the motivation issue...vs. 46%), those under the age of 30 (57%), and those who bought their home...

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Get yourself from #HomeGoals to a home of your own

THE MOTIVATION ISSUE

FALL/WINTER 2019

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First-time homebuyer?The Genworth Canada FirstHome Guide will provide you with key information to help you take the exciting step to homeownership! Visit Genworth.ca to download your copy.

Homebuyer 95 program | For Canadians looking to make the move to homeownership, the Genworth Canada Homebuyer 95 mortgage insurance program provides qualified borrowers with an opportunity to own a home with as little as a 5% down payment.

FirstHome A step-by-step guide for first-time homebuyers

LOCATION, LOCATION,FINANCING.


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Debbie McPhersonSenior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing,Genworth Canada

Find your way home

Produced by

P.S. We’d love to hear from you online. You can join the conversation with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Homeownership is the dream of many Canadians. It represents security,

stability and commitment to the future, whether you’re on your own, living

with others, or raising a family. While homeownership is a common goal,

there’s more than one route to get there.

Our “Motivation Issue” shares strategies that first-time homebuyers can

use to find their own way home. For starters, learn how to determine when

your down payment nest egg is big enough to buy (page 5), who to turn to

for mortgage advice (page 10), five power moves for first-timers (page 14),

as well as how to use conditions on home offers to your advantage (page

16). Along the way, we’ll share statistics from the Genworth Canada 2019

Homeownership Study – after all, what’s more motivating than hearing

from those who have successfully completed the same journey as the

one you’re on now?

As Canada’s largest private residential default mortgage insurer, Genworth

Canada plays a key role in helping shape Canada’s strong housing market.

Mortgage default insurance supports Canadian residential mortgage

lenders, in turn making homeownership more accessible to first-time

homebuyers. We look forward to helping you find your way home.

Turn the page, and let’s get started!

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14 The Buying Process Five power moves for first-time homebuyers.

12 House HuntingHow to find a tenant-friendly home.

10 FinancingTwelve great sources for mortgage advice, ranked.

22Checklist A house hunting checklist to help you in your search.

8Dreaming of HomeownershipIs the commuter lifestyle right for you?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

5Help! You asked, we answered.

6The EdgeStats and facts from the Genworth Canada 2019 Homeownership Study.

18ToolboxThe pros and cons of smart-home devices.

FALL/WINTER 2019

20CommunityGenworth Canada volunteers build unique playhouses for a good cause.

16 Closing & Moving In The ins and outs of conditional home offers.

Check out our FirstHome Guide at Genworth.ca

YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED

Q: My husband and I have been saving toward the down payment on our first home for years. How do we know if we have enough money saved to start house hunting?

A: Great question! Buying within your means is the most important step when it comes to responsible homeownership. It’s never too early to lay the groundwork for your house hunt. Start by reviewing your first-home criteria: House or condo? Close to work, or are you up for commuting? How many bedrooms are essential? As you clarify what type of home you want and in what community, you’ll get a sense of price range. Use Genworth Canada’s online calculators to help determine what is affordable for your household, given your income, debt load, the current interest rates available and other particulars.

Next, sketch out a savings target: You can purchase a home with as little as a five per cent down payment with mortgage default insurance products like Genworth Canada’s Homebuyer 95 program. Don’t forget that closing costs can eat up another three to four per cent of a home’s purchase price.

Visit your bank, credit union, broker or mortgage finance company for a one-on-one consultation to fine-tune your financial calculations, get professional advice on your budget, and learn whether you’ve saved enough to qualify for a mortgage pre-approval (a must if you’re serious about house hunting).

When shopping, try to stick to the low to mid-range of your budget. Keep your list of home priorities on hand and focus on must-haves, not bells and whistles. Remember, when it comes to bidding wars, “winning” means buying a home you can comfortably carry, including the down payment, closing costs, mortgage, taxes, utilities and other costs.

How to know when you've saved enough towards a down payment

HELP!

