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My Mortgage Planner App is Here!
We’re making it easier for you to navigate the Canadian mortgage landscape....more ![]()
Dreaming of a Home Away From Home?
If you are dreaming of your very own vacation home, there are ways to make it happen!...more ![]()
Purchase Plus Home Improvements
When it comes to shopping for your perfect home, it can be hard to find the exact one ready to go! In fact, most homes come with flaws of a sort whether it is old paint or flooring, outdated fixtures or perhaps more extensive repairs are needed. While some buyers have no issues dealing with these deficiencies in a home or perhaps do not consider them dealbreakers, other house hunters might....more ![]()
Refinancing: What You Should Know
Refinancing your mortgage refers to the process of renegotiating your current mortgage agreement for a variety of reasons. Essentially, allowing you to pay off your existing loan and replace it with a new one that better suits your needs....more ![]()
Reverse Mortgages and What to Know
For many Canadians who are looking to retire but currently facing high debt load and ongoing expenses, as well as reduced income, it can be a challenge. This is where the reverse mortgage can help!...more ![]()
Understanding Insurance
Not all insurance products are created equal. One of the most common mistakes homeowners and potential homeowners make is that they hear the word “insurance” and just assume they have it! Well, you might have one kind of insurance, but you might be missing coverage elsewhere. It is important to understand all the different insurance products to ensure you have proper coverage . ...more ![]()
Looking to Upsize Your Home?
According to RE/MAX, one of the biggest trends for Canadian homeowners in 2021 are move-up buyers looking to purchase a home that offers more space for them and their families. In fact, this is true for a whopping 29% of Canadians! Unsurprisingly, this demographic is made up mostly of younger Canadians (under 35) with growing families . ...more ![]()
The Benefit of Rate Holds
The term “rate hold” may be something you are familiar with if you have worked with me in the past. If not, it is a term that all prospective buyers should know! ...more ![]()
New Year Resolutions for Your Home
Your finances aren’t the only thing that has room for new resolutions in 2021! Consider these great ideas to make your home feel brand new come January... ...more ![]()
Making Your Finances Work For YOU in 2021
After the whirlwind year of 2020, making your finances work for you is already top of mind for Canadians. Why not roll that into a brand-new resolution moving forward into 2021? Here are some ideas to make your finances work for YOU in the New Year!...more ![]()
How to Enjoy a Debt-Free Holiday
The holidays are coming up! As much as these celebrations bring us joy and harmony, they can also bring us stress. This is particularly true when it comes to your finances! However, don’t lose hope that this will be another draining year on your pocketbook. In fact, with a little planning, there are a few ways you can make sure your holidays are stress and credit-free. ...more ![]()
Fixed vs. Variable Rate Mortgages
If you are new to the world of mortgages, you probably have a lot of questions - such as whether to choose a fixed-rate mortgage or variable -rate mortgage. Even experienced home owners can sometimes struggle with this, and may wonder if they made the right choice or if they should switch....more ![]()
Back to School: Credit Clean Up!
It’s time to go back to school… for your finances! The Fall is the perfect time for a credit clean-up so that you are ready for the holiday spending season. ...more ![]()
5 Mortgage Tips To Help You Afford A Home
Here are some helpful solutions for those looking to get into the market....more ![]()
What Your Banker Won't Tell You!
Did you know the biggest difference between getting your mortgage from a bank vs. a mortgage broker is that the bank only has access to their products, while I, your mortgage broker, have access to hundreds of different lending institutions and mortgage products to fit your unique needs? ...more ![]()
Mortgage Insurance and Your Borrowing Power
As a Canadian homebuyer or homeowner, your borrowing power is impacted by a few factors. Recent changes to the lending policies announced by CMHC, The Bank of Canada’s qualifying rate and your banks’ Prime Rate and mortgage stipulations are all things to consider when thinking about purchasing a home....more ![]()
Should You Go Fixed or Go Variable?
It is typically one of the first questions someone asks when talking about your mortgage: What’s your rate? While everyone can recall their rate off the top of their head, it tends to be the only detail of the mortgage they can remember. Although the rate is important, your mortgage is so much more than a rate, and if you’re not paying close attention, it can cost you money....more ![]()
Advantages of a Pre-Approval
Getting pre-approved can be a vital step to the home-buying process! But don’t confuse this with pre-qualification; you can get a pre-qualification through the My Mortgage Planner app to determine what you might qualify for. ...more ![]()
What to Know BEFORE You Start House-Hunting
As exciting as it is to start your journey towards home ownership (or even up- and down-sizing), there are a few things you should consider first. ...more ![]()
5 Things to Know Before you Renovate
Renovating your space can be a big project! Before you get started, we have put together a list of the 5 most important things you need to know before you renovate: ...more ![]()
What to Know if You’re New to Canada
Canada has seen a surge of international migration over the last few years. With all these new faces in town wanting to plant roots in this great country, we wanted to touch base on some of the details surrounding mortgages and how new immigrants can qualify to be homeowners. ...more ![]()
Determine Your Monthly Budget
It's easy to get overwhelmed when thinking about your finances, especially if you are saddled with debt. The best way to determine your monthly budget is to start by recording your total monthly income for the family and your total monthly expenses. ...more ![]()
To Defer or Not to Defer
With Canada's major Mortgage Finance Companies (MFC's) and all six big banks offering mortgage deferrals of up to 6 months, as well as case-by-case options from credit unions, one of the major questions currently facing Canadians amid COVID-19 is do you defer your mortgage? ...more ![]()
What You Need to Know Before You Buy
Spring is one of the busiest seasons for retail activity as the good weather gives people lots of time for decluttering, showing the home, garage sales, packing and moving into your new space! Buying a home is an extremely exciting and fulfilling adventure, but before you get started let’s go through some of the most important things you need to know before you buy a home. ...more ![]()
Up or Down-Sizing? Get Yourself Mortgage Ready for a Move This Spring!
