Real Estate Articles
Your Home, Your Life!
Using a Cash-Back Realtor
In today’s real estate market, many Canadian homebuyers don’t know about the benefits of a cash-back realtor. Imagine getting a part of the agent’s commission for every property deal. This is what cash-back home buying offers, making homes more affordable in Canada.
Mortgage Commitment: What You Must Know Before Waiving Financing
Discover what a mortgage commitment is and its importance in regards to waiving conditions on your offer to buy a home. Learn what you need to know before waiving financing.
Gifts Ineligible for Net Worth Programs
Discover why gifts are not generally eligible to be used as part of the down payment or source of income for people applying for a mortgage under the Net Worth Program
John and Mary Canuck: Refinancing Strategy
Learn how Canadians are leveraging home ownership to generate income, reduce taxes, and build wealth.
Avoid Blacklisted Condos
A blacklisted condo is a condominium that certain mortgage lenders have categorized as high-risk and are unwilling to finance. Learn the reasons why a condo is blacklisted and what to do about it.
What is a Net Worth Program?
Learn what a Net Worth Program is and how it assists individuals with substantial net worth to qualify for a mortgage.
Sources of Home Down Payment
Discover reliable sources for your home down payment in Canada. Learn about savings options, grants, and assistance programs to make homeownership a reality.
Your House? Better Get Title Insurance
While most homebuyers are aware of closing costs, mortgage insurance, and property inspections, many overlook the critical role that title insurance plays in protecting their property ownership rights.
Understanding Market Rent
Understanding Market Rent: More homebuyers today rely on rental income to qualify for mortgages. If you’re one of them, you’ll often need a market rent report or rent letter to “prove” that income to the lender.
Do You Need Title Insurance for a Condo?
Learn about the special risks that come with condominium ownership and while having title insurance is important.
Canada’s Employment Crisis
Mortgage agents are boots-on-the-ground financial professionals who know what is going on in the economy in real time. As I talk to people, I often feel like a counsellor, as people share with me what is going on in their lives and what is happening with their employment situation.
10 Reasons Canadians Refinance Their Mortgage
Every year, about 15% of Canadians refinance their mortgage to take advantage of better mortgage terms (reduced rate, amortization, or mortgage feature), improve their financial condition, buy out a partner, or take advantage of an investment or business opportunity.
What is Your Principal Residence
Everybody needs a place to live, a place to call home. Legally, a principal residence is defined as a property that you, your spouse or common-law partner, or your child ordinarily inhabit at some point during the year. The property can be a house, cottage,...
4 Ways To Refinance Your Mortgage
15% of Canadians refinance their mortgage every year. Learn about the 4 ways Canadians refinance their mortgage and discover which approach is right for you.
Breaking Your Mortgage: Canada vs United States
Discover the big difference between the costs Canadians pay to refinance their homes compared to the costs paid by Americans and why such a big difference.
Is Fixed or Variable Best for You?
Discover the differences between a fixed rate mortgage and a variable rate mortgage, when one is better than the other, and which is right for you.
Featured Publications
Articles
- Extended Amortizations and Hypothetical Calculations
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) - Minimum Qualifying Rate for Uninsured Mortgages
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) - Residential Mortgage Underwriting Practices and Procedures
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) - Guideline on Existing Consumer Mortgage Loans in Exceptional Circumstances Financial Consumer Agency of Canada
Book: “The Program”
- Part 1 – Building Your Down Payment
- Part 2 – Mortgage Payoff Strategies
- Part 3 – Building Wealth Through Real Estate