Mortgage Blog
Canada's Mortgage Experts
Category: Miscellaneous (72 posts)
You can buy a property with 5% down even if you're not a first time buyer
November 23, 2020 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
There is a misconception out there that you can only buy a property with a 5% down payment if you’re a First Time Home Buyer. Well, I’m here to tell you that isn&rs ...
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Here are 5 things you should know about your mortgage
July 27, 2020 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Not all mortgages are created equal. When looking for a mortgage, there are many factors that come into play. The first and movest obvious is the interest rate. ...
read more7 Fun Facts About Mortgages;)
May 26, 2020 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Buying a home with a 5% down payment is available to everyone. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a First Time Home Buyer, this is available to anyone as lon ...
read moreShould I Help My Adult Child Buy a House?
February 25, 2020 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Should I help my adult child buy a house? (I thought this was such a great read by Bruce Sellery in Yahoo Finance I had to share it!) Q: House prices have gone up so much in the last few years t ...
read moreWhat is Leverage?
November 19, 2019 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Quite simply, it's the ability to do more with less. If you wanted to change the tire on your car, you wouldn't be able to lift the car on it's own. But, with the help of a car j ...
read moreCosts Associated with Buying a Home
September 16, 2019 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Whether you're buying your first house or your next house, it's very important to plan ahead and consider all the costs associated with buying. ...
read moreGetting close to retirement? There's mortgage options for that!
June 12, 2019 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
You might be thinking 'I'm a long way off from retirement', and if so, chances are you know someone who could use this information so feel free to pass it on! ...
read moreSaying goodbye to your mortgage faster
May 10, 2019 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Managing Your Existing Mortgage Although getting a mortgage is exciting as it allows you to become a homeowner, a mortgage is, in fact, a lot of debt. So if you have a mortgage, y ...
read more5 Things to Consider When Renewing Your Mortgage
April 17, 2019 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
When your mortgage term comes to an end, look at your renewal options. Here's a list of things to consider to help you save money: ...
read moreIs RIGHT NOW a good time to buy a home?
March 18, 2019 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
If you've been thinking about buying a new (to you) property, the doom and gloom of the media might cause you to question whether right now is a good time to buy? Rather than asking wh ...
read moreMortgage Review- I know I sound like a broken record!
January 17, 2019 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Mortgage Review I'm usually pretty good at taking care of myself-usually. Getting enough sleep, excercise, (mostly) healthy eating, and regular check ups. The past few years I've le ...
read moreStart 2019 Fresh: Make Sure Your Mortgage Strategy is Working for You
January 8, 2019 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
The beginning of 2018 saw the introduction of a stress test for conventional mortgages, which changed the mortgage marketplace considerably, essentially making it more difficult for al ...
read moreIf you've got equity you've got options!
October 9, 2018 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
If You've Got Equity, You've Got Options! If you've been a homeowner for some time now, chances are your property value has increased significantly over the past severa ...
read moreHow to Get Rid of Your Mortgage
September 17, 2018 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
How to Get Rid of Your Mortgage!Mortgages are a strange animal. On the one hand, it's mortgages that empower home ownership, while on the other hand, they represent a huge amount of debt. For most o ...
read moreKeeping the family home in case of divorce
July 11, 2018 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Keeping the Family Home in Case of Divorce If you happen to be going through, or considering a divorce or separation, you might not be aware that there are mortgage products ...
read moreDon't make this mistake when you're buying
June 21, 2018 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
So you're considering buying a new place? Great! Here is some tried, tested, and true advice that you can use along the way. Regardless of how many homes you have owned in the past, how good your c ...
read moreIs your mortgage up for renewal in 2018?
May 2, 2018 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Did you know that 47% of homeowners have mortgages scheduled to renew in 2018? Here are three things you can do to make sure you get the best renewal possible. ...
read moreBC's Speculation Tax
February 26, 2018 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Some things to ponder with regards to the recent BC provincial budget. It remains to be seen whether affordability issues will be resolved as a result of the additional tax collection. The centerpi ...
read moreAre you ready for the Spring market?
