March 20, 2024
A generation ago – most retirees did not have mortgages. Mortgage planning was not part of retirement planning. This was primarily because of two reasons: […]
January 5, 2024
With the consistent rise in mortgage rates over the past year or so, the prospect of renewing a mortgage in 2024 has become a concern […]
December 1, 2023
The increase in the Banak of Canada Prime rate over the past 20 months, aimed at tackling rising inflation, has left numerous Canadians cash-strapped until the anticipated lowering of the Prime rate in 2024. So what can be done?
November 25, 2023
Choosing whether to refinance your existing mortgage or getting a second mortgage depends on your financial goals. If your existing mortgage has a good rate and a noticeable time left in its term, you should probably think of keeping it rather than refinancing it and getting a second mortgage instead.
September 19, 2022
The 5 Cs of Credit is a term used to describe the pillars of input that go into determining if a lender will lend you the money. They are Capacity, Capital, Collateral, Credit and Character.
September 8, 2022
As summer is abruptly coming to an end, it may seem odd to be thinking about vacation properties. The luxury of a waterfront home on […]
April 28, 2022
When it comes to interest rates, an expression One Cannot See Dollars from the Pennies is frequently true… We pay attention to getting the […]
March 7, 2022
With the prices skyrocketing over the past year, it is very difficult to find a multi-bedroom property for a decent price. That said, if you […]
February 1, 2022
WHILE PRICES HAVE RISEN, YOU CAN STILL INVEST IN REAL ESTATE With skyrocketing prices over the past year, many of those who wanted to get […]
December 29, 2021
Probably not, but it also depends on what keeps you up at night… It’s pretty safe to assume variable rates are going up!! Probably as […]
February 17, 2021
It’s time to revisit your mortgage strategy. Mortgage rates are down, both on the fixed and variable sides. It’s all over social media and the news. […]
September 23, 2020
It is a common knowledge that you need to get yourself pre-approved for a mortgage before starting to look for a home. But what exactly is […]
December 7, 2019
So you own a home and would like to buy an investment property, but all of your savings have been locked up in your home? The answer to your problem is a Home Equity Line of Credit or HELOC.
December 1, 2019
I am sure some of us have been there… passing on potential houses just because the bathrooms or kitchens were not up to our standards, […]
November 15, 2018
Those of you who know me well, know that I shy away from making predictions on interest rates. There are simply too many factors at […]
September 27, 2018
It’s no secret that as house prices in the GTA have risen over the past 10 years, many of us have become overnight “millionaires”. Who would […]
April 3, 2018
When comparing various financing options, the biggest mistake you can make is to concentrate on the actual nominal rates alone. Instead, you should pay attention […]
March 11, 2018
The new mortgage rules have essentially lowered the qualifying power of mortgage applicants by approximately 20%. Whether you’re buying and need a mortgage, or are simply […]
February 5, 2018
Commercial properties are somewhat an unknown territory to most of us. They require larger down payments. Interest rates are higher. Still, they can still be a […]
January 8, 2018
I’ve often said that Toronto is turning into Canada’s Manhattan (especially when talking about the cost of housing!). Our city appears always to be growing […]
November 9, 2017
That depends. Over the past 7 years, there were many indications that variable rates will go up and many pressures on those with variable rates […]
October 18, 2017
When the Prime rate went up by 0.5%, my feelings were mixed… Yes, my variable rate mortgage payments went up and I wasn’t happy about it, […]
September 22, 2017
If you are considering a refinance for any reason – to consolidate your debt, pay for your kids’ education, renovate your home or buy an investment […]
April 7, 2017
A well know Toronto scenario: “Our tiny bungalow is now worth $1M dollars! We should sell it!…” Which then begs the question – “Where would we […]
March 12, 2017
On October 3rd the federal government announced a series of regulations that govern the access and limitations of mortgages requiring insurance. The rules were put in […]
December 4, 2015
Over the course of the last decade or so, the percentage of private mortgages within my portfolio grew from some 5% to an astonishing 30%… There […]
November 11, 2015
Getting the best mortgage is not only about securing the lowest “nominal” interest rate that many of us tend to get obsessed with. As a matter […]