28 Feb

FIXED VERSUS VARIABLE INTEREST RATES

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

Fixed Interest Rates This is usually the more popular choice for clients when it comes to deciding on which type of interest rate they want. There are many reasons why, but the most unsurprising answer is always safety. With a fixed interest rate, you know exactly what you are paying every month and you know […]

Read More
27 Feb

HOW THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY BECAME GREEN

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

When I started working as a broker in 2005, the mortgage industry and the financial industry in general weren’t very eco-friendly. Let’s face it. When someone buys a home, there’s a paper trail. Starting with the mortgage pre-approval which can run four pages, the Offer to Purchase, which is another 12 pages, income documents, notices […]

Read More
26 Feb

WHAT IS A COLLATERAL MORTGAGE?

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

A collateral mortgage is a way of registering your mortgage on title. This type of registration is sometimes used by banks and credit unions. Monoline lenders, on the other hand, rarely register your mortgage as a collateral charge – which is an all-indebtedness charge that allows you to access the equity in the home over […]

Read More
23 Feb

6 REASONS TO GET A HOME INSPECTION BEFORE YOU BUY

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

In an active housing market sometimes buyers are urged by their realtors to make an offer with no conditions. As a mortgage broker this always makes my heart skip a beat. I know from experience that financing can go sideways and you need to be sure it’s in place before removing conditions. Another item that […]

Read More
22 Feb

FORECLOSURE NOT AUTOMATIC ON DEFAULT

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

According to a recent case tried in the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Winters v Hunking, 2017 ONCA 909 as summarized by Scott McGrath of WeirFoulds LLP, Foreclosure is not automatic on default. In an interesting article posted December 8, 2017 in Mondaq, Scott McGrath reminds us that the Court may have acknowledged the Lender […]

Read More
21 Feb

RRSP – USE HOME BUYERS’ PLAN (HBP) MORE THAN ONCE

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

Under the home buyers’ plan, a participant and his or her spouse or common- law partner is allowed to withdraw up to $25,000 from his or her RRSP to buy a home. Before 1999, only the first- time home buyers are permitted to buy a home under this plan. Now a person can take an […]

Read More
19 Feb

SELF-EMPLOYED? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MORTGAGES

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

Why, why, why it is so challenging for entrepreneurs to obtain a mortgage in Canada? If you’re among the 2.7 million Canadians who are self-employed, regrettably your income is not as easy to document as someone who’s traditionally employed. Since 2008, mortgage regulations in Canada have made it more challenging for those who work for […]

Read More
16 Feb

PRE-SALES- SAFE OF NEW RULES?

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

The best part about pre-sales, especially for first time home buyers, is it allows you to reserve a unit for the cost of a deposit and have a significant amount of time to get everything in order. You can save money while renting or living at home, arrange a mortgage that best suits your needs, […]

Read More
15 Feb

IMPROVING YOUR CREDIT SCORE

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

Your credit score is a big factor when you apply for a mortgage. It can dictate how good your interest rate will be and the type of mortgage you qualify for. Mortgage Professionals are experienced helping clients with a wide range of credit scores so we can find you a mortgage product even if your […]

Read More
14 Feb

THE ROLE OF THE INSURER IN A MORTGAGE

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

Any time a down payment for the mortgage is less than 20%, it is required that the mortgage must be insured thru an Insurer. Why does this mortgage need to be insured, who provides this type of insurance, what does this insurance mean, who is the beneficiary, how much does this insurance cost? All these […]

Read More