by Karen Wotherspoon | Mar 20, 2020 | Blog, Economy, Homeownership, Mortgage
Choosing the mortgage term that’s right for you can be challenging for even the savviest of homebuyers, as terms typically range from six months up to 10 years. By understanding mortgage terms, you can save the most money and choose the term that’s best suited...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Mar 13, 2020 | Announcements, Blog, Economy, Homeownership, Mortgage
Concern surrounding coronavirus – COVID-19 – has led to a crash in oil prices and economic uncertainty surrounding capital markets, which has resulted in most Canadian banks significantly reducing both fixed- and variable-rate mortgage rates. Around the world...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Mar 6, 2020 | Blog, Homeownership, Mortgage
This is one of the most popular real estate questions: Should I sell my current home before buying a new one? And while there is no magic answer, there are many things you can do to mitigate your risks when choosing to buy and sell homes in unison. As with...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Feb 28, 2020 | Blog
It’s no secret that homebuying in Canada has become increasingly challenging, particularly for first-time homebuyers. House prices have outpaced income, and those who have had their heart set on a single-family, detached home, are often discovering it isn’t...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Feb 21, 2020 | Blog, Homeownership, Mortgage
Mortgages can be complicated. That’s why it’s extremely important to seek expert advice you know you can count on. Buying a home is a significant life stage and it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement – you visualize your family growing up in the house,...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Feb 14, 2020 | Blog, Finance, Homeownership, Mortgage
If you’re in the market to buy a home, you know the process isn’t always easy. In recent years, mortgage insurance and qualification changes – implemented by the federal government – have made it increasingly difficult to buy a home for many Canadians, particularly...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Feb 7, 2020 | Blog, Economy, Finance, Homeownership, Mortgage
You’ve found the home of your dreams and you’re ready to present your offer to the seller. You know the dollar amount you want to include and you’re hoping it gets accepted but, before you start embracing your new community and dreaming of backyard BBQs, you’ll want...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jan 24, 2020 | Blog, Economy, Finance, Homeownership, Mortgage
In 2017, the federal government announced a set of strict mortgage qualification rules including the much-talked about, and often-debated, stress test. Implemented for federally regulated lenders, the stress test was created to help alleviate overheating housing...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jan 17, 2020 | Blog, Economy, Finance, Homeownership, Mortgage
No one enters into a marriage thinking that one day the relationship may end. Unfortunately, the startling statistic is that 38% of all marriages in Canada end in divorce. Getting married and buying a home are two of life’s most significant milestones, so the...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jan 10, 2020 | Blog, Economy, Finance, Homeownership, Mortgage
Buying a home is one of the largest financial investments of your lifetime. And while owning real estate brings with it a sense of stability, achievement and a dream come true, it’s not without a certain element of risk. Mortgage fraud is a growing problem in...