Mortgage Blog
Are Lenders Obligated to Renew Mortgages?
It's a common held belief that if you've made your mortgage payments on time throughout the entirety of your mortgage term, that your lender is somehow obligated to renew your mortgage. This is simply not the case. The truth is, a lender is never under any obligation...
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5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Investing in a Small(er) Home
The larger home is not always the better home. Yes, there still exists a large group of individuals who enjoy owning a grand estate, complete with all the modern conveniences, in addition to everything you could ever want; and of course, there’s nothing inherently...
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Mortgages – So Much More Than Just the Lowest Rate!
There aren't too many Canadians who are able to save up enough money to pay cash for their home. This is why we have mortgages. A mortgage is a loan made to assist a borrower to purchase a property. The property is held as collateral and interest is charged on the...
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Bank of Canada Rate Announcement May 30th, 2018
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1¼ per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1½ per cent and the deposit rate is 1 per cent. Global economic activity remains broadly on track with the Bank’s April Monetary Policy Report (MPR)...
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Homebuyers: Avoid These Common Mortgage Pitfalls
A home is the largest purchase most people will make in their lives. That should reinforce the importance of planning ahead, doing your research, relying on the advice of experts and not rushing through the process. With nearly 700,000 homes purchased in Canada each...
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3 Misconceptions About Reverse Mortgages in Canada
One of the benefits of working with an independent mortgage professional is choice when it comes to mortgage product. When you work with a single bank or financial institution, you are limited to the products they offer. When you deal with a mortgage broker, you gain...
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The State of Mortgage Consumers
Mortgage consumer debt reached a record level in the second quarter of 2017, yet mortgage holders have proven capable of managing their increasing monthly obligations. That’s according to CMHC’s recently released Mortgage and Consumer Credit Trends report, which said...
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Latest Mortgage Stats | 2018
There have been a number of reports released over the past few weeks that have provided some interesting insight into the state of the housing and mortgage markets. New reports have touched on everything from 2018 renewal rates, foreign buyer statistics and credit...
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Avoid This Mistake When Shopping for a House
No doubt about it, buying a home is an emotional experience. It's a game of balancing needs and wants, while trying to be honest with yourself about those very needs and wants. It's hard to get it right, figuring out what's negotiable and what isn't... what you can...
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Bank of Canada Rate Announcement April 18th, 2018
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1 ¼ per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 ½ per cent and the deposit rate is 1 per cent. Inflation in Canada is close to 2 per cent as temporary factors that have been weighing on...
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The Benefits of Consulting a Mortgage Broker
Navigating the real estate and mortgage processes with the help of an expert mortgage broker can help set your mind at ease when making one of the largest financial decisions of your life. Mortgage brokers negotiate with lenders on behalf of borrowers daily, so they...
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How Interest Rates are Like Gas Prices
Have you ever noticed that just like gas prices, interest rates seem to go up and down for no reason at all? How come it feels like right before you are ready to buy a property, rumours of interest rate changes will start to flood the media? Or why do gas prices...
read moreBuying Your First Home in Canada
What Newcomers Need to know! The reason I have a blog and share information is to educate my clients and prospective clients about mortgages. Obviously there is a lot to know about mortgages, financing, and buying property, and there are a lot of great ways for me to...
read moreEmptying the Nest: How Parents are Helping their Kids Buy Homes
For parents who have the means to help their kids buy a home in today’s pricey environment, gifting money towards a down payment is one of the best way to do it. In February 2018, the Financial Post ran a story about adults still living with their parents. The figures...
read moreA Conversation About Mortgage Pre-approvals
Thinking of buying a property, but don't know where to start? Well... that's where a mortgage pre-approval comes in. Start here. Just like you wouldn't go into a restaurant without having enough money to buy your meal, so you shouldn't start shopping for a home...
read moreBank of Canada Rate Announcement Mar 7th, 2018
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1 1/4 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/2 per cent and the deposit rate is 1 per cent. Global growth remains solid and broad-based. In the United States, new government spending and...
read moreCan I Get a Mortgage with No Downpayment?
The simple answer to this question is no. In order to secure mortgage financing in Canada you have to come up with at least a 5% downpayment.Now, if you haven't set aside the 5% for a downpayment in your savings account, that is okay. There are still a few ways to get...
read moreWhat’s Driving Canadian Homebuyers?
