Have you considered refinancing to pay off debt? With the high cost of holiday gift-buying and entertaining now behind you, this may be the perfect time to get the New Year off to a fresh start by refinancing your mortgage and freeing up some money to pay off that high-interest credit card debt. By talking […]

Moving to Canada? Plan Ahead for Homeownership If you have a job awaiting you on Canadian soil, it’s possible to also secure the purchase of a home if you plan ahead and connect with professionals before you even begin packing. The main reason you’ll want to get in touch with the right professionals before you […]

Is Your Mortgage Portable? Selling your current home and moving into a new one can be stressful enough, let alone worrying about your current mortgage and whether you’re able to carry it over to your new home. Porting enables you to move to another property without having to lose your existing interest rate, mortgage balance […]

Mortgage options for the self-employed If you’re self-employed, you may have a more difficult time obtaining financing for your real estate purchases than you encountered just 18 months ago thanks to the recent recession. And as of April 9th, 2010, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) raised the required down payment amount, as well as […]

Mortgage brokers offer choiceThe next time you’re looking for a mortgage for that new house or you’re up for renewal on your existing mortgage, think about using a mortgage broker – their services are free and they offer you an abundance of choices the banks simply can’t compete with. Mortgage brokers have access to a vast […]

Making Your Mortgage Interest Tax Deductible For US homeowners, mortgage interest is automatically tax deductible. But for Canadians, the write-off is not so straightforward. In order to make your mortgage interest tax deductible, homeowners must be able to prove that the money is being reinvested and is not being used for personal expenses. A properly […]

Looking Beyond Mortgage Rates   It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that comparing mortgage rates will guarantee you get the best bang for your mortgage buck. While this may be true for particular situations, there are many scenarios where this strategy is not effective. Following are three reasons why it doesn’t always […]

Leasing or Buying a Vehicle Impacts Your Debt Ratios  The question of whether it’s better to lease or buy a vehicle is a common dilemma. And do you buy or lease a new or used vehicle? The answer depends on the specifics of your situation.  It’s important to realize that many consumers overburden themselves with […]

Examining No-Frills Mortgage Products  While No-Frills mortgage products typically offer a lower – or more discounted – interest rate when compared with many other available products, the lower rate is really their only perk.  This type of product will only seem ideal for you if you have no plans to take advantage of benefits that […]

Collateral Versus Standard Charge Mortgages  With some lenders moving towards collateral charge mortgages, it’s important to understand the differences between a collateral and a standard charge mortgage.  The primary difference is that a collateral charge mortgage registers the mortgage for more money than you require at closing. For instance, up to 125% of the value […]