Mortgage Blog
Your Work Makes You Happier Than You Think
While we may think we dislike our work, research shows we’re considerably less happy doing nothing. The great paradox of working for a living, according to a recent longread by Derek Thompson for The Atlantic, is “that while many people hate their jobs, they are...
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Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Dec 5th, 2018
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1 ¾ per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 2 per cent and the deposit rate is 1 ½ per cent. The global economic expansion is moderating largely as expected, but signs are emerging that trade...
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Spousal Buyout Mortgage?
If you happen to be going through, or considering a divorce or separation, you might not be aware that there are mortgage products designed to allow you to refinance your property in order to buyout your ex-spouse. For most couples, their property is their largest...
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Deposit vs Downpayment
As part of the mortgage and real estate processes, there’s a lot of confusion around the differences between the deposit and the downpayment. It's important to understand what sets them apart so you don’t get confused when it’s time to secure financing on a property...
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I Missed a Credit Card Payment… Now What?
If you've missed a payment on your credit card (or line of credit) and you're wondering how this will impact your creditworthiness down the road, this article is for you. But before we get started, if you have an overdue balance on any of your credit cards at this...
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Don’t Assume Anything!
A lot of people get into hot water when they assume that because they've qualified for a mortgage in the past, they will qualify for a mortgage in the future. This article has one point to make and it's this: Don't assume anything when dealing with mortgage financing!...
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Should You Keep a Small Balance on Your Credit Card?
Recently the good people over at Nest Wealth published an article called "The Worst Money Advice We've Ever Heard". On the list was "Always keep a small balance on your credit card". What they have to say on the subject is spot on: Someone, somewhere, starting telling...
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Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Oct 24th, 2018
The Bank of Canada today increased its target for the overnight rate to 1 ¾ per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 2 per cent and the deposit rate is 1 ½ per cent. The global economic outlook remains solid. The US economy is especially robust and is expected to...
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Can’t Find the Perfect Property In Your Price Range?
You're pre-approved for a mortgage, you've been shopping with location in mind, but unfortunately the perfect property isn't jumping out at you. There is no doubt about it, finding the perfect property (within your price range) is a difficult task, especially for...
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5 Things You Need to Know Before You Co-Sign a Mortgage!
So you're thinking about co-signing for a mortgage? Okay, do you really know what that means do you know what you are getting yourself into? Co-signing isn't necessarily a bad thing, but there is certainly a lot of misinformation floating around on the subject....
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Benefits of Homeownership Reaffirmed in New Study
Despite deteriorating housing affordability across the country, buying a home is still the more affordable option when compared to renting. A new report from Mortgage Professionals Canada has determined that, despite the rapid rise in home prices, those who are able...
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Minimum Required Credit Profile
Credit. The ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future. When you borrow money to buy a house, you will be required to prove that you have a good history of managing your credit. But what...
read moreHow to Not Qualify for a Mortgage
If you have no desire at all to qualify for a mortgage, here are some great ways to make sure you don't accidentally end up buying a house and taking out a mortgage to do so. One of the best ways to ensure you won't qualify for a mortgage is to be unemployed. Yep,...
read moreOnline Mortgage Calculators, Can You Trust Them?
You'd think an online calculator is a pretty straight forward device, one that you should be able to place your full confidence in, and for the most part they are. Calculators calculate numbers, the numbers are reliable, but how you interpret those numbers... not so...
read moreBank of Canada Rate Announcement Sept 5th, 2018
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1 ½ per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 ¾ per cent and the deposit rate is 1 ¼ per cent. CPI inflation moved up to 3 per cent in July. This was higher than expected, in large part...
read moreEmployment Status | How it Impacts Your Mortgage Application
Chances are, if you're applying for a mortgage, you feel confident about the state of your current employment, or your ability to find a similar position if you needed to. However, your actual employment status probably means more to the lender than you might think....
read moreAs Simple as Porting Your Mortgage!
As simple as porting your mortgage! Said by no one ever. The truth is, there is nothing simple about porting your mortgage. "Porting your mortgage" involves transferring the remainder of your existing mortgage term, outstanding principal balance, and interest rate to...
read moreIs the Housing Market Turning a Corner?
While Vancouver area home sales are still posting year-over-year declines, signs are appearing in the Greater Toronto Area that the worst of the housing correction is now over. Experts say that likely won’t be enough to stave off a slowdown in national GDP growth,...
read moreImproving Your Credit Score
Along with employment stability, and downpayment/equity, your credit score and how you manage your credit is a huge factor in qualifying for a mortgage. If you want the best interest rates available on the market, the higher your credit score the better. However, if...
read moreMortgage Post Bankruptcy
This should come as no surprise, but sometimes life throws you a financial curveball. Bankruptcy and consumer proposals happen. It doesn't mean your life is over, and it doesn't mean you won't ever qualify for a mortgage again. The key here is to get a plan in place...
read moreThinking of Selling? Call Me First!
If you've been thinking about selling your existing property, for whatever reason, it would be in your best interest to give me a call before you list for sale. Here are a few scenarios that explain why... Buying a New Property! You have to live somewhere! If you plan...
read moreMore Flexibility for Self-Employed Home Buyers, Coming Soon!
Over the last few years, it's been more a story about tightening rules and regulations, mitigating risk, and restricting lending practices than anything. However the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) just announced that it looks like mortgage financing...
read moreIs Right Now a Good Time to Buy?
If you've been thinking about buying a new home; whether that be your first home, your next home, your forever home, or your retirement home, the doom and gloom of it all might be causing you to question... is right now a good time to buy a home? Well... what if I...
read moreBank of Canada Rate Announcement July 11th, 2018
The Bank of Canada today increased its target for the overnight rate to 1 ½ per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 ¾ per cent and the deposit rate is 1 ¼ per cent. The Bank expects the global economy to grow by about 3 ¾ per cent in 2018 and 3 ½ per cent in...
read moreHousing Market Insight | June 2018 Report
If you've ever wondered about what motivating factors are considered by Canadians, driving them to buy homes, here is a recent report released by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) that takes a look at our major metropolitan centres. Here are some of...
read moreIn the Middle of a 10 Year Term? You Have Options!
If you bought a house, or had a mortgage renew roughly five years ago, there's a chance the struggling economy and the relatively low interest rate environment (at the time) influenced you to "play it safe" and lock in a mortgage term for the next ten years. Because,...
read moreNew Construction Assignment
One of the benefits of working with an independent mortgage professional is having lots of great financing options! Rather than dealing with a single lender who has one set of products, brokers work with multiple lenders who offer a wide selection of mortgage...
read moreAre 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...
read more5 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...
read moreMortgages – 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...
read moreBank 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)...
read moreHomebuyers: 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...
read more3 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...
read moreThe 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...
read moreLatest 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...
read moreAvoid 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...
read moreBank 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...
read moreThe 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...
read moreHow 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...
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