Tell us your best tips, advice, or experience that can help inspire other home buyers - and you could win 10,000 AIR MILES® reward miles!

Finding the right home is kind of like finding a soulmate.

You have a list of desired qualities and a list of absolute deal-breakers, there are highs and lows and maybe even a little heartbreak along the way. And though every property will have its own charm - sometimes, you just know when you’ve found the right one.

To celebrate the house hunt in all its ups and downs, BMO SmartSteps for Homeowners is hosting a contest to win over 10,000 AIR MILES reward miles! That’s like flying round trip from Toronto to Miami or from Vancouver to Los Angeles, with enough reward miles left over to redeem for merchandise items for your new house!**

Whether you’re in the market now or have already found the home of your dreams, tell us your story. What are, or were, you looking for? Why now, or why then? What have been your biggest triumphs and stumbles? Get 100 AIR MILES reward miles just by submitting your story and photo to House.Hunter@bmo.com by October 9, 2011. Earn another 1,500 AIR MILES reward miles if your story is posted on our BMO SmartSteps for Homeowners blog. The best storyteller will receive 10,000 AIR MILES reward miles as the grand prize! (And here's just what 10,000 AIR MILES® reward miles can get you).

We all know that there’s nothing better than a Home-Sweet-Home, but whether used for a vacation (to reward yourself for all your hard work) or new equipment and tools for a brand new living space, 10,000 AIR MILES reward miles will make the process of finding it even sweeter.

Read our eight Great House Hunter Finalists:

• Finalist #1: Tiffany Henschel


• Finalist #2: Lorraine Mayer


• Finalist #3: Jillian Ferguson


• Finalist #4: Erika Harris


• Finalist #5: Jonathan Dahan


• Finalist #6: Janin Blanchet


• Finalist #7: Laura Mitchell


• Finalist #8: Adele Kirwer

So email House.Hunter@bmo.com with your house hunting story and photo and enter the BMO SmartSteps for Homeowners Great House Hunter contest! Learn more about the rules and regulations for the contest here.

In the meantime, follow @BMOSmartSteps on Twitter, check out our Facebook page, and read these BMO SmartSteps for Homeowners articles for useful information to help those already on the hunt!

• Finding the Home That’s Right for You


• Key Questions to Consider When You’re Buying a New Home - Part 1


• Key Questions to Consider When You’re Buying a New Home - Part 2


• Condo vs. House

Happy hunting!

*No purchase necessary. Open to all legal residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) who (at the time of entry): (i) have reached the age of majority in their province/territory of residence; and (ii) have an AIR MILES®* Collector Card. To enter, send an email to House.Hunter@bmo.com that contains (among other things) a story that discusses your “house hunting” experience and one (1) optional photograph to accompany your story. Prizes: Eight (8) Finalist Prizes (1,500 AIR MILES reward miles each); one (1) Grand Prize (10,000 AIR MILES reward miles); and two hundred and fifty (250) Entry Prizes (100 AIR MILES reward miles). The approximate value of AIR MILES reward miles prize depends on the chosen method of redemption and available reward options at the time of redemption. Odds depend on the number, calibre and timing of eligible entries received. Skill-testing question required for Entry Prize. Full rules at: www.bmo.com/greathousehuntercontestrulesandregs. ** All Rewards offered are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the AIR MILES Reward Program, are subject to change and may be withdrawn without notice. Some restrictions may apply. Quantities may be limited. Collectors must pay taxes, fuel surcharges and other applicable charges and fees on air, hotel and car rental Rewards. Travel Rewards may be subject to a minimum advance booking and availability from participating Suppliers. Merchandise rewards include all taxes, shipping and handling costs. No cancellations, exchange or refunds for tickets, certificates or merchandise once booked or ordered. Manufacturers’ warranties apply to merchandise Rewards. LoyaltyOne, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied. For complete details, see current Program Terms and Conditions available at airmiles.ca or the AIR MILES Customer Care Centre at 1-888-AIR MILES (in Toronto (416) 226-5171). ®*™* Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Inc. and Bank of Montreal