The Elusive Nintendo DS
Yes, this handheld console by Nintendo is no where to be found in the city of Winnipeg and its surrounding towns. I have never been big on gaming, the latest console I have is a PS2 and in today’s gaming standards, a PS2 is considered primitive. But recently I found the Nintendo DS entertaining and fun. It’s the latest handheld console by Nintendo and it’s definitely a step up from its cousin of the Game Boy Advance.
My search for the DS Lite began earlier this week, when I was at Wal-mart shopping for house products, I decided to purchase a DS Lite for the retail price of $139.00. Unfortunately the store was out of stock. I figured it wasn’t a big deal, as there were other locations and many stores in the city that sell the product.
I soon began to get the hint that finding this console might be a little difficult when I was at Best Buy and Future Shop, Canada’s largest electronic stores, all locations in the city were also sold out. I thought to myself, ok it looks like I should save my gas and began making phone calls first to inquire about the system.
So my search was mostly spent on the phone calling all the stores in the city that may sell the product. I contacted every single store in the city and even those that are located in small rural towns outside the city. It included the following:
2 Toy’s R US Locations, 4 Wal-Mart, 8 Real Canadian Superstores, 2 Best Buy, 4 Future Shop, 6 Zellers, 2 Hudson Bay Company, 6 Sears Department Stores, 3 EB Games stores, 10 Blockbuster, 10 Rogers Video, and 2 Costco…
After spending hours on the phone, and even calling stores twice just to make sure that they weren’t lying, it became clear that this console is no where to be found in the city. So I resulted in purchasing one online. Unfortunately my luck didn’t change; many online retailers such as Amazon.ca, BestBuy.ca, and Futureshop.ca were also sold out.
Fortunately I found some comfort when I landed on dsfanboy’s blog and his report on the shortage of the DS Lite and when they will make their return on store shelves. So it looks like this Nintendo DS may not be so elusive after all.
Survival Guide for First Time Home Buyers
Buying your first home is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make in your life, so doing it right is the only way to go. For most first time buyers, this process can be overwhelming and sometimes scary. There are so many things to consider and various parties involved. Not to mention that having a comfortable financial resource is one of the key factors in a successful purchase.
It took me almost a year of searching for the right property until I made a decision that I felt confident and happy about. However the journey to that final decision was a rocky one. I was not 100% prepared and I made mistakes along the way, thankfully by the time it was all said and done it all worked out and was happy with the final outcome.
Here are a few things to consider to survive the overwhelming process of purchasing your first home…
Save, Save, Save - ‘To reduce the feeling of anxiety and secure yourself a successful purchase, make sure that you save enough money for the following:’
Pay Off Debt – It’s always good to free yourself from any financial obligations that you currently have before purchasing a home. Paying a mortgage on a property is not like paying rent. You have to consider many factors and future expense that may arise from the property that you recently purchased.
Down Payment – Typically needed to receive a mortgage from a financial institution. In Manitoba its 5% of the purchase price. Today you can receive a mortgage with no money down, however I don’t recommend this route.
Closing Cost – Needed to close the deal. These fees usually goes towards the Lawyers that handles all the paper work and the transfer of Titles.
Property Assessment – To get approval on the mortgage, an assessment is required by the mortgage provider. The price can range any where from $200 - $500.
Home Inspection – To avoid any future problems with the property, it’s best to get a home inspected prior to purchasing it. The price to get a home inspected can be anywhere from $500 - $1000.
Making an Offer – Have funds available for a deposit when making an offer on a property. You can make a deposit as little as $500, but the more flexibility you have on your deposit, the bigger the negotiating power you have. Most sellers feels comfortable and will likely chose your offer versus others if your deposit is fairly large, even if your offer is less than others.
Shop, Research and Negotiate - ‘The more knowledge you have the better you will feel. Also keep in mind that everything is negotiable.’
Mortgage Rates – You don’t necessarily have to receive your mortgage from your bank. You may find better rates from other financial institution. Shop around.
The Right Property For You – Make sure it’s the right property for you. It’s always good to have a few houses you are interested in lined up and viewed for comparison. It’s also a good idea to view the property more than once before making any final decision. Spend half a day inside if needed. Get the feel for it, visualize yourself living it. Make sure it’s right for you.
Do Your Research - When shopping for the right house, get all the facts and information you can get. Normally your Realtor will get you all the information you need and want about the property you are interested in. They can also get you information on the current homes around the neighborhood and what selling price they went for, this will give you a good idea on whether you are getting a good deal or not.
Negotiate Everything - When negotiating on a property, try and get as much as you can for as little cost as possible. Keep in mind that appliances and furniture can be negotiated. Also any future work that you think is necessary such as remodeling the bathroom, or replacing the floors is also negotiable. Be flexible on your possession date, the more flexible you have on the possession date, the more negotiating power you have.
And my number one rule when buying a property is, when in doubt don’t buy. You have to feel 110% confident in your decisions. Take your time.
You may feel a lot of anxiety during this process, which is normal. I also recommend that you research online for more resources on first time home buyers. I watched a lot of HGTV shows during the year I was searching for a home, you can learn a lot from those shows, especially if you are also planning on doing your own renovations. 
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