Genworth Canada Fall/Winter 2019 5

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A SNAPSHOT OF CANADIAN FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS (FTBs) AND WHAT’S MOTIVATING THEM

45%

44%

42%

36%

30%

17%

16%

14%

12%

50%Believe owning a home is a wiser financial decision

Wanting to own the home so you are in control of it

Saved enough for a down payment

Became financially confident that I could afford it

Wanted to buy a home now before prices increased further

Disliked renting a home

Getting married/moving in together with partner

Got a new job/raise/bonus

Birth of a child

Spoke to a professional who showed that I could afford it

91%

90%

84%

81%

80%

77%

75%

74%

73%

95%Price

Safe neighbourhood

Size/space of home

Style/design of homeIts value as an investment/take advantage

of rising real estate pricesProximity to work

Reflective of type of neighbourhoodyou want to raise your kids in

Energy efficiency of home

Features/upgrades

Potential to renovate and resell

TOP MOTIVATIONS FOR BUYING INCLUDE FINANCIAL DECISIONS AND WANTING TO BE IN CONTROL OF THEIR HOME

TOP HOME SHOPPING CRITERIA INCLUDE PRICE, SAFETY OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD AND THE SIZE/SPACE OF THE HOME

Those more likely to say they believe owning a home is a wiser financial decision include those in B.C. outside of Vancouver (62%), women over men (54% vs. 46%), those under the age of 30 (57%), and those who bought their home with a spouse/partner (54%).

Those who are more likely to agree price is important include those in Ontario outside of Toronto (98%), women over men (96% vs. 93%), those aged 35+ (96%), and those who bought their home with a spouse/partner (96%).

THE EDGE

6 Genworth Canada Fall/Winter 2019

62%

Increase

18%

Stay the same

12%

Don’t know/not sure

7%

Decrease

JUST OVER SIX IN TEN FTBs FEEL HOUSING PRICES WILL INCREASE IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS

Those who are more likely to say it will stay the same include those who purchased a fully detached home (21%), and those who purchased on their own (21%).

Those more likely to believe home prices will increase include those in Toronto (71%) or B.C. outside of Vancouver (75%), men more than women (65% vs. 60%), new to canada immigrants (71%), and those whose down payment is 20% or more (65%).

A survey of Canadians aged 25-40 who had purchased their first home within the prior two years.*

*A total of 1,893 interviews with Canadians aged 25-40 who had purchased their first home within the prior two years. Online interviewing was completed between February 15 and March 15, 2019. Quotas were set to oversample in urban regions with weighting to bring them into overall national proportions.

FTBs HAVE MUCH STRONGER FINANCIAL FITNESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND THE GAP IS WIDENING

This portion of the study is sponsored in association with the Canadian Association of Credit Counselling Services (financialfitness.ca).

Looking great - Good

37% 49%

859095

100105110115

2015 2016 20182017 2019

98.9 99.5

109.5

100.6

110.8

101.3

111.7

Gap is widening

102.3

FTBGeneral Population (Gen Pop.)

Read the full survey online at Genworth.ca

GENWORTH CANADA 2019 HOMEOWNERSHIPSTUDY

A SNAPSHOT OF CANADIAN FIRST-TIMEHOMEBUYERS (FTBs) AND WHAT’SMOTIVATING THEM.

© 2019 Genworth MI Canada Inc.


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IS THE COMMUTER LIFESTYLE

RIGHT FOR YOU?

Dreaming of Homeownership

Canada’s major cities boast robust employment, yet these real estate markets can be competitive. As a first-time homebuyer, it’s important to determine if you’d rather buy where you work, or house-hunt farther away. According to the Genworth Canada 2019 Homeownership Study, roughly one-third of first-time homebuyers are willing to commute to work, in exchange for more space or a lower home price.

Is commuting right for you? Take our easy quiz to get a quick read on whether you should shut that door or investigate more.

Note your answers to the following questions, tally up your points, and then find your results after the quiz.

