In case you didn’t know, construction mortgages are available through mortgage brokers! Even though the options for lenders are slim, it can still be accomplished. Unlike regular purchase mortgages where the funds are released on closing, the funds for construction mortgages are released in stages. With typically 15-month construction periods, here are the following advances: […]

With all of the rule changes imposed by the federal and provincial governments around mortgage financing and real estate it may be more difficult to access financing. But don’t take it personally – sometimes it’s not you it’s the property. When lenders underwrite your application for approval they look at you as a borrower but […]

With the importance of real estate in Canada, it is vital to understand how the various professionals in the sector operate when buying a home. Sooooooo… what is the difference between a Mortgage Specialist & a Mortgage Broker? At the surface they sound the same • They both arrange mortgages • They both can offer […]

Are you in the market for a new home? That’s great – but if you’re not already pre-approved from your mortgage broker, be sure to read on. Pre-approvals are very important for two reasons. They give you confidence in knowing that a specific amount of financing is available for you. A pre-approval can put you […]

Insurance coverage is something that everyone is “pitched” at some point or another in their life. Unfortunately, a lot of us have a negative attitude towards insurance or warranty as it is perceived as being a cash grab. Yes, if you are purchasing a flat screen T.V., that extra 2-year warranty for $100 might be […]

Some of the last round of changes from the government regarding qualifying for a mortgage were that if you have a balance on your unsecured line of credit, then to qualify for mortgage the lenders require that we use a 3% payment of the balance of the line of credit. Simple math is, if you […]

To get out of debt, you need a plan and you need to execute that plan. That’s why I’ve created this simple, five-step, get-out-of-debt checklist that can help you leave that financial burden behind you. As you work on your plan, you’ll need to make all necessary adjustments to your budget along the way so […]

Put yourself in a bank or lender’s shoes. Someone comes into your branch and asks you to politely loan them $300,000. You are a big bank, but $300,000 is still a lot of money. How do you ensure this person is going to pay back the money you loan them, on time, and in the […]

HELOC, Refinance or Second/Third Mortgages? Which one should you choose to go with? If you have decided to tap into the equity in your home, the three can seem to be interchangeable at times and for many consumers can be a difficult decision on which one to select. We have laid out seven questions to […]