Mortgage Articles

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HELOCs and Hidden Land Tax

“Wait… We’re Paying Land Transfer Tax Again?” A lot of homeowners think adding a HELOC is just paperwork. You sign a few documents, the lawyer registers a new charge, and away you go. Easy peasy, right? Well… sometimes. But every now and then, a refinance or HELOC...

The Pre-Approval Process

Discuss the benefits and weakness or getting a mortgage pre-approval. Discover the steps of the pre-approval process and learn if a pre-approval is right for you.

When You Need Mortgage Default Insurance

Discover when and why you may need mortgage default insurance and why mortgage default insurance matters.

Guide to Mortgage Penalties

Understand mortgage penalties in Canada before breaking your mortgage term. Learn about IRD, fixed vs variable rate penalties, and ways to minimize costly fees

Get a Mortgage Agent with a Strong Online Presence

Finding a mortgage agent with a strong online presence is important especially in today’s digital world. A strong online presence is indicator of a mortgage agent’s credibility, expertise, and client-centered approach

Housing as Income Percentage

Financial planners generally advise spending no more than 28% to 30% of your gross monthly income on housing. This guideline is known as the "front-end ratio" and primarily covers housing expenses like mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and...

Accessing Your Credit Score

In Canada, understanding and monitoring your credit score is crucial for managing your financial health. This score, a numerical representation of your creditworthiness, impacts various aspects of your financial life, from securing loans to negotiating better terms on...

Mortgages: You Better Shop Around

When shopping for a mortgage it is important to think like a bank. Don’t pay the loyalty penalty, get the advantage of having Allen Ehlert shop the market and get you your best mortgage

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...

10 Commandments of Mortgages

Looking to buy your new home is an exciting experience. All the possibilities. You look and you look and you look. You go to open houses, have your realtor take you into house after house, then all of of sudden you walk into one house and bang it hits you, home! You...

What are Commitment Fees?

Jun 28, 2025

n Canada, when a lender mentions a “1% commitment fee on all its rates,” it means that the lender charges a fee equal to 1% of the mortgage loan amount as a one time charge as a condition for committing to the loan agreement. A commitment fee is also known as a lender fee. This fee is typically charged upfront when the loan agreement is finalized or may be added to the total loan amount, depending on the lender’s policies.

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