DO YOU ENJOY COMMUTING?

a) Yes. I like highway driving and/or I make good use of my time on public transportation.

b) No. I don’t like highway driving or taking public transportation.

c) Sometimes. If highway traffic is smooth or I’ve got a direct train or bus route into the city, I don’t mind it.

of first-time homebuyers would prefer a smaller or more expensive home closer to work, while 32% would prefer a less expensive or larger home farther from work* 48%

DO YOU HAVE TO BE AT WORK NINE TO FIVE,

OR DO YOU HAVE FLEXIBLE WORK HOURS OR LOCATION?

a) I work remotely and set my own hours.

b) I have some flexibility – just not all the time.

c) My work hours and location are inflexible.

1 2

DREAMING OF HOMEOWNERSHIP


SCORING pt(s) = point(s)

a) b) c) Q1: 2 pts 0 pts 1 ptQ2: 2 pts 1 pt 0 ptsQ3: 0 pts 1 pt 2 ptsQ4: 2 pts 0 pts 1 ptQ5: 1 pt 0 pts 2 pts

RESULTS

0-3 points: Your homeownership dreams should not include a commute. Stressors like rush-hour traffic, surprise traffic jams or road closures could leave you with less time to sleep, exercise and do the things you enjoy.

4-6 points: Your homeownership dreams should not include a commute of one hour or more, unless you have a partner who can work closer to home. Enlisting friends and family to help with things like after-school pickups can help you make your routine work.

7-10 points: Your homeownership dreams could include commuting! You’re comfortable finding new ways to meet your priorities. When budgeting, consider how a commute would impact fuel, car insurance and parking costs.

Driving: A Lifestyle Shift

According to Statistics Canada, 12.6 million Canadians commute to work by car. Although the average commute is 24 minutes, seven per cent of car commuters – approximately 854,000 Canadians – travel 60 minutes or more each way. Commuting is a way of life that’s growing across the nation: The total number of car commuters is rising, as is the number who have hour-long (or longer) journeys.

DO YOU HAVE A HECTIC FAMILY LIFESTYLE?

a) Yes. Our days are a blur!

b) Yes. But we can get help from our extended family and friends.

c) No. Our home life is pretty relaxed!

DO YOU FIND IT HARD TO MEET CANADA’S

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES (150 MINUTES OF MODERATE TO VIGOROUS INTENSITY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PER WEEK)?

a) No. I have a physically demanding job and/or I always make time for exercise.

b) Yes. I have no time for the gym, and I drive everywhere because it’s more efficient.

c) Sometimes. I try to stay active by walking during my lunch break and taking the stairs at work.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CHANGES TO

YOUR DAILY PLANS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CONTROL?

a) Life happens: Kids get sick, highways divert, a project requires you to work late. I assess and respond as needed.

b) It’s a huge stressor. I don’t like it when other people or events impact my routine.

c) I’m used to it and always have a Plan B, such as an alternate route to work, an extra gym bag in my car, friends or family to call to pick up my kids, etc.

3

4

5

Study findings in collaboration with

*Source: Genworth Canada 2019 Homeownership Study


First-time homebuyers (FTBs) may find themselves inundated with info once they embark on the first step of the homebuying process: getting pre-approved for a mortgage. They often seek advice from multiple sources. Here’s a rundown of the 12 most common sources for mortgage advice as ranked by FTBs, with tips for assessing which insights may be best for you.

Mortgage broker/specialistGood to know: Mortgage brokers aren’t tied to any one lender, giving them access to more lending institutions and more mortgage products. Mortgage

specialists work for a specific lender, giving them in-depth knowledge of a particular lender’s mortgage products.

Family/friendsGood to know: Word of mouth is a great way to find a mortgage pro or hear about others’ experiences. Just remember that your financial circumstances

may be different from those of your loved ones and friends (buying a first home in the big city versus a retirement

property in the country, for example), so get more than one opinion.

