This is the fourth part of a series by Pam Pikkert of things the average mortgage professional wished people knew so that they would not be held back by inadvertent missteps. Life can go sideways and that is a fact. Illness, divorce, death, longest recession in 30 years or whatever the cause is, before you […]

With low rate offerings over the past several years and a struggling economy, some homeowners chose to lock into a longer term mortgage even if the interest rate was a bit higher. If you are one of those people who feel stuck in a high rate 10 year fixed mortgage you may be wondering if […]

Every year since October 2008 it’s become more and more difficult to obtain a mortgage. The government claims to be casting a safety net over the Canadian housing industry via stiffer mortgage regulations. What do you need to know to help prepare yourself for a home purchase, refinance, debt consolidation, or even a simple renewal? […]

Every homebuyer eagerly anticipates closing day. With the home purchase process completed, ownership of the property transfers from the seller to the buyer – you! Closing date is negotiated as a condition of sale. You’ll typically have several weeks between the date that your agreement to purchase (sales contract) is signed and your closing date. […]

If you’re looking to buy a new home, one of the most difficult things can be putting together a down payment for the mortgage. So how much do you really need to put together before you can get into the home of your dreams? Let’s take a look at some of the different options, with […]

Oh Canada; Our home and Native Land. The land of opportunity. You’ve arrived in a new country with hopes and dreams. If you’re an immigrant like me, one of these dreams is to own a home, and what better way to put down roots. The first thing you want to do is open a bank […]

The following is from the Spring issue of Dominion Lending Centres’ Our House Magazine. A Halifax-based entrepreneur runs her flourishing fragrance business from home From her home in Halifax, N.S., Barb Stegemann could be on the phone with a supplier halfway around the world and have her daughter’s favourite casserole in the oven at the […]

This is the third part of a series by Pam Pikkert of things the average mortgage professional wished people knew so that they would not be held back by inadvertent missteps. The next installment in the things we wished people knew series is targeted at the self-employed. This intrepid group of risk takers are entrepreneurial […]

Most working Canadians have an income range in the middle class. This income class includes teachers, firefighters, plumbers, engineers, nurses, construction managers and chefs – workers from across the economic spectrum. They provide and consume the bulk of services that keep society afloat, driving economic growth and investment with every purchase. The middle class also […]

I’ve heard brokers say more than once that mortgages are a commodity, by definition a commodity is a basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other commodities of the same type. That doesn’t sound like mortgages to me. While the core product is always the same, money lent that is secured by real […]