Before we start, something needs to be made clear: B.C.’s First-Time Home Buyers’ Program is not the same thing as First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit and it is also not the same as the Home Buyers Plan. The First-Time Home Buyers’ Program in British Columbia gives individuals the opportunity to reduce or eliminate the property […]

If you have have overextended yourself with credit card debt, or have consolidated all of your consumer debt into your mortgage, or are at the point where you just want to cancel your credit cards, we have the 3 steps for you to follow to get your credit back in check. DO NOT CANCEL ALL […]

What is the maximum mortgage amount one now qualifies for with the rules that came into effect on October 17th? Short answer: LESS. A minimum of 20% less, in fact. Before October 17th, the lenders calculated the maximum mortgage amount based on the contract rate of 2.49%, but now it is based on the Bank of […]

Mortgages are like vehicles. A bank is similar to the brand, Ford or Toyota for example. How long you have a mortgage before it’s time to renew is like the model, a Fusion or Camry. The rate is similar to the car’s paint color, and the mortgage benefits such as prepayment privileges and portability are […]

Most people believe that being mortgage free is their plan for retirement. That means paying off your mortgage as fast as possible becomes the priority and having other forms of investments are considered only after your property is paid off. It is important to decide what option will give you the balanced diversification and protect […]

In the Vancouver market, we often hear about the benchmark price, the average price, and the median home price. Usually that of a specific neighbourhood or municipality. However, what buyers rarely hear is the average price of the bottom 80% of listings of the Greater Vancouver Area. Y’know, the properties that the overwhelming majority of us live […]

As a mortgage professional with Dominion Lending Centres, I do everything I can to maintain a high credit score. For example, I pay off my credit card in full, or at least the monthly minimum, on time every month. I don’t overuse credit and I stay under 75% of my credit limit. However. . . […]

Looking to increase your homes property value? Here are five of the best renovations you can do to your home to increase property value. These five renovations can sometimes have a return on investment 5-6x what they cost. # 5 Flooring Flooring is one of the most important aspects of your house. You will see […]

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) issued its quarterly housing market assessment and outlook yesterday, suggesting that, for the first time ever, there are “problematic conditions” in housing markets at the national level in Canada (see table below for details). As well, CMHC expects national housing starts and MLS sales to decline slightly in 2017 before stabilizing in […]

With the recent changes to the mortgage rules in Canada, we take a moment to look back at the evolution of the mortgage, and to highlight these new changes and what they mean. LOOKING BACK BEFORE 2008 During this time, lending and mortgages were much more laid back! There was 100% financing available, 40 year amortizations, […]