Bank/credit union representativeGood to know: A bank or credit union rep has deep knowledge of their institution’s mortgage products. By consulting with

someone at your home branch, you’ll also benefit from insights that they can glean from considering your entire banking portfolio.

Real estate agentGood to know: Tap into your real estate professional’s industry expertise and connections to find a mortgage pro for your homebuying dream team.

of first-time homebuyers got pre-approved for a mortgage before they started shopping for a home*58%

WHERE TO GET MORTGAGE ADVICE

Financing

13

3

2

77%

69%

69%

75%

tie

tie


FINANCING

Internet (personal finance websites, media)

Good to know: Advice 24-7. Be sure to consult reputable media sources.

Internet (lending institution websites)

Good to know: Compare mortgage products and other need-to-knows at any hour of the day or night. Streamline

your process by booking an in-person consultation online.

Financial planner/adviser (not affiliated with a lending institution)

Good to know: These pros can help you understand how owning a home fits in with your

other important financial goals, like planning for retirement.

Mobile tools (i.e., apps, online calculators, etc.)

Good to know: Smartphone apps provide real-time advice whenever you need it. Check out Genworth Canada’s

HomeOpeners® app, which includes mortgage calculators that can help you gauge affordability – fast.

Builder/developerGood to know: Buying a new-build home or condo is a different process than buying a resale property, so builders and developers are well equipped to

discuss the issues if you attend a model home or sales preview.

Social media (personal finance blogs)

Good to know: Reputable bloggers have a reputation for solid research and professional knowledge of a topic and industry.

Traditional media (newspapers, magazines)

Good to know: Major media outlets hire experts to produce their financial content, without pushing an agenda, or products

via affiliate links. Always check the date of any article to ensure it’s recent, as mortgage qualification rules have changed in recent years.

Attending a local home showGood to know: Plan a visit during off-peak hours if you want to chat with builders or lending institution reps minus the crowds.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Who was your mortgage-info MVP?

Share your tips with us on Twitter or Facebook.

*Source: Genworth Canada 2019 Homeownership Study, ranked in order of the percentage of FTBs who considered them an important source of mortgage information.

4

59%

5

57%

6

43%

7

40%

8

39%

9

37%

tie

4

59%

tie

4

59%

tie




Have you ever thought of becoming a landlord in your own home? If you’re a first-time homeowner, you may want to consider it. A basement apartment or attic suite can generate monthly income to offset your mortgage and homeownership costs, boosting affordability and helping your bottom line.

Done right, an owner-occupied home with a separate unit from the primary residence can be a lifesaver for budget-minded first-timers, particularly in competitive housing markets. Here’s what you need to know upfront.

BUYER BEWARE

Start by consulting local bylaws before embarking on your house hunt, as some municipal occupancy rules may not permit a separate unit from your primary residence.

Also, when viewing properties, don’t assume that a pre-existing apartment is legal. Check to ensure that it is registered with the municipality. To be registered, it must comply with fire code and building code regulations, as well as meet municipal bylaws. If the unit doesn’t qualify, bringing it up to code can be a time-consuming and expensive process.

HOW TO FIND A TENANT-FRIENDLY

HOME

House Hunting

66%

of Vancouverites 58%

of Torontonians and Montrealers

said the potential to rent out some or all of a home was a factor in their purchase decision*


HOUSE HUNTING

TIP #3: OFFER ENSUITE OR ON-SITE LAUNDRYLaundry is a strong selling point – no one wants to trek to the laundromat in the dead of winter. When house hunting, consider the relative merits of ensuite versus on-site laundry. Ensuite is more convenient, as each party has its own private washer-dryer set, though this may not always be possible. A stackable washer-dryer duo is one way to fit ensuite laundry into a small space.

TIP #4: MAX OUT THE STORAGERoomy closets are fantastic, but don’t despair if you don’t see them throughout a home. Keep your eyes peeled for extra storage opportunities. Could you dedicate some space in the attic, garage or storage shed for your tenant’s boxes, bins or bike?