Mortgage rule changes and increasing interest rates—surprisingly—weren’t the top motivators for prospective homebuyers in 2017, according to a new survey from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Instead, the 2018 Prospective Home Buyers Survey found...
read moreBudget 2018 | British Columbia
The BC Government released Budget 2018 today. As it relates to housing, the government made changes to the foreign buyers tax, and added a new speculation tax. Foreign Buyers Tax - This is really an enhancement to the tax that is already in place, effective Wednesday,...
read more4 Reasons Why Vinyl is a Must For Any Home Theatre System
After decades of being hidden away in second hand stores, basements and crawl spaces, vinyl, in all its nostalgic glory, is back! Store shelves are being stocked with records (both the oldies as well as the new stuff); and the internet is abuzz with old school “LP”...
read moreWhat You Can Expect When Locking in a Variable Rate
If you have a variable rate mortgage, and recent economic news has you thinking about locking into a fixed rate, here is what you can expect will happen. Firstly, your lender will be very happy as they will now make considerably more money off you. Not only will your...
read moreFinding Certainty in Uncertain Times
If you listen to the radio, watch the news on TV, read the newspaper, go on Facebook, browse the internet, or talk with people, even a little, chances are you've been inundated with uncertainty. The uncertainty of it all is what sells papers... or ads on the internet,...
read moreThinking of Selling? Costs You Should Know About!
Often times it's the simple math that will betray you when selling a property. In your head you do quick calculations, you take what you think your property will sell for and then subtract what you owe on your mortgage, and the rest is your profit! Well... not so...
read moreChanging Interest Rates January 2018
Over the last couple of weeks, you've no doubt heard that interest rates have been on the move. Most fixed rate products have seen a small increase in rate, while just last week the Bank of Canada announced an increase that impacted the prime lending rate. So if you...
read moreBank of Canada Rate Announcement Jan 17th, 2018
The Bank of Canada today increased its target for the overnight rate to 1 1/4 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/2 per cent and the deposit rate is 1 per cent. Recent data have been strong, inflation is close to target, and the economy is operating roughly...
read more9 Quick Tips on Finding a Great REALTOR®
So, you want to buy a home. Or maybe you want to sell your home. Either way, working with a real estate professional or REALTOR® is a really good idea. But with all the agents out there competing to earn your business, how do you find the right one? Here is a quick...
read moreThe New Year is a Great Time to Review Your Mortgage!
Happy New Year, 2018 is here! If you're anything like me, you're looking to set some goals to make some real progress this coming year! I can't help you with your goals in the gym, but I can help with your financial goals. so let's talk about why now is as good of a...
read moreThe Year That Was and the Year to Come
2017 is in the rear view mirror and the road to 2018 is directly in front of us! As starting a new year is a great time to gain some perspective, let's reflect on some of the changes brought about this last year in the Canadian housing and mortgage market, and maybe...
read moreHappy Holidays 2017!
I'm going to be taking a short blog holiday over the Christmas season and will resume publishing new content in January of 2018. If you need to reach me for any reason, please don't hesitate to contact me anytime! Hope you have an incredible remainder of...
read moreFall Survey Highlights Stress Test Fallout
OSFI’s forthcoming stress test for all uninsured mortgages after January 1 will have far-reaching effects across the mortgage industry, potentially removing up to 50,000 buyers from the real estate market each year. That’s one of many key findings from Mortgage...
read moreBank of Canada Rate Announcement Dec 6th, 2017
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent. The global economy is evolving largely as expected in the Bank’s October Monetary Policy...
read more10 Tested, Proven Ways to Become Less Productive
Let’s face it: while there is an abundance of articles on how to become more productive, there aren’t a lot on becoming less productive. With that in mind, I decided to put this article together. While it’s helpful to focus on how to get more done every day, it can...
read moreCan I Give Someone The Downpayment to Buy My House?
Although it might not always be this straightforward, the question "Can I give someone the downpayment to buy my house?" presents itself in many different ways. And the answer to all of them is no, well... except in one circumstance, but we will get to that later....
read moreGetting on the Property Ladder
As property prices continue to rise across Canada, the conversation around "how to climb the property ladder" has made a subtle shift to "how to get on the property ladder in the first place." Especially if you're single. Whereas before it was assumed anyone would...
read moreTop Dollar: How High Can You Go?
