Only a few weeks till Christmas and I know what you are thinking; I need a holiday spending plan.  If you are like most people you are thinking of time with family, friends and what gifts you are going to buy for everyone – so probably not. But really a holiday spending plan isn’t a […]

With so much data on the Internet it can be a challenge to find housing market data when choosing a new place to call home or when making a real estate investment. There are many tools out there you can use to but the best source is usually a professional realtor who knows the particular […]

New credit reporting and what it says about you and your spending habits  may make all the difference between your buying a home now or later. When home buyers contact me to apply for a mortgage I always review their credit report with them along with the rest of their application before they start looking […]

There is a lot of information out there on the Internet and sometimes too much so people avoid checking it out.  I have gathered some basic information about Mortgage and Housing Statistics to share which may be of interest.   Market statistics 7 percent of condos in Vancouver are empty 2.3% of condos are owned […]

I am often asked by clients about the real value of title insurance, why they need to have and pay for it.  Whether you are a home buyer or a home owner simply refinancing the mortgage on your home you will need title insurance.  Once I explain the reason and need for title insurance the […]

So how does a drop in the prime lending rate effect you? Since the two rate drops to the prime lending rate in January and July 2015 I have had many calls about what the change means and what to do next. Any changes to your variable rate mortgage will happen only if the Bank […]

Mortgage insurance provided by CMHC, Genworth and Canada Guaranty will increase for homebuyers with less than a 10% down payment. The mortgage insurance fees rise June 1, 2015,  by approximately 15%. For the average Canadian homebuyer who has less than a 10% down payment, the higher premium will result in an increase of approximately $5 to […]

With a drop in the prime lending rate by your bank you may wonder how does the change to the prime lending rate affect your mortgage payment?  Well the answer is “it depends” on your lender policy.  The rate change although announced last week didn’t take effect until after Feb 1st for some mortgage holders […]

There is no question it is getting more expensive to live in most major cities.  How much do you need to earn to own a home across Canada? Market Update – March 2016. The average Canadian home is now worth more than $500,000 for the first time ever. Monthly sales data from the Canadian Real […]

The year of 2015 started out with a frenzy as the Bank of Canada surprised many with a reduction in the overnight lending rate last month.  So how does a change in mortgage rates affect you?  Well, that depends on who you are and what stage you are in your life. If you are raising […]