Eager to learn - from Toronto and looking to leave!

[Colin Davis]

I am born-and-raised in the incredibly expensive city of Toronto and am looking to buy my first home outside of the city in the next two years.  My initial thoughts are to get a second job as a labourer in some sort of renovation capacity in order to help build up enough for a down payment on a multi-family (3-4 unit) in somewhere like Pembroke, a small city with affordable multis and limited rentals available.

My partner is from Norther Ontario, so I wouldn't be opposed to going up North, which I understand is even more affordable.

Does anyone have any advice for Canada-specific first-time home buyers?  Any good books?  Is it still possible for us to pay 5% down on our first live-in multi or is that something exclusively American?

Cheers!

Colin