TIP #5: DON’T FORGET CURB APPEALWho doesn’t want to walk up to their front door, thinking, “Wow, am I glad to be home!” You’ll want to make a great first impression by wowing potential tenants with a clean, well-groomed front yard and a tidy, freshly painted porch.

Attract tenants by extending these high standards into the unit itself, whether you are in the market for a turnkey property or you plan to refresh a fixer-upper. Freshly painted walls, gleaming floors and tile, modern appliances, sparkling-clean windows and updated lighting all work together to create an apartment they’ll want to live in.

You can avoid headaches by working with a REALTOR® familiar with this segment of the local housing market. Their expertise will be invaluable in guiding your house hunt and in ensuring the process runs as smoothly as possible. In some cases they will also allow you to post rental listings through them.

BUYING FEATURES

If the idea of having tenants help pay your mortgage appeals to you and you’re willing to do your due diligence, here are five tips for finding a tenant-friendly home:

TIP #1: THINK LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATIONBuying a home in a high-demand location allows you to access a wider pool of qualified tenants. You’ll also be able to earn more in rent, compared with a similar apartment in a less desirable neighbourhood. What makes a location desirable? Safety and convenience. Think about proximity to public transit, shops, recreation, schools, parks and other amenities.

TIP #2: PRIORITIZE CAR AND BIKE PARKINGAlongside access to public transit, parking will be a top-of-mind issue for many potential tenants. A garage, driveway, parking pad or other dedicated spot can help seal the deal, whether you live in the city, suburbs or a rural area.

In many communities, secure bike storage is another in-demand feature. Tenants who commute on two wheels will appreciate access to a garage, porch or gated laneway, where bikes can safely be locked.

*Source: Genworth Canada 2019 Homeownership Study


The Buying Process

FOR ASPIRING FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS

For most Canadians, buying our first home is the biggest investment we’ve ever made. This achievement is the payoff for years of saving, sacrifice and long-term planning. Reflecting on your homeownership motivations is one way to stay focused during the journey. Here are five common motivators that spurred first-time homebuyers (FTBs) in the Genworth Canada 2019 Homeownership Study to take the leap. Can you relate? If so, read on for FTB power moves that can help get you closer to your homeownership goals.

5 POWER MOVES

THE BUYING PROCESS


FTB motivator: Belief that owning a home is financially wiser than rentingPower Move: Trade monthly rent cheques for mortgage

payments that build equity in your own home. Set yourself up for success by hiring a qualified home inspector to flag potential issues in any home you make an offer on. After all, if you need a new roof, that’s going to be on you, not your landlord.

FTB motivator: Wanting to own your home so you are in control of itPower Move: Create a space that’s tailor-made to your

lifestyle, rather than making do with someone else’s design. Genworth Canada’s Purchase Plus Improvements program can help you turn that fixer-upper into your ideal home base by funding improvements immediately after you take possession of the property.

FTB motivator: Saved enough for a down paymentPower Move: Make your savings nest egg hatch faster. The mean down payment made

by FTBs in the Genworth Canada 2019 Homeownership Study was $83,000, or 17.9% of the home’s total cost. Mortgage default insurance allows qualified FTBs to purchase a home with as little as 5% down. Talk to your mortgage professional about how Genworth Canada products can help you achieve the dream of homeownership sooner.

FTB motivator: Became financially confident that you could afford itPower Move: Get into a homeownership frame of

mind. Create a monthly budget that factors in homeownership expenses such as mortgage payments, utilities, home maintenance, condo fees and property taxes, as well as other monthly obligations (debt, child care, transportation, etc.), so you know what you can afford and can make adjustments before you buy.

FTB motivator: Wanted to buy a home now before prices increased furtherPower Move: Buy when you’re ready. Don’t let popular opinion

or local trends scare you into changing course from well-researched plans or timelines. Affordability is about buying a home you can comfortably carry for the long term. Get personalized advice from a REALTOR®, real estate agent, mortgage professional or financial planner. Doing what’s right for you? That’s the ultimate FTB power move!