February 15, 2018 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
If you're thinking about buying a property this spring, it's never too early to get your ducks in a row. Even if you've been through the mortgage process several times, your first step should ...
read moreNew Year- Time to Review your Mortgage
January 17, 2018 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Happy New Year, 2018 is here! If you're anything like me, you're looking to set some goals to make some real progress this coming year! I can't help you with your goals in the gym, but ...
read moreNow is the best time to plan your mortgage strategy!
November 21, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
With all the recent changes by the Canadian government tightening mortgage qualification, whether you are looking to buy your first home, or move into your forever home, you can never be too prepared. ...
read moreNew Mortgage Rules Mean 21% Less Buying Power
October 24, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institution of Canada has just released their new and more restrictive mortgage rules. These rules are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2018.&n ...
read moreBank of Canada raises rates again
September 19, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
The Bank of Canada Raises Rates The Bank of Canada (BoC) recently surprised markets when it raised its overnight lending rate by 0.25%. Another rate hike was expected before the end of ...
read moreWhat you need to know about the Equifax hack
September 11, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
MONTREAL The Canadian Press Sept 8 2017— Credit monitoring company Equifax says it was hit between mid-May and July by a high-tech heist of sensitive personal information from about 143 mil ...
read moreWould-Be Buyer ordered to pay $360,000
August 18, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Would-Be Buyer Ordered to Pay $360,000 Recently a would-be buyer in Surrey, BC was ordered by the BC Supreme Court to pay a seller $360,000 for failing to complete on a purc ...
read moreWhat does the Bank of Canada rate increase mean for you?
July 18, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Bank Of Canada Raises Interest Rate by 0.25%The Bank of Canada increased the overnight interest rate to 0.75% from 0.50% on Wed. July 12, 2017. It was the first rate increase in 7 years.The BOC will c ...
read moreWant to pay down your mortgage faster?
June 20, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
3 Steps to Pay Off a 25 Year Mortgage in 16 YearsHere's a strategy that could help you save thousands of dollars in unnecessary interest, and help you pay off your mortgage faster.These are simple ste ...
read moreRates Based on My Credit Score?
May 1, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Risk-Based Pricing & Credit Scores The recent mortgage lending rule changes have created increased complexity in the mortgage marketplace. One of the newer changes is risk-based pricing. Basicall ...
read moreWhat is this 'qualifying rate' people are talking about?
March 28, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
The Department of Finance introduced the Qualifying Rate in 2010 as a new way to assess borrower eligibility and ensure borrowers can handle their payments should rates begin to rise. The qualifying r ...
read moreHow Do Changes to the Mortgage Rules Affect You?
February 20, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Have you ever noticed when gas prices change, they change at every gas station almost immediately? No one can prove there is price fixing among the Oil Oligarchy in Canada, but as an average Canadian, ...
read morePaydown Plan-take action!
January 19, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
I RESOLVE… to clear these holiday bills and start building wealth.Most Canadians suffer with their highest personal debt load in January, when the “holiday hit” arrives and your cre ...
read moreYour Annual Mortgage Tuneup
January 10, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Signs you may need a mortgage tune-upDid you know that just like your car or your home, you mortgage can benefit from a seasonal inspection! Your car gets taken in for regular servicing to keep it run ...
read moreMortgage Rule Changes Will Raise Rates
January 3, 2017 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
One of the largely unnoticed factors of the recent change was the effect on low ratio mortgage insurance. It can be a confusing topic, so instead of breaking down what it is and how it works, here's a ...
read moreProtect your home when you go on vacation
December 1, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
5 essential tips to protect your home when you go on vacation 1. Have someone check on your home regularly and pick up mail, flyers and newspapers; items that you can’t put a stop deliv ...
read moreWinter Home Maintenance Tips
November 3, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Home maintenance tips tor the most grueling season - winter Your house is an important investment that you want to keep in tip top shape, especially if you are planning to be there for the foreseeabl ...
