GROWING CANNABIS AT HOME? LET’S WEED THROUGH THOSE MORTGAGE ISSUES! As many of you already know, Canada just became the second country in the world to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Of course, this historic moment in Canadian history has cannabis activists jumping for joy while others are not s-toked on the idea. […]

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’RE READY TO BUY HOUSE? Here are 7 signs that you’re ready to buy your first home… 1. You have saved enough for the down payment Most people think the biggest hurdle to overcome when buying a house is saving up a down payment. You normally need to save at […]

HIGH RATIO AND CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGES There are two different types of mortgages when it comes to their balance in relation to the value of your home- high ratio or conventional. When you applying for a mortgage, lenders use a ratio called loan to value. Your loan to value is exactly what it sounds like, the […]

2 MAY 2018 WHAT DOES A “RATE HIKE” ACTUALLY MEAN? TD Bank has increased it’s posted rates and RBC did the same on Monday. This increase, from 5.14% to 5.59% at TD, is the “biggest move in years.” The change came because of the bond yields increasing. We do expect every other lender to follow […]

6 HOME PURCHASE CLOSING COSTS 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 […]

MORTGAGES AND PAPERWORK Paperwork-it’s a fact of life. You need it and we as mortgage professionals also need it. Below is a list of must have documentation BEFORE you start going through the mortgage approval process. Personal Information This will be the basic information we require to start your mortgage process. It will include your […]

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

15 DEC 2017 NEW MORTGAGE RULES COMING JAN 1 BOOST NOVEMBER HOME SALES So here we are in the lead-up to the January 1 implementation of the new OSFI B-20 regulations requiring that uninsured borrowers be stress-tested at a mortgage rate 200 basis points above the contract rate at federally regulated financial institutions. It is […]

YOU JUST GOT A MORTGAGE. NOW WHAT? Mortgages are a funny thing. On the one hand they allow you to become a home owner without saving up enough money to purchase the home outright, which is a really good thing. On the other hand, even at today’s really low interest rates, as they are amortized […]

30 OCT 2017 5 SIMPLE STEPS TO OWNING YOUR OWN HOME Often, the route to owning your own home can seem like a trip to the moon and back. Really though, it comes down to five key steps: 1 – Manage your credit wisely. If there is one thing that will gum up the purchase […]