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Neo Financial

Neo Financial Mortgages

Neo Financial is a Canadian technology company that has built a modern financial services platform around the idea that Canadians have been underserved by traditional finance for a long time.

Understanding Variable Mortgages

Choosing between a fixed and variable mortgage can feel a bit like deciding whether to pack an umbrella when the sky looks perfectly blue. You may save money by travelling light, or you may get caught in a downpour. The truth is that neither mortgage is automatically...
Understanding Fixed Mortgages

Understanding Fixed Mortgages

Understanding Fixed Mortgages: A fixed mortgage can feel like putting a fence around one of your household’s biggest expenses: for the length of your term, the interest rate—and usually the required principal-and-interest payment—stays put.

NFR

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...
Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rebate

Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rebate Explained

Imagine you and your partner are excited to buy your first home in Ontario. You spend your weekends looking at homes, dreaming of your future, and planning your perfect space. But then, you start to worry about the extra costs, like the land transfer tax. That's when...
Struggling Under Stress Test

Struggling Under the Stress Test

Discover how the mortgage stress test in Canada impacts the ability of Canadians to afford homes and the actionable steps you can take to address this requirement.

Financial And Lifestyle

Balancing Financial and Lifestyle Goals

In the realm of personal finance and lifestyle design, real estate often serves as a cornerstone. It represents not only a significant financial investment but also a profound lifestyle choice. As a former realtor, financial advisor, and mortgage agent, I've observed...
Home Inspection Condition

Condition of Home Inspection

When purchasing a property, the condition of home inspection gives the buyer the right to hire a professional home inspector to assess the property's condition. If significant issues are uncovered, the buyer can renegotiate the price, request repairs, or cancel the...
Mortgage Regulators

Regulating the Canadian Mortgage Industry

The structure of the regulatory framework for the mortgage industry in Canada is intricate and multi-layered, involving federal, provincial, and municipal entities along with key market participants such as the Bank of Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing...
Home Appraisal vs Home Inspection

Home Appraisal vs Home Inspection

Discover the difference between a home inspection and a home appraisal and how those differences impact your purchase and finance decisions.

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

Mortgages: Grossing Up Income

What is a ‘Switch’?

Key Features of a Consumer Proposal in Ontario

Mortgages: Consumer Proposal & Bankruptcy

Key Features of Bankruptcy in Ontario

What are Commitment Fees?

Mortgage Availability in a Flood Zone

Canada’s Mortgage Stress Test

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

Where You Get Your Mortgage

The Disappearing Office Space

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

Ontario’s Worst Crime Cities

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

What is a Trigger Point

How the Trigger Point Impacts Canadians

How to Lock in a Good Rate

How to Take Advantage of Refinancing Opportunities

How to Break a Mortgage

Unaffordable Canadian Cities

Difference between the Economy and Markets

Canadian Real Estate Lacks Capital

How to Control Inflation with Interest Rates

Interest Rates and the Canadian Dollar

The Inverted Yield Curve Omen

How the Bank of Canada Steers the Economy

How Do Credit Scores Work?

How Cred Cards Work

Cred Card Rewards. Who Pays?

The Perfect Time for a Variable Rate Mortgage

What is disability Insurance?

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

10 Fixed Mortgage Strategies

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

Canadian REITS Need Capital

Defaulting on Your Mortgage? Exploring the Consequences and Solutions

Australia’s Warning to Canada

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

Becoming a Mortgage Guarantor

Mortgage Co-Signer: Risks & Responsibilities

Understanding Tenants in Common Ownership

Understanding Joint Tenancy Ownership

Getting a Joint Mortgage

Why the First Time Home Buyer Incentive Program was Cancelled.

Navigating the CMHC Newcomers Program

Manulife One: Mortgage and Bank Account

Canada’s New 30 Year Mortgage

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

Mortgage Document Frustration

 

Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rebate Explained

Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rebate Explained

Imagine you and your partner are excited to buy your first home in Ontario. You spend your weekends looking at homes, dreaming of your future, and planning your perfect space. But then, you start to worry about the extra costs, like the land transfer tax. That's when...

read more
The Mortgage Rate Mirage

The Mortgage Rate Mirage

Your interest rate is only one piece of the mortgage puzzle. In the real world, mortgages have layers. Once you start peeling those layers back, you begin to see the difference between a mortgage that merely looks competitive and one that actually is competitive.

read more
Ontario’s Credit Lock/Freeze Law

Ontario’s Credit Lock/Freeze Law

Ontario Credit Lock/Freeze Law: Ontario has just added a powerful new consumer-protection tool to your financial toolbox: the ability to lock or freeze your credit file. Think of it like putting a digital deadbolt on your credit report. It will not stop every form of fraud, and it will not replace common sense, strong passwords, or careful monitoring, but it can make it much harder for someone to open new credit in your name.

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Mortgage Term: Revolving Loan

Mortgage Term: Revolving Loan

Discover the characteristics of a revolving loan, their relevance to mortgages, and how revolving loans are a key strategy in your financial success.

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Don’t Leave the Lawyer to the Last Minute

Don’t Leave the Lawyer to the Last Minute

Don’t Leave the Lawyer to the Last Minute: Your lawyer protects your legal interests, handles the transfer of ownership, deals with title, coordinates funds, pays out old mortgages, registers new ones, and helps make sure your sale and purchase actually close properly.

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Understanding Mortgage Loan to Value (LTV) Ratio

Understanding Mortgage Loan to Value (LTV) Ratio

As a professional mortgage underwriter in Canada, I often emphasize the importance of the Loan to Value (LTV) ratio in the mortgage qualification process. The LTV ratio is a critical factor in determining the terms of the mortgage for which a borrower qualifies,...

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Understanding Condominium Fees

Understanding Condominium Fees

When considering the purchase of a condominium in Canada, it is essential for potential buyers to understand condominium fees. These fees are a significant component of condo ownership, affecting both budgeting and financing. Here, we will explore the nature of these...

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HELOCs and Hidden Land Tax

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...

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The Pre-Approval Process

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.

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Guide to Mortgage Penalties

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

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Book: “The Program”

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