13 Mar

WHERE ARE CANADIAN MORTGAGE RATES GOING IN 2018?

General

Posted by: Steven Brouwer

WHERE ARE CANADIAN MORTGAGE RATES GOING IN 2018? 2017 was a year of change for the Canadian Mortgage Market. With the announcement of the B-20 guideline changes requiring all insured or uninsured mortgages to undergo stress testing. In addition, the removal of mortgage bundling and the continued rate rises from the Bank of Canada have […]

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8 Mar

TIME FOR A MORTGAGE RENEWAL

General

Posted by: Steven Brouwer

TIME FOR A MORTGAGE RENEWAL Is your mortgage coming up for renewal this year? There is a good chance that you or someone know has a mortgage coming due. Some 47% of Canadians, almost one out of every two households, that currently have financing in place will mature within the next 12 months with a […]

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2 Mar

TIPS FOR YOUR VARIABLE RATE MORTGAGE THAT COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS

General

Posted by: Steven Brouwer

TIPS FOR YOUR VARIABLE RATE MORTGAGE THAT COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS With changes to mortgage rules and interest rates on the rise here are some tips for your variable rate mortgage that could save you thousands. Since 2009 the prime lending rate has shifted from a high of 6% down to 2% range remaining fairly […]

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1 Mar

4 SIGNS YOU’RE READY FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP

General

Posted by: Steven Brouwer

4 SIGNS YOU’RE READY FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP While most people know the main things they need to buy a home, such as stable employment and enough money for a down payment, there are a few other factors that may help you realize you’re ready, perhaps even earlier than you thought! As a mortgage broker, it is […]

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21 Feb

RRSP – USE HOME BUYERS’ PLAN (HBP) MORE THAN ONCE

General

Posted by: Steven Brouwer

RRSP – USE HOME BUYERS’ PLAN (HBP) MORE THAN ONCE Under the home buyers’ plan, a participant and his or her spouse or common- law partner is allowed to withdraw up to $25,000 from his or her RRSP to buy a home. Before 1999, only the first- time home buyers are permitted to buy a […]

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20 Feb

Self-Employed? Here’s What You Need to Know About Mortgages

General

Posted by: Steven Brouwer

Why, why, why it is so challenging for entrepreneurs to obtain a mortgage in Canada? If you’re among the 2.7 million Canadians who are self-employed, regrettably your income is not as easy to document as someone who’s traditionally employed. Since 2008, mortgage regulations in Canada have made it more challenging for those who work for […]

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15 Feb

WHAT’S AN ACCEPTABLE DOWN PAYMENT FOR A HOUSE?

General

Posted by: Steven Brouwer

Ask people this question and you will get a variety of answers. Most home owners will say 10% is what you should put down. However, if you speak with your grandparents, they are likely to suggest that 20% is what you need for a down payment. The truth is 5% is the minimum down payment […]

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2 Feb

ARE YOU IN A VARIABLE RATE MORTGAGE? ME TOO.

General

Posted by: Steven Brouwer

Are you in a Variable Rate Mortgage? Me too. If you’re in a fixed rate mortgage, this news does not impact you. Mind you ‘impact’ is too strong a word to use for the subtle shift that occurred Jan 17, 2018. Short Version The math is as follows: A payment increase of ~$13.10 per $100,000.00 […]

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29 Jan

8 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO GET THE BEST RENEWAL

General

Posted by: Steven Brouwer

With 47 per cent of homeowners scheduled to renew their mortgages this year, 2018 is a year of change for lots of Canadians. Here are the top 8 things you can do to get the best renewal: 1. Pull out your mortgage renewal now, and start early. When you are proactive instead of reactive you […]

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15 Jan

STRENGTH IN TURBULENT TIME – IMPACTS OF CANADA’S NEW MORTGAGE RULES

General

Posted by: Steven Brouwer

Mortgage brokers have become an integral part of Canada’s financial landscape. Rather than deal directly with banks, about 30 per cent of Canadians turn to independent brokers to help them secure the best terms for their loan. But as residential real estate markets continue to power ahead at a time of economic uncertainty, government regulators […]

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