read moreTips to Stop Your House From Being Robbed (by Ex-Burglars)
October 21, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Many of the ‘clever tricks’ home owners rely on to keep burglars out - such as leaving lights on at night - simply don’t work. That’s according to people who really know - ex-b ...
read moreBank of Canada Leaves Benchmark Rate Unchanged
October 21, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
The Bank of Canada announced this week that it is holding the benchmark interest rate steady at 0.5%. With the Ministry of Finance introducing new mortgage tightening measures to help cool the ho ...
read moreMoving Tips You Need To Know
September 1, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Moving Tips That Will Make Your Life SoMuch EasierAnnie Abbey, Lifestyle BloggerAugust 20, 2016When it comes to moving, you can say that I have done it a bit too much for my age and I havedone it many ...
read moreGoing through a seperation or divorce?
July 5, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Going through a separation or divorce? Your home can be the asset that gives both partners a fresh start. If you have a final separation agreement, talk to me about how the value in y ...
read more5 Big Mistakes Homebuyers Make in a Sellers Market
June 22, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
5 Big Mistakes Homebuyers Make in a Seller’s MarketPosted on June 15, 2016 by melanie The one thing that most would be home buyers do understand is that the real estate markets andclimates ...
read moreTake advantage of the Spring real estate market!
April 5, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Sunny Days! It’s true the uncertainty in the economy is making some Canadians anxious about their financial security. But the current environment is also creating opportunities, given that we ...
read morePreventing Identity Theft
March 22, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Identity theft can cause you huge headaches, but having your house sold without your knowledge is among the worst kind of outcome that can result. Take steps to prevent identity theft and fraud by : ...
read more7 Signs You May Need a Mortgage Tune-up
February 29, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Seven signs you may need a mortgage tune-up Did you know that just like your car or your home, you mortgage can benefit from a seasonal inspection! Your car gets taken in for regular servicing ...
read moreAttention First Time Home Buyers!
February 4, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
First-time homebuyers can tap their RRSPs to help with a home purchase Thinking about buying your first home? Wish you had saved up a good down payment? Maybe you have, but didn’t know ...
read moreAre Canadians saving enough for retirement?
January 28, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Many Canadians think of retirement as a time filled with vacations, getaways to the cottage and spending more time on hobbies and interests. However, there are many other factors to consider ...
read moreJanuary bills? I can help!
January 19, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Debt consolidation can offer big relief If your debt is piling up – credit cards, store cards, car and loan payments– then the interest that you’re paying could be standin ...
read moreNew Down Payment Rules in February
January 5, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
House over $500,000? New down payment rules in February. On February 15, 2016, minimum down payment rules are changing in Canada – for homes worth more than $500,000. The change is straightforw ...
read moreIt May be Time for a Mortgage Review!
January 4, 2016 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
It may be time for a Mortgage Review! Life doesn’t stand still, which means your mortgage needs may have changed. Here are some reasons to bring your mortgage in for a professional review: ...
read moreFinancial Comfort and Joy
November 18, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Financial comfort and joy It’s tempting to overspend at this time of the year so take a quick assessment of your financial situation before you get started on your holiday shopping. It ...
read moreMonoline - what's that?
November 4, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Mortgage choice - monoline lenders Finding a perfect mortgage that fits your life is like finding the perfect home. It’s an important decision that requires a lot of shopping around. Th ...
read moreCrunch a few numbers this September!
September 1, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
The brisk back-to-work attitude of September makes it a great time to review your finances. Did you spend a little more than expected on your summer vacation? Maybe this year you took the plunge on ...
read moreYour mortgage could be a goldmine of potential savings!
July 28, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Your mortgage could be a goldmine of potential savings A penny saved is a penny earned! By making the right decisions, your mortgage could be a goldmine of potential savings. With access to a ...
read moreSmooth move! Nine tips to survive the buy/sell
July 8, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Smooth move! Nine tips to survive the buy/sell So there’s a move in your future. It can be a stressful juggling act: selling one home, buying another. We deal with this all the time, and have s ...
read moreShow me the money! What you need to know about your down payment.
