I loved my apartment in Toronto.

It was in Bloor West Village, on the second floor of a walk-up above two markets and cost $610 a month. I was on the subway line and close to plenty of nature space.

It originally cost $500 per month (all inclusive) when I moved in after university and at that price there was one resounding message from people I knew: “Never leave.”

And I didn’t plan to. I stayed for almost 13 years.

I never valued home ownership. Plenty of people thrive in apartments without the features of a piece of property. I figured odds were stacked against me, anyway, as property values kept rising and rules were making it harder.

But life’s circumstances changed my plans.

For years, my mom proudly said her old age plans included a “granny cottage” near one of her kids when she retired. For personal reasons, she needed it to come soon.

I asked her to wait a year. But it didn’t take long to realize other considerations would benefit by going forward now. The turning point came when I got word my landlord had sold the building. It was time to make the decision to move before it was made for me.

Mom and I agreed to look for a duplex, or multi-unit home, in Hamilton. We talked about what was important to us, including separate entrances and maintaining our independence from each other. My unit would be bigger, so I could grow into it, while hers would be smaller because she wanted to downsize. We then made two lists: a house must-have” and “would-be-nice-to-have,” and agreed to stick to it.

I thought suitable properties would be hard to come by but websites with house listings allowed us to narrow our search to our exact specifications in the $650,000 or less range.

We weren’t totally a two-person party. We accepted a lot of advice for the most daunting step: getting a mortgage.

The first thing we learned was that combining our resources made a lot of sense. Making an application together meant we would pass the mortgage stress test and, because we had equity, we had more than 20 per cent for a down payment — around $86,000 on the property we later found. This qualified us for a 30-year amortization with 3.37 per cent interest rate, bringing the monthly payment down to less than the cost of most two-bedroom apartments in Toronto.

The Land Transfer Tax was significantly less because I’m a first-time homeowner and a 99 per cent owner on our new property. We also saved fees in porting my mother’s current mortgage and were able to pay off all other debts.

There was plenty to do and learn. I dug into house insurance features, made calls to credit reporting agencies to correct previously unknown inaccuracies and met with a financial planner who advised on some additional mortgage details.

We toured 10 houses in five weeks.

One had a pool but needed a basement renovation. One had a basement only accessible from outside. We made a conditional offer on another, but a home inspection revealed major issues. That was a lesson: always get an inspection.

A listing for “the one” landed in our inboxes at what felt like the eleventh hour.

The brick home with wood panelling, in west Hamilton mountain, is unique and cottage-like, bordered by cedar trees. It is in a quiet neighbourhood near the escarpment, and has original features paired with modern upgrades. It is close to amenities, transit, hiking trails and bike lanes.

The sale itself happened quickly. We saw the house on a Wednesday night, our conditional offer of $510,000 was accepted on Thursday and by Saturday afternoon all parties were satisfied, and I signed to make it official.

We moved in this past April. I can host large groups in my unit, while my mom has the large craft room she wanted in hers. The first thing I hung was a print of my new neighbourhood, a gift from friends that coincidentally matched a print I had of my last neighbourhood.

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The sellers, a generous couple, had been in the house for 41 years and left many things they couldn’t take into their new condo — including a full workbench and packed tool shed. Talk about being set up for success: who gets their first house and doesn’t need to buy a rake or a shovel?

When I packed up my perfect, underpriced apartment in Toronto, I thought I would cry. I didn’t. I felt lucky — privileged — for our shared plan and how things have worked out. I was happy to hand over the apartment keys to someone else needing their start.

I admit I have missed the quick and easy access I had to my best friend and her son in Willowdale, breweries in the Junction, restaurants in Parkdale and the bike path on the Martin Goodman Trail.

But when my GO train from work rolls towards Hamilton, and I see the harbour on my left and Cootes Paradise on my right, I’m excited to be home. And I know I made the right choice.

Advice for new home buyers

Accept help from family and friends. They are your lifeline.

Buy a notebook. Be prepared for a lot of information.

Pull your credit report before your mortgage application is made. There may be inaccuracies and it takes time to have them fixed.

Ask your questions, even if they seem stupid.

Realtors have recommendations for service providers, including lawyers and contractors. Take their suggestions but research other options.

Always get a second opinion — from mortgage providers to moving companies.

Home inspections are a must and can save you thousands of dollars.

Buy and Sell groups on social media sites are vital to get that extra chair when your budget is tight, or to get rid of unneeded furniture.