We are a couple of Indian origin with two baby daughters, PR since 2013 (we got PR within short time of applying probably because we volunteer heavily). Submitted documents for citizenship in June 2016. We were informed that we should check back for the outcome "sometime after June 2017", which is a very vague timeline. Last week, we received an email from an ICA officer requesting for an appendix authorization form for financial information verification.
Meanwhile, we were finalizing on a home purchase. The timing is right since our rental lease ends in August, and it takes about 4 months for transfer of home ownership. We have very specific criteria, and it is hard (not impossible) to find a property match. The property we are interested in is priced right, and so it will not be available if we wait any longer. But the general prediction is that property prices will continue to decline until end of 2018.
Due to the email from ICA, I have gotten hopeful of an outcome (+ve or -ve) on citizenship soon, and in case of a +ve result, we can save on the 5% ABSD. Husband wants to proceed with home purchase regardless, since he says there is no point in paying rent for an indefinite period of time until ICA gets back.