WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2019? At the start of every New Year, pundits posit the forecast as everyone wonders what the year will bring. While no one has a crystal ball, here are some fundamentals at play this year: 1). Canada’s economy will continue to under perform the U.S. as growth slows to 1-3/4% in […]

BANK OF CANADA REMAINS ON HOLD, REVISING DOWN OIL MARKET OUTLOOK The Bank of Canada left the overnight benchmark policy rate at 1-3/4%, as expected. In another dovish statement, the Bank of Canada acknowledged a slowdown in global economic activity and highlighted that oil prices are roughly 25% lower than what they had assumed in […]

9½ STEPS TO REPAIR AND IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT Though credit scores aren’t always an indicator of financial health, they are used in a variety of ways that could have a major impact on your life. Interest rates (including mortgage rates) are almost always determined by your credit score. Some employers & landlords may require a […]

We recently had a couple come into our office who we had worked with in 2011. They had some life changes that had occurred in the past 7 years and were unsure if they could make things work. They came back to speak with us and shared a little bit of their story and thoughts […]

HOW TO RENEW YOUR MORTGAGE IN 5 SIMPLE STEPS! If you have a mortgage, you’ll be completing a mortgage renewal when your current term has finished. While most Canadians spend a lot of time and expend tons of effort shopping for an initial mortgage, the same is generally not the case when looking at mortgage […]

CANADIAN HOME SALES WEAKENED FURTHER IN NOVEMBER Statistics released today by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) show that national home sales dipped for the third consecutive month, down 2.3% from October to November and down a whopping 12.6% year-over-year. Transactions declined in just over half of all local markets, with lower activity in the […]

MORTGAGE PREPAYMENT(S)- THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT! Do you know what kind of prepayment privileges you currently have with your mortgage? Does your current lender allow you to make a 10% prepayment or a 20% prepayment on your principle amount? Can you double your monthly payment? Or can you even increase the amount you are paying […]

CANADIAN JOBLESS RATE FELL TO A 42-YEAR LOW IN NOVEMBER With so much bad news coming out about the economy, Statistics Canada this morning posted a blockbuster jobs report, mitigating worries about the health of the economy. Employment increased by a whopping 94,100 in November, led mostly by full-time jobs that were broadly based across […]

THE #1 MISCONCEPTION ABOUT MORTGAGE FINANCING! It is a reoccurring but common misconception that you will qualify for a mortgage in the future because you have qualified for a mortgage in the past. This is not accurate! Do. Not. Assume. Anything. Even if your financial situation has remained the same or has improved, securing mortgage […]

WHY REVERSE MORTGAGES ARE BUCKING THE DOWNWARD TREND The reverse mortgage market in Canada has been increasing at a phenomenal rate over the last few years. In fact, for HomeEquity Bank, the provider of the CHIP Reverse Mortgage, growth was well over 40% in August, bringing Canada’s outstanding reverse mortgage balance to $3.03 billion. Compare […]