Variable Rate? To Lock In Or Not? This post applies if you are taking a new mortgage, whether it’s for a purchase, refinance, or renewal. The variable remains the main contender. But what about all the economists saying if you are currently in a variable rate mortgage then you should rush to ‘lock in’? You […]

No need to panic after rate increase   You may have already seen the more technical BANK OF CANADA RATE ANNOUNCEMENT on October 24th, or you may not have. The Coles Notes (the simplest version) are as such: Global economy remains strong, the USMCA will reduce trading uncertainty Canadian economy is balanced for the foreseeable […]

Subject Free Offers; Still Risky! The majority of my clients have stellar qualifications: established careers and businesses, excellent credit ratings, solid down payment funds, etc. They are truly awesome individuals who will almost certainly receive mortgage financing without a hitch. Almost certainly. With multiple offers, bidding wars, and over-asking-price bids now common as far afield […]

Your mortgage broker is here to help For many people in Canada, they are first-time home buyers. Or if they are new to Canada, it’s their first home purchase in a new country. They may not be aware of the rules and guidelines. It’s the job of your mortgage broker to make you aware of […]

What happens when your credit card account is closed I have been working in the mortgage industry since 2005. I have had all sorts of clients over the years. Every once in a while I get someone who has a car loan , a couple of credit cards but there’s a collection from a credit […]

Toys and buying a home In 2005, I was asked to do a pre-approval by a couple hoping to buy a home. I went through the application with them and pre-approved them for $320,000. They were astounded. They told me that their bank told them that they were qualified to a maximum of $260,000. They […]

5 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING A RURAL PROPERTY After several years as a home owner, my friend was set to buy the home of his dreams. He always wanted to own an acreage outside of town. He had visions of having a few animals, a small tractor and lots of space. As a person […]

CMHC CHANGES TO ASSIST SELF-EMPLOYED BORROWERS As a self-employed person myself, I was happy to hear that CMHC is willing to make some changes that will make it easier for us to qualify for a mortgage. In an announcement on July 19, 2018, the CMHC has said “Self-employed Canadians represent a significant part of the […]

BREAKING A MORTGAGE – CAN YOU DO IT? Do you have a mortgage? So do I! Looks like we have something in common. Did you know that 6 out of 10 consumers break their mortgage 38 months into a 5-year term? That means that 60% of consumers break a 5-year term mortgage well before it’s […]

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PROPERTY With all of the rule changes imposed by the federal and provincial governments around mortgage financing and real estate it may be more difficult to access financing. But don’t take it personally – sometimes it’s not you it’s the property. When lenders underwrite your application for approval they look at […]