Moving homes can be triggered by a variety of things, but the most common reason is space…not enough, or perhaps a little too much. ...more ![]()
How to Leverage Your RRSP’s to Buy Your First Home
Are you in the market for your first home? Dreaming of a space you can call your own? If you are an eligible first time home-buyer, then contributing to your RRSP’s before the March 2 deadline can help you increase the funds available for your home purchase. ...more ![]()
Refinancing & Paying a Mortgage Off Faster
By refinancing, you may, at first glance potentially be extending the time it will take to pay off your mortgage, but there are many ways to pay a mortgage off faster and save thousands in interest payments. It is worth speaking to your broker to discuss merging higher interest balances into a mortgage balance....more ![]()
An Age Old Debate
Just about anytime two people of different generations discuss entering the real estate market, the question arises: Who had it easier trying to get into the housing market?...more ![]()
6 Things All Co-signors Should Consider
Co-signing on a loan may seem like an easy way to help a loved one (child, family member, friend, etc.). In today’s market conditions, a co-signor can offer a solution to overcome the high market prices and stress testing measures that are now in place for Canadian borrowers....more ![]()
Canada's First Time Homebuyer Incentive Program
The new First-Time Home Buyer Incentive allows eligible first-time homebuyers, who have the minimum downpayment for an insured mortgage, to apply to finance a portion of their home purchase through a form of shared equity mortgage with the Government of Canada....more ![]()
Mortgage Brokers Can Help You Get Financing for Every Stage of Your Life
Buying a home can feel like a journey. Whether it’s your first or your 10th, there are many steps to go through and things you should be aware of. The trend towards using mortgage brokers to arrange mortgage financing is continually increasing. Why has this shift occurred? Well, very simply put, TOP-NOTCH SERVICE and UNBIASED ADVICE!...more ![]()
5 ways you could use a CHIP Reverse Mortgage
Reverse mortgages are continuing to grow as a retirement solution for Canadians 55+. Homeowners 55+ are unlocking their home equity for tax-free funds that improve their cashflow and pay-off higher interest loans. Consider your own financial needs. Do any of these 5 common scenarios sound familiar?...more ![]()
4 Costs To Consider As A First-Time Homebuyer
Oftentimes even the most organized and detail oriented first-time homebuyer can overlook some unexpected costs that come with the purchase of their new home. We are outlining four of the costs that we most commonly see overlooked by homebuyers in hopes that we can better prepare you—and save you from a few surprises!...more ![]() We arrange second mortgages for a variety of reasons, but potential borrowers may not be aware of some of the advantages that second mortgages can provide. With Steven Porter, Mortgage Architects, the added bonus is speed and flexibility....more
4 Loopholes to Canada’s Mortgage Stress Test
Has the Mortgage Stress Test got you down? Since the inception of mortgage rule changes introduced by the Federal Liberals in 2017, there’s been a reversal in the consumer market place for mortgage shoppers. The once stable, income earner with their a home of their own and a strong equity position now find themselves disadvantaged when compared with the preferred mortgage rates and Stress Test treatment by afforded to borrowers in need of a high ratio (insured) mortgage, typically first-time home buyers with less than a 20 percent down payment. But if you’re shopping for a Conventional Mortgage, consider these 4 loop holes which may help be a determining factor to whether or not you get approved for a mortgage...more ![]()
A Home Inspection Can Give You Peace Of Mind
It’s easy to get caught up in the moment when you’re looking for your forever home. You see all the glitter but maybe fail to see that not everything is gold. And that’s where a home inspection can come into play. For a roughly $500 investment on the biggest purchase of your life, it should be a no-brainer to have a home inspection, whether the home is 100 years old or brand new....more ![]()
The Guise of Mortgage Portability
"Is my mortgage portable?" The answer is probably yes. "Is it easy to port my mortgage?" The answer is probably not. When you're selling your existing home and buying something else, porting your mortgage involves transferring the remainder of your current mortgage term, outstanding principal balance, and interest rate to that new property. Although this might sound like a good idea to keep a low rate intact, in reality, sometimes it feels like the stars have to align for it to work out....more ![]()
Firm verses Conditional Offer to Buy a Home
So you've seen a home? It looks good. It meets your criteria and now you're ready make an offer. But wait! Your Realtor has just let you know somebody else wants to buy the same home too. The question now is, should you make a firm or conditional offer? Before you make a decision, it's important to make sure you understand the risks and potential hazards of making a firm offer to purchase.....more ![]()
Is Owning A Home Truly The Best Bet?
Whether you’ve just bought your first home or you’ve been a homeowner for years, there’s good news for you. You can feel confident you made the right decision for your long-term economic wellbeing according to the findings of a study by Mortgage Professionals Canada (MPC), the national association that represents the mortgage industry. ...more ![]()
3 Steps To Take You From Pre-Approval To Getting The Keys
Picture this: You’ve finally been able to put away enough for a down-payment on your dream home. It’s taken you years saving diligent but you did it! You have also been working on improving your credit score and paying off debts. You are at a place of financial stability... KUDOS TO YOU! So now what do you do? Here are the three steps that will take you from browsing for a new home to getting the keys to your new place....more ![]()
Are you buying a house?
The key to your new home is just a click away! We’re making it easier for you to navigate the Canadian mortgage landscape! My Mortgage Planner is the new mobile app from Mortgage Architects that provides you with useful tools to help eliminate the stress of getting a mortgage....more |
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