by Karen Wotherspoon | Jul 17, 2018 | Blog, Homeownership
If you’ve been thinking about buying a new home; whether that be your first home, your next home, your forever home, or your retirement home, the doom and gloom of it all might be causing you to question… is right now a good time to buy a home? Well…...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jul 11, 2018 | Announcements, Blog, Mortgage
The Bank of Canada today increased its target for the overnight rate to 1 ½ per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 ¾ per cent and the deposit rate is 1 ¼ per cent. The Bank expects the global economy to grow by about 3 ¾ per cent in 2018 and 3 ½ per cent in...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jul 9, 2018 | Blog, CMHC, Homeownership
If you’ve ever wondered about what motivating factors are considered by Canadians, driving them to buy homes, here is a recent report released by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) that takes a look at our major metropolitan centres. Here are...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jul 3, 2018 | Blog, Finance, Guest Post
For parents who have the means to help their kids buy a home in today’s pricey environment, gifting money towards a down payment is one of the best way to do it. In February 2018, the Financial Post ran a story about adults still living with their parents. The figures...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jun 26, 2018 | Blog
You’ve heard the horror stories: basement floods gone wrong, cars that randomly stop running, or a pal suddenly losing their job. Perhaps you’re the type of person who thinks “that will never happen to me!” when hearing one of these stories, but the cold reality is...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jun 19, 2018 | Blog, Homeownership
Affordability is a major concern for today’s aspiring first-time homebuyers. In hot real estate markets like the Greater Toronto and Greater Vancouver regions, however, the desire for affordability can be challenged by the competitive fervour caused by escalating...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jun 12, 2018 | Blog, Mortgage
A home is the largest purchase most people will make in their lives. That should reinforce the importance of planning ahead, doing your research, relying on the advice of experts and not rushing through the process. With nearly 700,000 homes purchased in Canada each...
by Karen Wotherspoon | Jun 5, 2018 | Blog
Did you know that the average Canadian will spend roughly 11 months actively engaged in the house buying process? However, most of the dreaming (and preparation) happens before then. Buying a home is a big deal, and it’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken...
by Karen Wotherspoon | May 30, 2018 | Announcements, Blog, Mortgage
The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 1¼ per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1½ per cent and the deposit rate is 1 per cent. Global economic activity remains broadly on track with the Bank’s April Monetary Policy Report (MPR)...
by Karen Wotherspoon | May 22, 2018 | Blog, Homeownership, Mortgage
If you have a variable rate mortgage, and recent economic news has you thinking about locking into a fixed rate, here is what you can expect will happen. Firstly, your lender will be very happy as they will now make considerably more money off you. Not only will your...