Archive
Article Archive
Ontario Variable Rate Mortgage Strategy
Reverse Mortgage: Independent Legal Advice (ILA)
Reverse Mortgages and the Affluent Retiree
Funding Your Retirement: Reverse Mortgage
Reverse Mortgage to a Second Dream Home
Reverse Mortgage: Cushion Against Inflation
Struggling Financially as a Senior
Key Features of a Consumer Proposal in Ontario
Mortgages: Consumer Proposal & Bankruptcy
Key Features of Bankruptcy in Ontario
Mortgage Availability in a Flood Zone
Who are Canada’s Private Lenders?
Who are Canada’s Mortgage Finance Corporations?
Canada’s Non-Federally Regulated Mortgage Providers
Who are Canada’s Mortgage Investment Corporations
Does the Stress Test Apply to Private Mortgages?
How Does the Stress Test Work?
American Financial Crisis in Canada?
What is Canada’s Mortgage Default Risk?
Why Canada Needed the Mortgage Stress Test?
What does the Stress Test Prevent?
5 Reasons to Escape the Rent Trap
Why Mortgages are Important to Canada’s Banks
Price of Commuting: Lost Time, Lost Life
Price of Commuting: The Daily Journey into Toronto
Is Ontario’s 407ETR The World’s Most Expensive Highway?
10 Ways Interest Rates Impact Housing Prices
10 Reasons Why Investment Demand Impacts Real Estate Prices
10 Ways Inflation Impacts Real Estate Prices
10 Ways Economic Conditions Impact Real Estate Prices
10 Reasons Real Estate is So Expensive
10 Ways Supply and Demand Impact Real Estate Prices
10 Ways ‘Location’ Impacts Real Estate Prices.
10 Ontario cities with Strong Property Value Appreciation
10 Fastest Growing Ontario Cities
Ontario’s Top Historical Cities
10 Factors Impacting Housing Supply
10 Shortest Ontario Commute Cities
Ontario’s 10 Most Affordable Cities
The Most Wanted Community Amenities
Ontario’s Top Lifestyle Cities
10 Variable Mortgage Strategies
How the Trigger Point Impacts Canadians
How to Take Advantage of Refinancing Opportunities
Difference between the Economy and Markets
Canadian Real Estate Lacks Capital
How to Control Inflation with Interest Rates
Interest Rates and the Canadian Dollar
How the Bank of Canada Steers the Economy
The Perfect Time for a Variable Rate Mortgage
How to Choose the Right Term Length for a Fixed Mortgage
What is Critical Illness Insurance
How to Make the Most of Prepayment Privileges for a Fixed Mortgage
Why Life Insurance is the Best Mortgage Insurance
How to Optimize Payment Frequency for a Fixed Mortgage
Record Wildfires Impact Lumber Pricing
How Alberta Leaving CPP Impacts You
Why Canadian Interest Rates Remain High
How Much is Airbnb Driving Up Rents
Experts Predict Canadian Dollar Fall
Re-Zoning to Create Affordable, Safe Neighbourhoods?
Why America Thrives and Canada Struggles
Small Business Debt: A Growing Concern for Canada’s Economy
The Housing Market and the Power of Lower Rates
Navigating Changing Interest Rates and Debt in Canada
The Importance of Private Sector Involvement in Affordable Housing
Investing in Real Estate and Infrastructure: Harnessing Long-Term Cash Flows
Defaulting on Your Mortgage? Exploring the Consequences and Solutions
Why a 3-Year-Fixed Mortgage May be a Bad Choice in 2024
Buy a property for $10 in Ontario: Town Makes Homeownership Affordable
Why Immigrants are Crucial for Canada’s Economy
Millennials Brace for Economic Pain
Toronto Real Estate: Dominance of Investors and Its Implications
Are You Prepared? Homeowners Brace for Mortgage Renewals
40-Year Canadian Mortgages: What you need to know.
London Addresses Homeless Crisis
The Impact of Mortgage Rates on Residential Property Values
Household Financial Stress Over High-Interest Rates
What’s So Special About 2% Inflation
How Much is Air BnB Driving Up Rent Prices?
Know the Dow, Build Your Down Payment
Mortgage Cash-Out Refinance in Ontario
Mortgage Refinance Options in Ontario
Mortgage Co-Signer: Risks & Responsibilities
Understanding Tenants in Common Ownership
Understanding Joint Tenancy Ownership
Why the First Time Home Buyer Incentive Program was Cancelled.
Navigating the CMHC Newcomers Program
Manulife One: Mortgage and Bank Account
Leverage Simcoe County Homeownership Program
Leveraging Peel’s BNI Homeownership Bridge Program
Leveraging GTA’s Habitat for Humanity
Leveraging the Kingston Homeownership Program
Leveraging the Dufferin Country Homeownership Program
Leveraging the Chatham/Kent Homeownership Program
Leveraging Gateway Muskoka Homeownership Program
Brantford’s B-Home Homeownership Program
Region of Waterloo Affordable Home Ownership Program
Leverage the Niagara Homeownership Program
Regional and Municipal Homeownership Programs
Understanding Condo Reserve Funds
Discover what a condo reserve fund is, the signs it may be insufficient, and how to discover and avoid condos with insufficient reserve funds.
