by Karen Wotherspoon | Mar 19, 2021 | Blog, Economy, Guest Post, Homeownership
An entire year has passed since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic – and what a year it has been! Faced with uncertainty and unchartered territory, we obeyed public health officials, donned our masks, social distanced, hunkered down and...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Mar 5, 2021 | Blog, Economy, Mortgage
Economic and future forecasting typically involves the calculation and analysis of a number of key variables such as inflation, interest rates, consumer confidence and unemployment. In today’s unconventional and unpredictable environment, additional considerations are...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Feb 19, 2021 | Blog, Finance, Homeownership
For many Ontarians, buying a new home represents a more suitable option than buying resale. The residential construction industry represents one of the largest sectors in the country, with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association reporting that 25% of all homes...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Feb 5, 2021 | Blog, Economy, Finance, Homeownership, Mortgage
While the interest rate isn’t the only consideration to keep in mind when choosing the mortgage that best meets your needs, it’s important to understand your options. The interest rate will have a direct impact on the overall cost of your mortgage – the higher the...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jan 15, 2021 | Blog, Economy, Finance, Homeownership, Mortgage
It’s always great to have an alternative option, right?! This theory holds true when it comes to your mortgage choices as well – the broader selection your mortgage agent offers, the more likely you’ll be to secure a mortgage that meets your unique needs. An...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jan 1, 2021 | Blog, Economy, Homeownership, Mortgage
Many of us drew a collective sigh of relief when putting 2020 behind us, concentrating on the hope for better days to come in 2021. From a financial perspective, 2020 definitely had its challenges. One of the best ways to benefit from a new year is to look at ways to...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Dec 18, 2020 | Blog, Finance, Homeownership, Mortgage
Ensuring homeownership remains an affordable option stretches well beyond monthly mortgage payments. There are numerous recurring expenses known as ‘carrying costs’ that help you maintain your investment and, therefore, must be factored into your budget to avoid...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Dec 5, 2020 | Blog, Economy, Finance, Homeownership
Determining what you can comfortably afford to spend on a home is important to define well before you head out home shopping. Otherwise, you could waste time looking at homes that stretch you outside your financial comfort zone or, worse yet, are completely beyond...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Nov 20, 2020 | Blog, Economy, Homeownership, Mortgage
Becoming a First-Time Homebuyer & Landlord at Once In Canada, there are nearly 4.5 million adults and families who live in rental housing – representing approximately one third of total households. If you’re looking to purchase a home, particularly your...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Nov 6, 2020 | Announcements, Homeownership, Mortgage
How Does Skipping a Mortgage Payment Work? Many lenders provide the option for you to skip a mortgage payment each year to help alleviate those tight financial months where everything seems to come due at once. But this also may be an option to help you push...
