So you have worked hard and saved up a down payment of $25,000. What do you buy a condo or a house with a suite? Sometimes the decision is an easy one while for some it may not be as obvious. If you have a specific neighborhood in mind which is high density condo living […]

So last we left off, I was discussing how Pink Shirt Day is important to me, and should be for everyone. How this one day is meant to be a day to start a conversation that should be lasting for 365 days per year. I can tell you that Dave Teixeira, VP Marketing, Public Relations […]

If you are considering building a new home, then you need to be educated on the difference between draw and completion mortgages. When you meet with a builder, there is tons of terminology and information you should be aware of so you are properly covered. Completion mortgages mean that the builder does not expect any […]

There is a misconception out there that once you’re pre-approved, you’re good to go. A pre-approval simply means that based on your CURRENT income, expenses, down payment and credit you SHOULD be able to get fully approved once you find the right property (this is the first half of the equation). Many places won’t even […]

Buying your first home is often the largest financial commitment you will have made and just coming up with the down payment is a difficult task for many! Then there are the legal fees, property transfer fees, disbursements and all those other costs that can really add up, creating a huge dent in your finances! […]

With mortgage interest rates at historical lows, it is a wonderful time for first time home buyers to take the leap into the market. But there are some considerations and preparations to be made before starting the process. A higher level of bank scrutiny has come into play now that the governance of CMHC has […]

If a buyer can’t obtain a mortgage due to poor credit, employment history, lack of down payment or income — most lenders will consider lending if there is someone to act as co-signor or guarantor for a mortgage. The two options provide different requirements. Co-signer or guarantor for a mortgage, which is best? People often […]

New credit reporting and what it says about you and your spending habits may make all the difference between you buying a home now or later. When home buyers contact me to apply for a mortgage, I always review their credit report with them along with the rest of their application, before they start looking […]

In Winnipeg, MB, Jackson and Hailey have been living in a rental home for more than three years. They liked this rental home so much; they asked the landlord if they could buy this house. The landlord agreed to sell the property for $300,000 to Jackson and Hailey. On August 1, 2015, the landlord as “seller” […]

Interest rates are only one of many features that should be looked at when you are applying for a mortgage. But all things being equal, the interest rate may be more important than you think. I was reviewing mortgage options with a client and the only thing they were interested in was the mortgage rate. […]