Mortgage Blog
Is 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...
Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Oct 30th, 2019
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1 ¾ percent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 2 percent and the deposit rate is 1 ½ percent. The outlook for the global economy has weakened further since the Bank’s July Monetary Policy Report...
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...
4 Ways Alternative Lending Beats Traditional Bank Financing
Alternative lending refers to lending practices that fall outside the normal banking channels. These are lenders that think outside the box and offer lending solutions to Canadians who wouldn’t otherwise qualify for traditional bank products. Although we all like to...
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...
Should I Get A Mortgage Pre-Approval?
Should I get a Mortgage Pre Approval? Going through the pre-approval process is important. However, the actual term ‘pre-approval’ is often misunderstood. It’s not magic, and it’s certainly not binding. Let’s be clear, a pre-approval isn’t for the lender; it’s for...
In 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,...
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...
What You Should Know About the Government’s New FTHB Incentive
Launched on September 2nd 2019, the first time home buyer’s incentive is designed to help qualified first time home buyers reduce their monthly expenses. The goal is to make housing more affordable. The government of Canada has set aside $241M for the program and has...
Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Sept 4th, 2019
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1 ¾ percent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 2 percent and the deposit rate is 1 ½ percent. As the US-China trade conflict has escalated, world trade has contracted and business investment has...
Urban “Off the Grid”
You're on "the grid" Every few weeks, we open our mailboxes (or our email inboxes) with bated breath. Inevitably, we find another heap of utility bills, waiting to separate us from our hard earned dollars. This is not unusual; this is simply part of life for most...
Costs Associated with Buying a Property
So you want to buy a property, that’s great! Make sure you have your wallet ready to bring to the table. In addition to the downpayment, there are many other costs associated with purchasing a home; typically, these are called closing costs. Your closing costs...
Planning Ahead, A Guide to Mortgage Documentation
It doesn’t matter if you are looking to purchase your first home, your next home, or your twentieth home; typically the mortgage documentation required to secure financing will be the same. The earlier on in the process you can collect these documents, and provide...
Protecting Your Credit Through a Divorce
No secret here, divorces are challenging, there are a lot of things to think about in a short amount of time. Although finances are often at the forefront of the discussions as it relates to the separation of assets, managing and maintaining personal credit can be...
The Interest-Only Mortgage
Relatively self-explanatory, an interest-only mortgage is one where your entire mortgage payment goes to interest and does not pay down the principal mortgage amount at all. So at the end of your term, you will owe the same amount as when you got your mortgage. So you...
Maternity/Parental Leave, and Qualifying for a Mortgage
So your family is growing! Congratulations! If you’ve thought now is the time to find a new property to accommodate your growing family, but you’re unsure how your maternity or parental leave will impact your ability to get a mortgage, you’ve come to the right place!...
Mortgage Options Into Retirement
Although it’s ideal to have your mortgage paid off by the time you retire, in today’s economy, that isn’t always possible. The cost of living is considerably higher than it has ever been, and as a result, a lot of Canadians are putting off retirement, hoping to make...
Bank of Canada Rate Announcement July 10th, 2019
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1 ¾ percent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 2 percent and the deposit rate is 1 ½ percent. Evidence has been accumulating that ongoing trade tensions are having a material effect on the global...
Why The Property Matters
When looking to qualify for a mortgage, typically a lender will want to review four main areas of your mortgage application. Income, credit, downpayment/equity and the property itself. Assuming you have a great job, excellent credit, and sufficient money in the bank...
Using Your RRSP To Help Buy A Home
Did you know that you can use your RRSP to help buy a home? In fact, you can, it’s called the RRSP Home Buyer’s Plan (or HBP for short). Here are a few things you need to know! It needs to be your first home (with some exceptions). Technically, you must not have owned...
First Time Home Buyer incentive | What we know so far
If you've been hearing about a new incentive for First Time Home Buyers and wondering how it might impact you, look no further, below you will find all relevant information to date. As more information is released, you can expect to find it published here. From the...
TDS? GDS? What Is Income Debt Servicing?
“Debt servicing” is the measure of your ability to meet all of your financial obligations. There are two ratios that are examined by financial institutions to determine whether you can debt service a mortgage. The first one is called the “gross debt service” ratio...
What You Should Know About Buying A Home With a Rental Suite
Thinking about buying a home with a rental suite? This can be a great idea if you want to help offset the cost of your home expenses, and it can also potentially help with qualifying for a mortgage on your new purchase, but there are some things you should know up...
Can 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...
Bank of Canada Rate Announcement May 29th, 2019
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. Recent Canadian economic data are in line with the projections in the Bank’s April Monetary Policy...
Mortgage 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...
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...
How Much Difference Will Extra Payments Make Towards My Mortgage?
Have you ever wondered how much difference extra payments actually make in paying down your mortgage? Let's take a look and maybe do a little math. The first (and largest) factor to look at is the amortization, which is the remainder of your mortgage’s life. A...
How Can I Pay Down My Mortgage Faster?
Although getting a mortgage is exciting as it allows you to become a homeowner, a mortgage is, in fact, a lot of debt. So if you have a mortgage, your goal should be to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Here are four things you can do to help pay off your mortgage...
Bank of Canada Rate Announcement April 24th, 2019
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. Global economic growth has slowed by more than the Bank forecast in its January Monetary Policy...
A 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...
Tips for Homebuying with Family Members
Pooling resources with parents or siblings opens possibilities when it comes to buying a home everyone can afford. Homebuying requires careful planning though, since there’s so much at stake—and money is the least of it; we’re talking love and loyalty here. If you...
What 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...
9 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...
Buying 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....
Payment 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...
Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Mar 6th, 2019
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. Recent data suggest that the slowdown in the global economy has been more pronounced and widespread...
Getting 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...
You 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...
5 Things to Help You Survive Your 40s & 50s
You know those days where everything goes wrong and you’re so tired you don’t know what direction’s up? They’re a lot more manageable when you know what you’re working towards. Here’s 5 things that’ll help you survive—and make the most of!—your 40s and 50s. 1. Do...
What 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...
Top 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...
Can 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....
5 Ways to Boost Your Financial Fitness
Thinking about buying your first home? The race to home ownership is more like a marathon than a sprint: diligent planning, pacing and strategy are the keys to success. Are you ready to approach the starting line? Here are five ways to shape up and boost your...
Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Jan 9th, 2019
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 continues to moderate, with growth forecast to slow to 3.4 per cent...
7 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...
Mortgage Documentation, Plan Ahead!
Collecting the right documentation to prove you are a worthy candidate to borrow a lot of money to buy a property can be an arduous task. The most recent government rule changes and tightening of mortgage qualification isn't making things easier. If you seem to think...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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!...