May 2nd, 2016
We know that the home buying journey can feel overwhelming as you navigate your way through the maze of forms, financing, inspections, pricing, and negotiating. Today, we explore the advantages … [read more]
April 26th, 2016
You’ve spent the last few years trying to avoid unnecessary purchases, slowly filling up your piggy bank and perhaps even held your hat out to mom and dad. Well, the … [read more]
Comments Off on YES! You Can Negotiate Your Mortgage with So Many Options
April 24th, 2016
As a homebuyer, you don’t want anything to jeopardize your chances of closing on the home you’ve selected. Many folks can’t buy homes without applying for a mortgage, and if … [read more]
Comments Off on Things to Avoid Before Applying for a Mortgage
April 21st, 2016
Young Canadians who strap themselves to huge mortgage payments that leave them “house poor” and prevent them from repaying debt risk crippling their life-long wealth accumulation. Despite that, millennials still … [read more]
Comments Off on Should You Repay Student Debt or Save for A Down Payment?
April 13th, 2016
Sweet anticipation that gets more intense as each second goes by and first-time homeownership grows near is natural but must be mixed with healthy fear. Beside immense emotional rewards, most … [read more]
Comments Off on First-Time Home Buyers : What You Need to Know About Your Home Loan
April 5th, 2016
Not everyone thinks the recent mortgage rule changes to increase the minimum down payment on homes priced between $500,000 and $1 million are enough to cool the country’s hottest housing … [read more]
Comments Off on 3 Ways Policymakers Could Act to Cool BC & Ontario’s Blistering Housing Markets
April 1st, 2016
Buying a home is still cheaper than renting in nearly every major US market. That’s one of a few key trends that have mortgage lenders expecting big things in 2016. … [read more]
Comments Off on Signs You’re Not Ready for a Mortgage
March 31st, 2016
Buying a house is a big step for most families. One of the things that can be very intimidating about purchasing a home is having enough money to make the … [read more]
Comments Off on Home of Your Own : How to Save For a Down Payment
March 22nd, 2016
When it comes to opining on seniors carrying debt into retirement, I’ll state upfront my personal bias that anyone with credit-card debt — or even mortgage debt — has no … [read more]
Comments Off on Retiring with a Mortgage? Why You Might Want to Think Twice About That
March 11th, 2016
Choosing the right mortgage can be challenging, but it’s really only the first of many hurdles on your trajectory to owning your home. Once you’ve locked your mortgage in, you … [read more]
Comments Off on Best Practices for Paying Off Your Mortgage
February 28th, 2016
The government may have its work cut out for it when it comes to Canadian real estate. Earlier this month, mortgage rules increasing minimum down payments on some homes came … [read more]
Comments Off on Mortgage Rule Changes Not Enough to Cool Toronto & Vancouver Housing Markets
February 19th, 2016
OTTAWA — Homebuyers tend to shop around for the best mortgage rate they can find when first purchasing a property. But when renewal time comes around, chasing the best rate … [read more]
Comments Off on Moving Your Mortgage Between Lenders in Search of a Lower Rate Can Cost You
February 17th, 2016
Now that the new home down payment requirements are in place, the big unknown is how much impact they will have on home buyers, especially first-timers. Most observers agree that … [read more]
Comments Off on Will New Down Payment Requirements Slow Housing Market?
February 11th, 2016
New lending rules set to take effect next week coupled with mortgage rates that are creeping higher are expected to slow Canadian home sales in 2016, according to TD Economics. … [read more]
Comments Off on New Mortgage Rules & Higher Rates to Push Canadian Home Sales Lower in 2016
February 5th, 2016
Are you considering buying a home in 2016? See how the new CMHC down payment laws could affect you. In Canada, homebuyers are currently required to put down a minimum … [read more]
Comments Off on How Do the New CMHC Down Payment Laws Affect You?
February 1st, 2016
Eight times a year, the Bank of Canada sets its key interest rate. Leading up to these routine announcements, there’s typically a flurry of commentary as experts weigh in on … [read more]
Comments Off on How the Bank of Canada’s Key Interest Rate Works, and What It Means for Mortgages
January 21st, 2016
Family Matters A week after BC marks Family Day on February 8, new rules kick in for mortgages insured by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) that will require … [read more]
Comments Off on Tighter Mortgage Rules Set to Worsen Family Housing Squeeze
January 21st, 2016
The Bank of Canada announced today that it is keeping the key interest rate target at 0.5%, contrary to the expectations of some of the country’s biggest banks. “The Bank’s … [read more]
Comments Off on No Change to Key Interest Rate as Bank of Canada Sees Strength in Exports
January 20th, 2016
The Bank of Canada will maintain its target for the overnight rate at 1/2%. “Inflation in Canada is evolving broadly as expected. Total CPI inflation remains near the bottom of … [read more]
Comments Off on The Bank of Canada Will Maintain Its Target for the Overnight Rate at 1/2%
January 16th, 2016
There are a total of 112 condos for sale as of January 16, 2016 in Burnaby Metrotown area. There are 16 new listings for condos for sale in Burnaby Metrotown … [read more]
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January 8th, 2016
Falling government-bond yields are usually good for homeowners in Canada because mortgage rates tend to follow suit. Not this time. Three of Canada’s biggest lenders have raised mortgage rates and … [read more]
Comments Off on Why Homeowners & Buyers Can Expect More Mortgage Rate Hikes from the Big Banks
December 31st, 2015
A sharp increase in the down payment required to buy more expensive homes using government-backed mortgage insurance will affect low-equity buyers but is “not a game-changer” for the BC housing … [read more]
Comments Off on Housing Analysts Split on Effect of Higher Down Payments
Comments Off on Understanding the Importance of Mortgage Pre-Approvals