June 3, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Show me the money! What you need to know about your downpayment. You’ve got your downpayment and you’re ready to go. Congratulations! Soon you’ll need to verify that downpayment for ...
read more10 Steps to Home Ownership-Understanding the Mortgage Process
May 6, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
10 STEPS TO HOME OWNERSHIP. UNDERSTANDING THE MORTGAGE PROCESS. Dreaming of being in your very own home in the Okanagan this summer? Maybe it’s not as far away as you think. In fact, you ...
read moreFACEOFF: Bank vs. Broker
April 21, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
FACEOFF: Bank vs. Broker We’re in hockey playoffs, so let’s talk about the faceoff: bank versus broker. The fact is, there’s really no contest on this one. The broker wins the ...
read moreA peek behind deeply discounted 5 year rates
April 6, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
When considering a deeply discounted 5-year rate, keep in mind that cheapest isn’t always best. Strangely, we know that’s true when we’re shopping for anything else - but we still te ...
read moreWatch Out for the Collateral Charge Mortgage
March 4, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Watch out for the collateral charge mortgage. It sounds like a good idea… and sometimes it is. A “collateral charge mortgage” is offered by several Canadian banks. Here’s how ...
read moreBuy and renovate for the perfect abode with a mortgage for fixer uppers
February 19, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Many homebuyers looking at older properties find themselves in a common predicament: they’ve found a property that suits them, but it needs some costly and immediate upgrades. Many ...
read moreNever miss out on great tax-time freebies!
February 12, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Here are two tax-time advantages available for upcoming first-time buyers and those who took the plunge last year. The 90-day boost. If you’re buying your first home now and it’ll be at ...
read moreThe Cost to Break Your Mortgage
January 29, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Most homeowners should expect to pay a penalty if they want to break their mortgage to get a better rate or for a complete refinance. Homeowners in 5 year fixed mortgages often look to break the ...
read moreFixed or Variable-Rate Mortgage?
January 22, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
“Wow!” look at the mortgage rate those guys are advertising! Your worries are over, you’re thinking. Just lock in a rate like that for the next five years, and you’ve got ...
read moreHoliday Bills?
January 15, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Do you need a Personalized Paydown Plan for your holiday bills? Most Canadians suffer with their highest personal debt load in January, when the “holiday hit” arrives and your credit card ...
read moreAn annual mortgage checkup can be a smart financial move
January 8, 2015 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
An annual mortgage checkup can be a smart financial move On a yearly basis, it’s a good idea to have a mortgage professional check under the hood of your mortgage. Life doesn’t st ...
read moreTop 10 Mortgage Tips for 2015
December 31, 2014 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Our top ten mortgage tips for a smart 2015 This new year, take control of your financial future by thinking smart about your mortgage. Here are our top 10 tips to help you do just that! Get a mor ...
read moreWarmest Holiday Wishes!
December 24, 2014 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
WARMEST HOLIDAY WISHES! May you and your family enjoy the five traditional gifts of the season: happiness, love, health, prosperity and peace. Merry Christmas everyone! ...
read moreGetting That Downpayment: It might be easier than you think!
December 11, 2014 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
GETTING THAT DOWNPAYMENT: It might be easier than you think! For many first-time homebuyers, saving the 5 per cent downpayment is one of the big obstacles to home ownership, especially if you're payin ...
read moreFive Tips to 'Financial Fitness'
December 4, 2014 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Get the best mortgage rate: Five Tips to “financial fitness” When the time is right for you to buy a home, make sure you are financially fit and eligible for the best possible mortgage ra ...
read more2 Out of 3 Don't Shop at Renewal
January 20, 2014 | Posted by: Dana Stauber
Every now and then we see a mortgage stat that’s a jaw-dropper. This finding from Manulife Bank is one of them. It suggests there are a lot more people with money to burn than one might expect. ...
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