Get pre-qualifed for a mortgage

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make, especially if you are buying your first home.  So it is important to know your current financial situation and ensure  you buy a home you can afford while still enjoying your life. For that reason I always recommend all home buyers talk […]

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Know what you can afford before you buy

Before home buyers go shopping for a home it is important to know what you can afford before you buy.  It is becoming more common for home buyers  to make an offer, get declined for the mortgage and the deal collapses.  This is stressful for everyone involved, including the buyer, the seller and the realtor.  […]

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Refinancing with a short term or long term rate

In a market with all time low rates some home owners are wondering if they should considering refinancing with a short term or long term rate. The banks typically promote the 5 year term and many home owners think this is the only option for mortgage financing.  If the bank’s 5 year fixed rate isn’t […]

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Buying a foreclosure

In today’s economy and real estate market some buyers are taking a closer look at buying a foreclosure property more than ever before.  Understanding the process and working closely with an experienced realtor, mortgage broker and lawyer who are familiar with buying a foreclosure can make all the difference. I recently helped a young couple […]

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Bank of Canada holds overnight lending rate

The Bank of  Canada holds overnight lending rate in place.  They announced today that the overnight rate would remain at 1 per cent, the 19th consecutive time the rate been kept stagnant. The decision by the Bank of Canada was expected by most analysts, as Carney’s commentary on Canada’s slowing economy has hinted that no […]

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Self-employed and need a mortgage to buy or refinance

If you are self-employed and need a mortgage to buy or refinance a home, talking to your bank may provide challenges.  I work with people all the time who are self-employed and have been turned down by their bank for financing. In some cases they simply can’t do what they want but in other cases […]

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Vendor Take-Back Mortgage

Growing in popularity over the past few years, the vendor take-back mortgage can help buyers to purchase and sellers to find qualified buyers – especially in a tough market. What is a vendor take-back mortgage – or VTB?  When a seller offers to lend the buyer a portion of money towards the down payment – […]

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What’s Taxable under the PST and What’s Not?

What’s Taxable under the PST and What’s Not? During the summer of 2011, British Columbians’ participated in a province-wide referendum on the harmonized sales tax (HST). On August 26, 2011, Elections BC announced that residents voted in favour of eliminating the HST and returning to the provincial sales tax (PST) plus federal goods and services […]

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Mobile app for home buyers

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recently introduced two new tools to help Canadians make informed and responsible home-buying decisions – including a calculator and mobile app for home buyers. CMHC’s new Debt Service Calculator allows home buyers to evaluate their financial situation and understand how much they can afford to spend on a mortgage. […]

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Will Job Growth Equal Rate Growth?

Will job grow equal rate growth? By Vernon Clement Jones | 03/01/2013 8:00:00 AM | 0 comments Will job growth equal rate growth?  Brokers worried stronger-than expected job numbers for December will spur the Bank of Canada into action may have it wrong, say economists, pointing to an otherwise sluggish economy and the continuing need […]

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