Canadas new home price index rose 0.2 percent in February led by gains in Calgary, the governments statistics agency said.

Prices in the Alberta city rose 0.9 percent from January on higher material and labor costs and the impact of a new provincial home-warranty program, Statistics Canada said today from Ottawa. Toronto, Canadas largest city, posted a 0.2 percent increase while Vancouver prices were unchanged.

Economists forecast the national index would rise 0.1 percent, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey with seven responses.

From a year earlier, new home prices increased 1.5 percent in February, matching the January pace. Calgary and Toronto led the annual gain, with new home prices rising 6.9 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.

Earlier this week, Statistics Canada reported residential building permits fell 21 percent in February from a record, and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said housing starts in March were at the slowest annual pace since the last recession.

To contact the reporter on this story: Greg Quinn in Ottawa at gquinn1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Badertscher at pbadertscher@bloomberg.net

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Canadian February New Home Prices Advance 0.2% Led by Calgary

The Most Interesting Home Warranty Company in the world
StrucSure Home Warranty prepared this video to toast the Homebuilders Association of Greater Austin annual MAX Awards participants and winners. Video Produced by VidLocity Media (http://www.vidlo...

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The Most Interesting Home Warranty Company in the world - Video

#19 6465 184A St Surrey BC - Real Estate Virtual Tour - Dena Buss
View http://www.seevirtual360.com/26714 to see PRICE and more PHOTOS. Desirable inside unit in family oriented Rosebury Lane. Beautiful laminate flooring on main, new appliances, hot water...

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#19 6465 184A St Surrey BC - Real Estate Virtual Tour - Dena Buss - Video

One year home warranty 730

By: Norman Whitehead

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One year home warranty 730 - Video

PHOENIX - You may notice your money taking a hit if youre trying to sell your home right now. Prices are down for the second month in a row, with a typical single-family home going for $195,000. Thats the lowest price since August.

Experts say demand is dramatically lower than this time last year. But that all could change with a new tool which claims to make the process easier for both home buyers and sellers.

Theyre calling the Certified Pre-Owned Home Program the first of its kind for Arizona. Unlike traditional sales, a certified home has already been through the inspection process before it goes on the market. Theyre hoping this will be an incentive for buyers who like to know what theyre dealing with upfront.

It is a joint effort between the inspection industry and the home warranty industry, said Platinum Home Warranty CEO Carol Perry, who says realtors have been asking for this for quite some time.

It makes the house more marketable, because youve got a product on your home which is giving some assurance to the buyers.

A certified home would get the seal of approval after all the items on the list have been fixed.

Its really a unique product, and I think its going to be really fantastic for the sellers and also for the buyers, Perry said.

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Pre-certified homes now offered in Arizona

Being a homeowner continues to be the American Dream for most people. Having a home you can call your own is much more than the ability to be free from the landlord and the equity you can expect to gain over time. It is an experience unmatched by everyday activities. However, many first-time home buyers fail to realize everything involved in acquiring and maintaining a home. Here is a checklist that will be a reality check for some:

1. Down Payment: Even with the most favorable mortgage loans, a buyer can expect to make a down payment of at least 5 percent. With additional money invested in your new home, you may get better interest rates and terms.

2. Mortgage Insurance: If your down payment is less than 20 percent, you can expect to pay mortgage insurance. The product goes by several names according to the loan product that fits your circumstance. All of them are created to ensure the lender that they will not lose money by taking a larger risk for borrowers with lower down payments. The borrower pays the premiums in their mortgage payments and sometimes up front.

3. Appraisal Fees: The mortgage company wants to be assured that it is not loaning you money for a home that is not worth what you are willing to pay for it. They hire an independent appraiser to visit the home, research comparable sales and derive at an appraised value.

4. Survey Costs: Another thing that can cause you grief is when the boundaries of your property are different than they appear to be. Both the mortgage company and the title company want to be confident that the property lines are correct. A professional surveyor will visit the property, chart out the visible boundaries such as fence lines and the footprint of your home and then compare the physical attributes of the property to the legal description of the home site.

5. Title Insurance: The Owners Title Policy assures you that the property is being conveyed with a clear title. While a lot of research is done before the title insurance policy is issued, there is still a risk that the records were incomplete or simply wrong.

6. Moving Costs: Hiring a moving company can get expensive. It can also be a big task to interview several companies and make the selection. Even when you have family and friends to help you, there will be costs involved. Make arrangements as early as possible to make sure you dont get surprised.

7. Home Service Contracts: Many call these contracts a Home Warranty, but be sure to read the fine print.

Sellers often are willing to pay for a policy to benefit the new buyer, but you will still want to make the selection. Companies vary greatly in what they cover, the exceptions to the coverage, claim procedures and the deductible.

Use this checklist to prepare for your life as a new homeowner.

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Checklist for first -time home buyers

Angie #39;s List: Doing your home warranty homework
Don #39;t sign up for a home warranty until you do your homework.

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Angie's List: Doing your home warranty homework - Video

20080 Hurley Road; Oakboro, NC 28129
Clean, Solid, Well Maintained, FULL BRICK Home features a BRAND NEW ROOF, Wood Parquet Floors in the Open Kitchen and Family Room, Stainless Steel Appliances...

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20080 Hurley Road; Oakboro, NC 28129 - Video

Residential for sale - 1401 Maple Lane, Lawrence, KS
Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/LW52H8 4 bedroom 1 bath single family home in the Brookcreek neighborhood. Spacious 15600 sq ft lot with a fen...

By: sharon sigman

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Residential for sale - 1401 Maple Lane, Lawrence, KS - Video

Protection Beyond A Home Warranty
Home sellers should consider the advantages of a home warranty for the buyer, full seller disclosures, and whether insurance is also available to the home se...

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Protection Beyond A Home Warranty - Video