Canadians purchase homes for a variety of reasons. Some want the stability of owning their own home, while others also look at home ownership as an investment vehicle. No matter what the reason, the truth is that home ownership has proven itself to be a good stable investment over time, and one which many Canadians […]

The provincial and federal government have forced some Canadians into looking for real estate than they thought. Both have ushered in two different laws that will cost buyers money. At the provincial level the government has implemented the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax), effect July 1, 2010. It is a 12% tax on new homes and […]

This article is courtesy of Canadian Mortgage Trends. Its a great read and also something to follow if your intentions are to purchase a new home, refinance or consolidate your debt into a mortgage. Mortgage rates and the bond market have a nice little marriage; 9+ times out of 10, when bond rates rocket higher, […]

Just because your mortgage term has not expired, doesn’t mean you cannot take advantage of the low interest rates. Let me show you some numbers, which might help you, think about your current mortgage and how I might be able to put more money into your pocket on a monthly basis. Client ‘X’ current mortgage […]

Before you begin searching for a home, it’s always helpful to think about your needs both now and in the future. And if you have any questions about the home-buying process or different types of real estate, you can always ask me or your real estate agent for input. Following are some things to consider […]

In today’s economic climate of tighter credit requirements and increased unemployment rates taking their toll on some Canadians, there’s no doubt that many people may not fit into the traditional banks’ financing boxes as easily as they may have just a year ago. Your best solution is to consult with me first to help you get […]

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced changes to mortgage insurance rules this morning, which are set to come into force on April 19th, 2010. This means the government will adjust the rules for government-backed insured mortgages as follows:   1. Instead of qualifying borrowers using a 3 year fixed rate, we will now be required that all borrowers […]

Hybrid mortgages – also known as 50/50 mortgage products – include an equal mix of fixed-rate and variable-rate components within your single mortgage. This means you get the best of both worlds – the security of fixed repayments with the flexibility of a variable rate. Although there was a time in recent years when mortgage […]

There are two major credit reporting agencies in Canada, Equifax and TransUnion. An account with usually both these credit reporting agencies is created when a consumer applies for credit. The creditor (bank, Credit Card Company, department store, etc.) would report this transaction to the credit reporting agency, thus creating the consumer’s account, and continues to […]

VANCOUVER — Metro Vancouver house prices reached a new peak level in January while the overall pace of sales across the Lower Mainland eased off the torrid pace seen in December, according to reports from the region’s real estate boards. In Metro Vancouver, the benchmark price for a single-family home, the average price for typical […]