13 Feb

WHAT’S AN ACCEPTABLE DOWN PAYMENT FOR A HOUSE?

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

Ask people this question and you will get a variety of answers.  Most home owners will say 10% is what you should put down. However, if you speak with your grandparents, they are likely to suggest that 20% is what you need for a down payment. The truth is 5% is the minimum down payment […]

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12 Feb

THE TASTE OF HOME – OUR HOUSE MAGAZINE

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

Restaurateur and TV personality Vikram Vij on the joy of cooking—slowly—at home The culinary landscape in North America is amply populated with chefs and personalities putting their spin on a style of cooking designed to get your attention. With the explosion of the foodie culture in recent years, cutting through the clutter would seem a […]

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9 Feb

6 HOME PURCHASE CLOSING COSTS

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

When you purchase your home, there are 6 additional costs to account for. They include: Home Fire and Flood Insurance Title Insurance Legal Fees Adjustments Land Transfer Tax GST Here’s an overview of what you can expect. Home and Fire Insurance. Mortgage lenders will require a certificate of fire insurance to be in place by […]

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7 Feb

WHAT IS THE CANADIAN MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION (CMHC)?

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is a corporation that most are semi-familiar with, but do not know what CMHC actually does. CMHC is Canada’s authority on housing. They contribute to the stability of the housing market and the financial system. They also provide support for Canadians in housing need and offer objective housing […]

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7 Feb

WHICH LENDER IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

The following is a summary of the choices available for clients when looking at the four different types of lending groups. Which one is best will all depend on who you are as a borrower, what your current situation is now, and what your situation will look like in the future. Big Banks Currently, mortgage […]

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5 Feb

LIVING THE SIMPLE LIFE – OUR HOUSE MAGAZINE

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

Every winter, athletic power couple Ashleigh McIvor and Jay Demerit manage to scale back their busy lives into a 340-square-foot cabin in the woods. You would think that an Olympic gold medal and a successful pro soccer career would come with an opulent lifestyle, even after retirement from competition. But Canadian freestyle skier Ashleigh MacIvor […]

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2 Feb

8 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO GET THE BEST RENEWAL

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

With 47 per cent of homeowners scheduled to renew their mortgages this year, 2018 is a year of change for lots of Canadians. Here are the top 8 things you can do to get the best renewal: 1. Pull out your mortgage renewal now, and start early. When you are proactive instead of reactive you […]

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30 Jan

SPLENDOUR OF THE PAST-OUR HOUSE MAGAZINE

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

Things to consider before you buy a heritage home We’ve all walked by them at some point and marveled. It’s the character house that has to be at least 100 years old and is still standing. Your mind takes you to a different place. You start thinking about what life must have been like when […]

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30 Jan

MORTGAGES WITH THE 20 PER CENT

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

There have been a lot of discussions around the new mortgage rules and I have had a few clients ask about what that means for them. Since stress testing on mortgages began last year, the biggest change this January will be for people who are putting more than a 20% down payment on their new […]

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28 Jan

GET AHEAD OF THE ‘RATE TRAIN’

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

A recent article featured on www.mortgagebrokernews.ca brings up some interesting points to consider. With approximately 47% of mortgages in Canada coming up for renewal in 2018 and in a rising rate climate, it would be wise to consider the impact on our personal mortgage. What will these increases mean for you? 70% of Canadians are in 5-year […]

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