Personal Finance
Securing Your Today and Tomorrow
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.
The Disappearing Office Space
Real Estate > Personal Finance > Mortgage In recent years, North American cities, particularly Toronto, have witnessed a significant shift in the commercial real estate landscape, marked by increasing vacancy rates in office buildings. This trend, initially...
Leveraging a Living Inheritance
A "living inheritance" is a financial strategy that has gained popularity among older generations looking to support their children's futures while still alive. This approach involves transferring wealth to children or grandchildren during the parents' or...
A New Beginning Through a Living Inheritance
In the quaint town of Cobourg, Ontario, nestled between rolling hills and sparkling waters, lived Tom and Elaine, a couple well into their retirement years. Their life was peaceful, filled with garden walks and afternoon tea sessions, but their hearts often wandered...
Mortgages Allowable Income Sources
Qualifying for a mortgage in Canada hinges on many factors, but none are as critical as income. Lenders scrutinize earnings to gauge an applicant’s financial stability and capacity to service debt. While salaried employment remains the gold standard, the modern...
Gifted Funds and Mortgages
In the ever-evolving landscape of Canadian real estate, rising home prices have made it increasingly challenging for many buyers to enter the market. As a result, gifted funds for down payments have become a significant enabler for many prospective homeowners,...
Where You Get Your Mortgage
Where you get your mortgage can have a big impact on how much you have to pay in regular mortgage payments, how fast you can pay off your house, and what you need to do and have to qualify for. When asked, most Canadians think that 'the bank' is the only place they...
Porting Your Mortgage
Navigating the complexities of mortgage management can be daunting, especially when life's changes necessitate a move. One valuable feature offered by many mortgage lenders in Canada is the ability to port a mortgage. This article delves into what it means to port a...
Canadian REITs Need Capital
Canadian REITs have faced challenges in the past year, but there is hope for a rebound. In this blog post, we dive deeper into the factors influencing the performance of Canadian REITs and explore why the sector needs more capital. From leasing spreads to market valuations, we’ll analyze the key drivers shaping the future of Canadian REITs.
How Does the Stress Test Work?
The mortgage stress test in Canada is applied to determine whether homebuyers can afford their mortgage payments under higher interest rates than the actual rate being offered by the lender. This test is a key requirement for both insured and uninsured mortgages....
Who Are Canada’s Mortgage Finance Corporations?
Mortgage Finance Companies (MFCs) in Canada are financial institutions that specialize in providing mortgage lending and related services. MFCs offer an alternative to traditional bank mortgages (prime lenders) and cater to a variety of borrowers, including those who...
Canada’s Mortgage Stress Test
The implementation of the mortgage stress test in Canada has been a significant regulatory measure with far-reaching implications for the mortgage industry, housing market, social dynamics, financial stability, and the broader Canadian economy. This article provides...
Does the Stress Test Apply to Private Mortgages?
The mortgage stress test, as mandated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), primarily applies to federally regulated financial institutions, such as banks. However, private mortgage lenders, which are not federally regulated, are not...
Understanding Cash Back Mortgages
Cash Back Mortgages. Home buying is a naturally expensive thing to be doing. You not only have to pay for the house, but you have substantial closing costs as well. You might want to make your new house ‘home ready’ by getting a few new pieces of furniture and don’t forget new window coverings like blinds, drapes, and curtains (never cheap). Wouldn’t it be nice to get a few thousand dollars back when you fund your mortgage to cover these costs?
Canada’s Non-Federally Regulated Mortgage Providers
Mortgage providers in Canada are either federally or provincially regulated. Canada's chartered banks are federally regulated while many other lenders (see below) are not. Getting a mortgage from a non-federally regulated mortgage provider in Canada has both...
How the Trigger Point Impacts Canadians
With interest rate hikes, homeowners are facing the potential detonation of a financial bomb tied to their mortgages, the trigger rate. Let's get into how a trigger point on a fixed-payment, variable mortgage can have such a strong impact on Canadians: Impact of...
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