*Ranked in order of the percentage of FTBs in the Genworth Canada 2019 Homeownership Study who selected these answers to the question “Which of the following were motivations that led you to purchase a home rather than keep living where you were? Select all that apply.”

1

3

2

50%

44%

45%

4

5

42%

36%

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: What motivated you to become an FTB?

Share your story with us on Twitter or Facebook.




There are two types of Purchase Offers: a firm offer, which means you’re willing to buy the home as is, and a conditional offer, which makes your purchase contingent upon certain conditions (criteria) being met.

The most common purchase conditions made by first-time homebuyers relate to home inspections and lender financing approval. Let’s take a look at each.

UNDERSTANDING CONDITIONS ON

HOME OFFERS

Closing & Moving In

You’ve found the right home at the right price…now what?

The next step in the homebuying process

is preparing an Offer to Purchase (a.k.a. Purchase Offer). This legal document outlines the conditions under which you are

offering to buy the seller’s home.

CLOSING & MOVING IN


OFFER TO PURCHASE CONDITIONAL ON HOME INSPECTION Hiring a qualified home inspector to examine a home can help you avoid expensive problems down the road. The inspector will examine many things, including the state of the home’s roof and building foundation, plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning and HVAC system.

If the home inspector identifies any red flags, your conditional offer gives you the option to do any of the following:

• Walk away from the purchase

• Request that the seller makes the necessary repairs

• Try to negotiate a lower purchase price so you can undertake the repairs after taking possession of the home

While buyers in competitive real estate markets may be tempted to waive this condition, it’s better to lose out on a home than buy a money pit you weren’t prepared for.

OFFER TO PURCHASE CONDITIONAL ON FINANCING Did you know that mortgage pre-approval doesn’t actually guarantee you’ll receive the mortgage you’ve been pre-approved for? It’s true. Once you make an offer to buy a home, your lender must approve the property that you are buying which includes validating the purchase price and ensuring the

property meets the lender’s real estate criteria. In order to do this, the lender may utilize different tools such as internal models or sending an appraiser to complete the property assessment. Also, the lender may request supporting documentation, such as income and down payment confirmation, to confirm the information provided on the mortgage application. In the event that any information changes, it may impact the pre-approved mortgage amount.

If the appraisal is at or above your purchase price, that’s great news — you’re good to go!

But if the appraisal is below the purchase price, the lender may offer you a smaller mortgage. Without the conditional offer, you’d be responsible for coming up with the difference between the sale price and the lower-than-expected mortgage loan. Also, because lenders use the appraised value to determine the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio on a mortgage, a lower appraised value could result in a higher LTV – and less favourable mortgage terms, including a higher interest rate. With an offer that’s conditional upon financing, you have the option to back out of the purchase without losing your deposit, as long as you’ve acted in good faith trying to satisfy that condition.

The good news is that a lower appraisal value isn’t an automatic deal killer. If you still want the home, you can always try to renegotiate the purchase price to more closely align with its market value. Thanks to the “out” that the conditional offer provides, you’ve got leverage when it comes to getting the seller back to the bargaining table, so you can get the home you want but at a fairer price.


PROS & CONS OF SETTING UP

A SMARTER HOME

Smart homes are growing in popularity across Canada. From thermostats, lighting and home security devices to vacuums and home entertainment, smart devices can save homeowners time, energy and money while boosting security and helping them feel more at home. But there are trade-offs, too, from startup costs to privacy concerns. Wondering what smart gadgets are right for you? Here’s a look at the pros and cons of six popular devices.

1. Smart speaker What it does: Your smart speaker works as your smart home’s voice-command HQ. Tell it to play your fave Spotify playlist, turn on the garage lights or lower the thermostat to 21°C, and it connects with the appropriate platform to get it done.

Pros: Convenience; energy savings; beneficial for those with restricted mobility.

