Buying Real Estate

Websites

AboutMyProperty
Property taxpayers in Ontario can get a property report on property you own that provides you with detailed property assessment information for your property. For residential properties this includes: assessment roll information, site information, recent sales information and structural information.You may also obtain a Properties of Interest Report compares your property with up to 24 other properties of your choosing. The Properties of Interest Report will help you compare assessment information for similar properties to determine whether your property's assessed value is accurate. The report includes address, current value assessment, sale and site information, as well as residential structural details (e.g. square footage).

Real Estate Council of Ontario
Find important information on locating registered brokers, lodging complaints, home inspections and more.

MLS
A Website supported by Realtors across Canada to advertise and promote available properties.

Mortgage Calculator
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Council offers a free mortgage calculator as well as many other services and tips.

Buying a Car, Truck or Van

Websites

Automobile Protection Association
The APA is a membership based, non-profit association dedicated to promoting consumer interests in the marketplace.

Be Car Care Aware
The goal of Car Care Canada is to educate Canadians on the benefits of regular car care maintenance.  The Canadian driving experience is unique and so is the care you need to put into your vehicle. This site is full of great fast, easy and economical tips that could save you hundreds of dollars down the road. They could also extend the life of your vehicle.

CanadianDriver/Autos.ca
CanadianDriver is a comprehensive information resource for Canadian automotive consumers. Features new and used car reviews, maintenance tips, and consumer advice. Includes the CanadianDriver New Car Pricing Guide which gives up-to-date pricing for all Canadian models in Canadian dollars.

CarFax
Before you buy a used car, protect yourself by checking into the car's history. You can search both Canadian and American pre-owned vehicles here. Fee, although they do offer a free LEMON search to identify cars that have been previously designated a lemon under American legislation.

CarProof
Before you buy a used car, protect yourself by checking into the car's history. You can search both Canadian and American pre-owned vehicles here. Fee.

Edmunds.com
Website from the United States featuring new and used car information, pricing and reviews.

kanetix.ca: Canada's Insurance Marketplace
Enter your details for car, travel, property or life insurance and you will be given multiple quotes from various insurers.

Phil Edmonston's Lemon-Aid Car Guides
An introduction to Phil Edmonston's Lemon-Aid car guides, along with some free advice: brief information on best and worst buys, links to Internet gripe sites, secret warranties, the art of complaining, small claims paint cases.

Finances for Beginners

At the Library

Books on consumer credit

Books on financial security

Books on financial statements

Websites

Newcomer Finances Toolkit
Ottawa Community Loan Fund designed the Newcomer Finances Toolkit in 2009 to help service providers address financial topics with newcomers in their programs.  It includes an Instructor's manual and activities.

Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)
The FCAC is an independent body that was established in 2001 by the federal government to protect and inform consumers about finances.  The FCAC also provides tools and resources to consumers. Includes how to read and understand credit reports.

Money Tools
Created by the FCAC, Money Tools offers Canadians valuable guidance about their rights as consumers.

The Money Belt
Created by the FCAC, the Money Belt hosts information about how to build financial knowledge and manage money.  Although the site was designed for youth 15-29 years of age, it has information relevant to Canadians wanting to learn and build their financial knowledge.

The City
The City is a learning program developed by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) with the goal of teaching young people financial skills that they can carry with them throughout their lives.  The materials can be downloaded for use in a classroom or used as an online, self-directed version that can be completed virtually anywhere.

Money and Youth
Designed for teachers, parents, and youth to complement the book Money and Youth.  CFEE has produced this publication to provide youth with information that will help them to better understand the world of money and enable them to begin to take more responsibility for their financial future.

Your Money
YourMoney was created to bring financial literacy to life in homes and classrooms across Canada.  Students can learn more about how to use money wisely to reach their goals.  Teachers can register online for an-class seminar presented by a banker volunteer from your community.  Parents can access resources to help teach their kids financial literacy at home.

Credit Education Week Canada
Supported by leaders within the financial services industry, consumer advocacy groups, community organizations and government, this week-long event will give you free access to financial advice and resources from Canada's leading experts.

Credit Canada
Helps people solve their debt problems, with information and services for budgeting, reducing debt, and managing money.  Also provides links to other sources of help, and tools such as calculators.

 

MoneySense
A guide to excellent articles on planning, investing, real estate and other financial matters. Includes links to information on bonds, banking, blogs and best and worst odds on lottery tickets.

Investing

At the Library

Books about taxes

Books about financial planning

Websites

adviceforinvestors.com
Research and on-line tools with good Canadian content, produced by MPL Communications.

bigcharts.com
Customized stock charting for Canadian and American companies.

Globefund
Comprehensive information on Canadian mutual funds from the Globe and Mail.

globeinvestor.com
Financial data on about 2200 publicly-traded Canadian companies and 6500 American companies. Stock quotes, historical price data, press releases, performance history, charts and company financials for each company is given.

Hoover's Online
The self-proclaimed "ultimate source for business information", Hoover's includes a searchable international company directory: search by company name, location, industry or sales voulume. Each entry provides a directory listing and financial data. Larger Canadian companies are included. Also provides links to business news sources.

MoneySense.ca
General financial planning information on such topics as RRSPs, RESPs, insurance and retirement. The magazine, MoneySense is available for reading at the Central Library.

morningstar.ca
Stocks and mutual fund research.

SEC Info
Securites information from the United States' Securities and Exchange Commission database.

SEDAR - System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval
SEDAR is the system used for electronically filing most securities-related information with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The database provides access to public company and mutual fund information in the public domain.

The Fund Library
A Canadian site with in-depth information about mutual funds.

W I Link
Order a company annual report or a fund prospectus on-line. Click on Services, then Investors.

Yahoo! Canada finance