Affordability is a major concern for today’s aspiring first-time homebuyers. In hot real estate markets like the Greater Toronto and Greater Vancouver regions, however, the desire for affordability can be challenged by the competitive fervour caused by escalating...
read moreBuying A Home, The 30,000 Foot View
Did you know that the average Canadian will spend roughly 11 months actively engaged in the house buying process? However, most of the dreaming (and preparation) happens before then. Buying a home is a big deal, and it's a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly....
read moreBe More Productive with the Rule of 3
This article was originally published on LinkedIn by Chris Bailey on Oct 28th 2015. Chris is a self-proclaimed Jedi Master at A Life of Productivity where he blogs about being productive. For Some Strange Reason, Our Brain is Wired to Think in Threes. As kids, we grow...
read moreI’ve Never Heard of That Lender Before?
One of the benefits of working with an independent mortgage professional; compared to getting your mortgage through a single institution, is choice. And as there are even more mortgage rules coming into place January 1st 2018, (read about them here) now more than...
read moreBank of Canada Rate Announcement Oct 25th, 2017
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent. Inflation has picked up in recent months, as anticipated in the Bank’s July Monetary Policy...
read more3 Reasons Canadian Mortgage Rates Will Never Hit 5%
High borrowing rates are a relic. Canadian regulators may soon force borrowers to qualify at interest rates two percentage points above the contract rate. With many posted mortgage rates now approaching and even surpassing 3.00% (depending on the term), this means...
read moreWhat you Need to Know About the Latest Mortgage Rule Changes
If you've tuned into the news today, you've probably heard that there are new mortgage rules coming into effect on January 1st. 2018. Over the next week you'll most likely hear a lot of commentary on whether these rules are good, bad, necessary, or unnecessary. And no...
read moreReasons You Might Need an Emergency Fund
You’ve heard the horror stories: basement floods gone wrong, cars that randomly stop running, or a pal suddenly losing their job. Perhaps you’re the type of person who thinks “that will never happen to me!” when hearing one of these stories, but the cold reality is...
read moreUsing Common Spending Habits to Accelerate Mortgage Repayment
Whether you are looking to save a downpayment for your first home or you would like to pay down your existing mortgage just a little more quickly, the secret to getting ahead might just be in managing your spending habits. Nestwealth, a Canadian wealth management...
read moreHow Does Your Credit Score Hold Up?
In an article released by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), it appears that those people who have a mortgage tend to be a little more credit worthy compared to those who don't. It also points out that credit scores are quite steady across Canada. ...
read morePayment Frequency, Does it Really Make a Difference?
It has been said that there are two certainties in life; death and taxes. Well, as it relates to your mortgage, the single certainty is that you will pay back what you borrowed, plus interest. However, how you make your mortgage payments, the payment frequency, is...
read moreThink Housing is Your Biggest Expense? Think Again!
Oftentimes people assume that housing is our single biggest expense, and although that was true in 1961, times have changed! According to research done by the Fraser Institute, last year the average Canadian family spent more on taxes than housing, food, and clothing...
read more7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Building a Home
Building your dream home can sound really exciting, but have you thought about everything that goes into building a new home?Here are 7 Questions you should ask yourself before making any concrete plans!1. What are my expectations with this new home?Are you looking...
read moreImpacting Small Business – The Latest Tax Code Update:
Here is what you need to know about the latest moves by the federal government as it pertains to the tax code. Originally published on the Mortgage Professionals Canada website, the following article summarizes the proposed changes and outlines how you can make your...
read moreBank of Canada Rate Announcement Sept 6th, 2017
The following is the Bank of Canada rate announcement released this morning, if you have any questions about what this rate increase means for you and your mortgage, please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime. If you’re a fixed rate mortgage holder, this change...
read moreMom and Dad to the Rescue
With housing affordability declining across Canada, one trend is on the rise: parents are increasingly helping their adult children when it comes to housing. That assistance is coming in the form of cash gifts/loans for today’s growing down payments, and also from...
read moreYou Just Got a Mortgage. Now What?
Mortgages are a funny thing. On the one hand they allow you to become a home owner without saving up enough money to purchase the home outright, which is a really good thing. On the other hand, even at today's really low interest rates, as they are amortized over a...
read moreWhat is Bridge Financing?
Let's say you have a home that you've outgrown, it's time to make a move to something more suited for your family. You have no desire to keep two houses, so you decide that selling your existing home, and moving into something new is the best idea. Ideally, when...
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