Cons: Cost; security (if hackers access your accounts, they can wreak havoc by accessing smart devices such as door locks, security cameras and your home alarm system).

TOOLBOX


SECURITY TIP Foil hackers by opting for two-step authentication on any accounts that offer it. This ensures that new devices won’t be able to access the account without entering a unique code that will be sent to your trusted device (i.e., smartphone or personal laptop). Even if they know your password, hackers will be locked out. Smart, right?

2. Robot vacuumWhat it does: It cleans your floors so you don’t have to. These vacuums run on a programmed schedule, or via smartphone app or voice command.

Pros: Convenience; vacuums under the bed and in those hard-to-reach places we often skip; entertainment value (the internet has a trove of fun pet-robot vacuum videos).

Cons: For the best results, occasional re-vacuuming may be required; some pets dislike robot vacuums; small dust canister may require frequent emptying.

3. Smart LED light bulbsWhat they do: Smart bulbs retrofit existing lights and lamps so they can be controlled remotely by voice command, smartphone app or motion detection – no need to upgrade your fixtures or wall switches.

Pros: Energy savings; convenience; security.

Cons: If used without a smart home network, smart bulbs are dependent on Wi-Fi, which means responsiveness will vary depending on your home Wi-Fi speed.

4. Smart home- security camerasWhat they do: This group of products includes indoor and outdoor cameras, and nursery monitors, to see and record what’s happening when you’re away or in another room.

Pros: Security; peace of mind; convenience (check who’s at the door so you can ignore salespeople – or rush over for your pizza delivery!).

Cons: Hackers can take over your cameras, allowing them to watch you; the best way to prevent this is to create strong passwords for your cameras and Wi-Fi network.

5. Smart thermostatWhat it does: A step up from a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat will adapt to your heating and cooling habits, programming itself so you don’t have to. Geofencing and optional occupancy sensors help manage climate control in real time.

Pros: Energy savings; no need to re-program the thermostat if your schedule changes.

Cons: A basic programmable thermostat may be all you need if you have a predictable schedule or don’t mind manual adjustments.

6. Smart plug-in outletWhat it does: Got a lamp, fan or small appliance that’s not a smart device? Plug it into this converter to put it on a schedule, or control it via voice command or smartphone app.

Pros: If you constantly worry that you left the hair straightener or clothing iron on, this plug can bring the peace of mind that’s been eluding you.

Cons: Costs can add up over the entire home; choose a slim model that won’t block both spots on an electrical outlet.


In addition to the playhouses, Genworth Canada provided Habitat with a generous donation of $20,000 to support its build fund, which helps to expand affordable housing within the community. “[Habitat] is our charity of choice,” explains Stuart Levings, Genworth Canada President and CEO. “We’re involved in putting people in homes, and that’s exactly what they do too. I always take great pride in knowing that we, as a company, can give back to such a meaningful cause.”

Genworth Canada proudly hosted the second annual Playhouse Build Challenge in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga this past June, as part of a month-long campaign of giving back to communities across Canada. More than 80 Genworth Canada employees in Oakville, Ontario, volunteered for this unique corporate event to build seven children’s playhouses for local charities.

A Habitat build that’s more than just child’s play

COMMUNITY


The Playhouse Build Challenge saw volunteers from across the organization come together, putting in over 600 hours of creativity and heart into building something incredible for local children’s charities. Seven teams of 10 members each worked tirelessly over two days to build and decorate the playhouses, while additional volunteers hosted an employee barbecue to celebrate the successful build. “This year we decided to bring teams together from different departments. Frankly, it just proves the point that when we collaborate, we do better,” says Levings.

The playhouses each had a different theme. Among the seven playhouses were a tropical retreat, a space-age rocket and a little gamer’s dream house. Six of the unique playhouses have been donated to non-profit children’s organizations throughout Halton Region. And that seventh playhouse? A coffee shop equipped with a full drive-through window which will be auctioned off this fall as part of Genworth’s annual United Way fundraising campaign, creating yet another positive ripple throughout the community.


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