Real Estate Articles
Your Home, Your Life!
10 Shortest Ontario Commute Cities
A short commute to work really improves the quality of your life. Workers don't push for remote work if they can live in a community where the commute is short and pleasant. However, if your employer is in a major city, or worse yet, Toronto, and the demand is for you...
Property Tax Calculations
Understanding property taxes and their calculations in Canada is essential for homeowners, prospective buyers, and real estate professionals alike. Property taxes are a significant source of revenue for municipalities and directly impact local services and...
Is It a Scam to Pay a Full Year’s Rent in Advance?
Learn what is legal and what is practised when competing for a place to rent.
Lenders Don’t Like Condotels
Condotels, or condo/hotel hybrids, have piqued the interest of many Canadians, particularly those seeking a flexible investment opportunity. Learn what they are, their key features, and if they are an investment right for you!
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.
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