Personal Finance
Securing Your Today and Tomorrow
Non-Conforming Apartment Income
As a mortgage agent who underwrites mortgages, I’ve come across countless applications where homeowners and investors alike want to leverage rental income from basement suites or converted spaces to boost their borrowing power. It's a smart move in theory, but the...
Understanding the Bond Call (Prepayment) Premium
Learn how The Bond Call (Prepayment) Premium compensates investors for the risk that the issuer might repay the bond before its maturity date.
Understanding the Bond Inflation Premium
Learn how the bond inflation premium compensates investors for the expected loss of purchasing power due to inflation over the bond’s term.
Understanding the Bond Maturity (Term) Premium
Learn how the Bond Maturity (Term) Premium compensates investors for the increased risk associated with longer-term bonds.
The Divorce Financing Ladder
The Divorce Financing Ladder: Divorce financing isn’t a single solution. I consider it to be a ladder. You start with the simplest and least expensive options first, and if those don’t work, we move down the ladder to look for a solution that works for you.
Bond Yield Premiums
Learn about how a bond yield (or the interest rate of a mortgage based on that bond) is composed of several premiums that compensate investors or lenders for various risks and factors associated with holding the bond (or mortgage).
Divorce Alternative Calculator User Guide
Divorce Alternative Calculator User Guide: This guide explains how to use the Divorce Alternative Calculator, what each section means, and how to interpret the results so you can evaluate whether an alternative mortgage solution might allow you to keep the home.
Divorce Refinance Calculator User Guide
Divorce Refinance Calculator User Guide: This guide walks you through how to use the Divorce Refinance Calculator step-by-step, what each section means, and how to interpret the results so you can make informed decisions about keeping the home.
Debunking “Renting is Good”
Learn why articles saying renting is better than homeownership are just click bait for people struggling with affordable housing.
Mortgages: Grossing Up Income
When applying for a mortgage, to put the applicant in the best light with a lender to get the best rate possible, the question arises, "Can you gross up T4 and dividend income from a corporation?" In Canada, when completing a mortgage application for a client who owns...
Real Estate Makes Canadians Wealthy
Unlock the secret to wealth in Canada; learn how your household net worth is bolstered by smart real estate investments.
Canadian Wealth Gap Widens
Explore the expanding wealth gap in Canada and its impact on economic disparity, home ownership and social equality. Understand today’s financial divide.
Deducting Interest Paid on Investment Income
Explore how deducting interest on your investment income can optimize your taxes in Canada. Learn tips for claiming interest deductions effectively.
Using Your Credit Card to Build Wealth
How to Optimize Payment Frequency for a Fixed Mortgage
Optimizing payment frequency for a fixed-rate mortgage can significantly impact the overall interest you pay and how quickly you pay off your mortgage. Here's how to do it effectively: Understand Different Payment Frequencies Choose Accelerated Options Align Payments...
Second Mortgages Explained
… Position, Priority, and the Power—and Peril—of Layered Debt Second mortgages sit in one of the most misunderstood corners of Canadian real estate finance. They’re powerful, flexible, and sometimes exactly the right tool. They’re also easy to misuse, easy to...
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