Mortgage [ˈmôrɡij] NOUN With a residential mortgage, a home buyer pledges his or her house to the bank. The bank has a claim on the house should the home buyer default on paying the mortgage. In the case of a foreclosure, the bank may evict the home’s occupants and sell the house, using the income …
MORTGAGES 101 – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MORTGAGES Read More »
We are currently in a very unique situation when it comes to 5-year fixed and 5-year variable interest rates. For the first time in almost a decade, the lowest 5-year fixed interest rate is more than 0.30% lower than the lowest available variable interest rate for new mortgages. For some, their current variable rate is …
Do you need to get a current value of your property? Then you are going to need an appraisal. Banks and other lending institutions want to know the “current” market value of your home before they consider loaning money on the property. An appraiser checks the general condition of your home and compares your home …
Currently, all borrowers in Canada need to qualify for a new mortgage at the current Bank of Canada Benchmark Qualifying Rate or at their approved mortgage interest rate plus 2.0%, whichever is higher. For more than a year, this Bank of Canada Benchmark Qualifying Rate has been 5.34%. Now, for the first time in 3-years, …
Most Canadians are conditioned to think that the lowest interest rate means the best mortgage product. Although sometimes that is true, a mortgage is much more than just an interest rate. You can save yourself a lot of money if you pay attention to the fine print for the total cost of your mortgage. In …
HOW TO PICK THE BEST MORTGAGE FOR YOUR SITUATION Read More »
Do you know what kind of prepayment privileges you currently have with your mortgage? Does your current lender allow you to make a 10% prepayment or a 20% prepayment on your principle amount? Can you double your monthly payment? Or can you even increase the amount you are paying monthly? This is important information, and …
MORTGAGE PREPAYMENT(S)- THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT! Read More »
There seems to be some confusion about what it actually means to co-sign on a mortgage… and any time there is there is confusion about mortgages, it’s time to give me a call! Let’s take a look at why you would want to have someone co-sign your mortgage and what you need to know before, …
WOULD A CO-SIGNER ENABLE YOU TO QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE? Read More »
As many of you already know, Canada just became the second country in the world to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Of course, this historic moment in Canadian history has cannabis activists jumping for joy while others are not s-toked on the idea. With legalization comes the realities of growing your own pot …
GROWING CANNABIS AT HOME? LET’S WEED THROUGH THOSE MORTGAGE ISSUES! Read More »
Think of your credit score as a report card on how you’ve handled your finances in the past. A credit score is a number that lenders use to determine the risk of lending money to a given borrower. There is always someone willing to lend you money however, higher risk = higher rates! Step 1 …