices you see in the MLS break down so you can determine how much house will fit into your personal budget.

Most first-time buyers start with the neighborhood they’re living in usually because it is familiar and they are comfortable with it. However, when they start searching for properties there they realize that the prices are too high for them. So they check out other similar neighborhoods which offer more affordable solutions for them. This is a normal process for first-time buyers.

Other important criteria in determining location preferences are:
- conveniences to public transportation and expressways/tollways
- convenience to shopping and other necessities
- convenience to preferred schools
- convenience to work and recreational activities

Remember, narrowing down your search parameters takes some time because it requires exploring properties in your price range in the various neighborhoods under consideration. Sometimes you don’t have many choices. So you change what type of property you’re looking for or change to neighborhoods which offer better values.