Who’s Behind Those Appraisals?
If you’ve ever been knee-deep in a mortgage deal and heard terms tossed around like desktop appraisal, drive-by appraisal, or full appraisal, you might wonder—who exactly is doing these things? Is there some wizard behind the curtain pulling numbers out of thin air? Not quite. Behind every appraisal type is a different process, and more importantly, a different professional or tool driving the outcome.
A Mortgage is a Simple Loan
Mortgage is a simple loan: If you’ve ever said or heard someone say, “A mortgage is a mortgage,” you’re not alone. On the surface, it seems simple: you borrow money to buy a home, pay it back with interest, and that’s that. But here’s the truth — a mortgage isn’t just a loan. It’s a complex financial instrument built on layers of policy, risk analysis, and economics that would make most people’s heads spin.
10 Reasons Getting a Mortgage Is Hard
If you’ve ever applied for a mortgage and thought, “Why do they need so much paperwork?” or “Didn’t I already send that?”, you’re not alone. Mortgage underwriting — the process where lenders decide whether to approve your mortgage application — can feel like a black hole of requests, reviews, and head-scratching delays. But there’s a good reason for it.
Not an Exit Strategy
Not an Exit Strategy: If you’re considering—or already sitting in—a private mortgage, you’ve likely heard the term “exit strategy” tossed around. Maybe your mortgage agent mentioned it. Maybe your lawyer flagged it. Maybe you nodded and moved on without really knowing what it means.
Check Your Smoke and CO Detectors
You know that saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? Nowhere does that ring truer than when we’re talking about smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These small, often-overlooked gadgets are the unsung heroes of every home. But here’s the kicker: too many homes across Canada still have outdated or improperly wired detectors, and that’s a recipe for disaster.
Marriage, Mortgage, Title, Death & Divorce
This article aims to shed light on the nuanced dynamics of property division in Ontario through multiple scenarios.
Mortgage Application: Paying Support
Learn how paying child and or spousal support impacts your mortgage application and your tax situation.
How Much Can You Private?
If you’ve ever wondered, “How much can I actually borrow with a private mortgage?” you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions I hear, especially when someone is tight on cash flow or doing a big renovation project. Private mortgages can seem like the magic solution—fast money, fewer questions, and a focus on the property’s value rather than your credit score or income.
Realtors: The Power of Structure
You know the drill—Monday starts with a hot lead, a leaking lockbox, three inspection calls, and a text from your kid asking who’s picking them up. By noon your brain feels like a browser with 47 tabs open. The antidote isn’t “push harder”; it’s building a rhythm the mind can trust. Structure isn’t a straitjacket—it’s the scaffolding that keeps you calm, sharp, and commission-ready when surprises hit.
The Coming Divorce Boom
… How Falling Home Prices Might Finally Set People Free” You’ve probably heard the old saying: “Love may fade, but mortgages last forever.” It’s darkly funny — until you realize how true it’s become in today’s Canada. Over the past few years, home prices have...
How Do Commercial Mortgages Work?
Now, commercial mortgages sound big, scary, and complicated to a lot of people, especially if you’ve only dealt with residential financing before. But truthfully? Once you understand how they work, you’ll realize it’s just another tool — one with a few extra moving parts and a little more paperwork.
Handling Mortgage Obligations During Divorce
While divorce agreements or court orders may allocate property ownership and financial responsibility, these directives do not automatically release either party from joint liability under the mortgage contract. Lenders require specific actions to remove one party, making it essential to understand your options and obligations.
Articles of Incorporation and Your Ownership
… What mortgage lenders look For and how they treat ownership interest If you’re self-employed and running your business through a corporation, you’ve probably come across your Articles of Incorporation at some point—maybe when your accountant first set up your...
Use My Mortgage Stress-Test Calculator and Buy Smarter
You’re thinking about buying a home—or maybe refinancing the one you’ve got. Exciting stuff! But then that phrase pops up: “mortgage stress test.” Suddenly it feels less like house-hunting and more like prepping for a pop quiz. Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Most...
Did You Miss Your Mortgage Renewal?
I get it. Life happens. The kids need new cleats, work is busy, and before you know it, that thick envelope from your lender sits unopened on the kitchen counter for weeks. Or maybe you saw the email and thought, “I’ll deal with it later.” But here’s the thing—ignoring your mortgage renewal package can cost you big time. Let’s talk about what really happens when you don’t respond to your lender’s offer, and why taking action (even just a small one) can save you thousands.
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
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