24 Jan

WHAT IS A PROPERTY ASSESSMENT VS A HOME APPRAISAL?

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

It’s the time of year when many homeowners are getting their property assessments. The real estate market is the single biggest influence on market values. Market forces vary from year to year and from property to property. The market value on an assessment notice may differ from that shown on a bank mortgage appraisal or […]

Read More
22 Jan

MORTGAGE BROKER VALUE

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

Not surprisingly, borrowers often default to their own Banker. And why not? It’s an established and comfortable relationship. Perhaps it’s viewed as the path of least resistance. But is it the right lender for the borrower’s current specific needs? Perhaps not. More sophisticated borrowers may be of a size or scale that they have their […]

Read More
21 Jan

BUYING VS RENTING

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

At some point in their lives, most Canadians have probably asked themselves whether it is better to buy or rent a home. Purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions most people ever make so the impacts of the decision can be HUGE. Ultimately, the decision is a personal choice, but it helps to […]

Read More
19 Jan

HOW MORTGAGE BROKERS HELP YOU GET APPROVED BY ‘A’ LENDERS

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

Every year Canadian families are caught in unexpected bad circumstances only to find out that in most cases the banks and the credit unions are there to lend you money in the good times, not so much during the bad times. This is where thousands of families have benefited over the years from the services […]

Read More
18 Jan

9 REASONS WHY PEOPLE BREAK THEIR MORTGAGES

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

Did you know that 60 per cent of people break their mortgage before their mortgage term matures? Most homeowners are blissfully unaware that when you break your mortgage with your lender, you will incur penalties and those penalties can be painfully expensive. Many homeowners are so focused on the rate that they are ignorant about […]

Read More
17 Jan

ARE CANADIANS SAVING ENOUGH FOR RETIREMENT?

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

Many Canadians think of retirement as a time filled with vacations, getaways to the cottage and spending more time on hobbies and interests. However, there are many other factors to consider when thinking about retirement savings. More and more Canadians are forgetting about some key obstacles that may change their perspective on what they actually […]

Read More
16 Jan

COMING OFF THE BOTTOM

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

Are the good times really over for good? Recently, for the first time since 2012 we have seen the 5-year bond market climb back up over 2.0%. Based on amazing employment numbers and the likelihood that the Bank of Canada will raise rates on January 17, the bond market has continued a climb out of […]

Read More
15 Jan

BANK BROKER VS. MORTGAGE BROKERS | HERE’S THE SCOOP

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

Ask any mortgage broker and they can tell you that there are a handful of misconceptions that the public has about working with a mortgage broker. From questioning their credentials (we all are regulated and licensed with in our own province, and are constantly re-educating ourselves) to assuming that the broker does not have access […]

Read More
10 Jan

THE REAL VALUE OF TITLE INSURANCE

General

Posted by: Trina Tallon

I am often asked by clients about the real value of title insurance, why they need to have and pay for it.  Whether you are a home buyer or a home owner simply refinancing the mortgage on your home, you will need title insurance.  Once I explain the reason and need for title insurance, the […]

Read More