In part one of this two-part series, we will look at the types of insurances you will hear about during the mortgage process. Sometimes it is a good idea to revisit the basics when looking at a complex thing like a mortgage. There can be misunderstandings which crop up. The mortgage process can be very […]

Just because you are a Canadian citizen living abroad doesn’t mean that you are exempt from the rules for foreigners buying real estate in Canada. Foreign ownership applies if: • You don’t reside in Canada for more than 6 months a year (even if you are Canadian) • You don’t report your working income to […]

Did you know that 30% – 40% of couples who get divorced so so over money. Divorce isn’t cheap either, so now is the time to fix your fighting and your finances! Are second mortgages a good idea? Sure, as long as you have an exit strategy and how it will get paid off at the least amount of […]

What prevents many potential homeowners from buying a home is the lack of a down payment. Many first-time home buyers are receiving down payment gifts from family. Unfortunately, many are not in this position and need to plan to save their own down payment. When you can visualize the benefits of owning your own home […]

For many people, saving enough for a down payment on a house is not an easy task. (You can’t rely on finding One-Eyed Willy’s treasure like they did in the Goonies movie, either!) Once you have an idea as to how much you can afford on your home, relative to your salary and monthly costs, […]

In the midst of the booming real estate market in Canada (mainly in Vancouver and Toronto), many Canadians are entertaining the idea of downsizing in order to sell their homes at a high value and purchase a smaller home or condo at a lower price. Is downsizing the way to go? What are the costs […]

Sometimes it is a good idea to revisit the basics when looking at a complex thing like a mortgage.  There can be misunderstandings which crop up.   The mortgage process can be very stressful as you wait for some anonymous entity to decide whether or not you are able to buy the home of your dreams.  […]

Congratulations – you are moving into your new home! Whether you are starting with a plain new build or an older resale home, there’s no better way to make it yours than by putting your stamp on it. Invest a weekend or two into warming up a featureless space or refreshing someone else’s old homestead. […]

Figuring out whether you can afford to borrow money for your business is a crucial step in the loan process and one you should definitely take before approaching potential lenders. But determining if you have the resources to make your loan payments can be a bit tricky. Think Outside The Borrower’s Box If you want […]

The market is constantly changing these days, so if you asked me about affordability just a few weeks ago, I would have had a different answer, as the seller’s market has quickly shifted to a buyer’s market – for now, anyway. This spring, many first-time homebuyers were quickly being priced out of the market due […]