Mortgage Education
Mortgage Broker: An advocate for borrowers
If you ask a mortgage broker “Why should I use a mortgage broker?” you had better clear your calendar for the rest of the day. A good mortgage broker knows and can clearly define the many benefits they can provide their clients. I for one am definitely passionate...
2016 in Review: This Past Year in Canadian Mortgage
2016 was quite a year in the Canadian mortgage industry! The first 9 months saw fixed rates dropping further to all-time lows (five-year fixed @ 2.29% at one point!) and in the meantime real estate prices continued to soar across most markets in Canada. In fact, it’s...
Debt Consolidation for Growth
Thinking about debt consolidation, renovations, using equity in your home for investment purposes, or just want to consider locking in to a lower interest rate? Many experts are saying that while rates are low, the time to lock in is now. We have already seen a slight...
Closing Costs!!!
While buying a home can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do, it’s important that you are aware of the costs associated with this great experience. We’ve listed ten of the most common closing costs to keep in mind when buying a home. 1 Land transfer tax....
HW ADVANTAGE is hiring!
HW ADVANTAGE Job Posting: Customer Care and Marketing Advisor HW Advantage a member of the successful and highly regarded ‘Loewen Group’ Mortgage Brokerage located in Burlington, Ontario Canada is hiring! Reporting to the Director, the Customer Care and Marketing...
What is Bridge financing??
Bridge financing is most commonly required when someone purchases a new home at an earlier date then they sell their existing home. When that person needs the proceeds of their sale for down payment on the new purchase, the lender provides this additional financing to...
Mortgage Insurance v.s. Life Insurance
Here is a topic I get asked about quite often. People are shocked to know that Mortgage Insurance can actually be harmful to your financial health. Canadian Banks sell more Mortgage Insurance than all the big insurance companies combined. Although the banks are...
Mortgage breakage penalties
BEWARE OF THE FINE PRINT. What could mortgage breakage penalties COST YOU? I meet with clients on a daily basis to discuss their mortgage options and I often ask “what is your number one priority as I help you shop for a mortgage?” 99% of the time I get the same...
What is Refinancing?
Do you owe money on your credit cards or for property taxes? Thinking of buying a new vehicle or doing some home renovations? Are today’s interest rates lower than what you are currently locked in at? Want to take advantage of lower rates and purchase a rental home...
Mortgage Shopping… Let me help.
There are 4 simple questions you MUST ask when “shopping” to help you determine if the bank or mortgage specialist deserves the privilege of managing your mortgage. If they can’t answer any of these 4 questions properly, you should …RUN…DON’T WALK…to someone that...
3 questions to ask before buying a rental property
Owning a rental property can be a very profitable investment. It’s a way to build wealth over the long term, and can potentially provide regular income on a monthly basis. This all sounds great, right… but trust me, it's not for everyone. Start by asking yourself...
CREDIT
Getting approved for a mortgage relies on three main components: Income, down payment and CREDIT. Many people assume they have good credit but don’t actually know why, or how to maintain it. Your credit history helps lenders determine how risky it would be to give...
MORTGAGE PRE-PAYMENT OPTIONS EXPLAINED
Pre-payment options can vary greatly between mortgage lenders. However, this important feature can allow you to pay off your mortgage faster, and potentially save YOU thousands of dollars in interest. Here is a brief summary of the two types of pre-payment options...
What’s your strategy?: Cash Flow or Appreciation
There is an ongoing debate as to whether it’s better to invest in a property that is set to appreciate in value or one that will provide a strong cash flow (monthly rental surplus after all expenses). While both sides have their pro’s and con’s, I think it’s most...
Purchase + Improvements Mortgage
Found your dream home but it needs a little updating? The Purchase Plus Improvements Program will allow you to add the cost of the renovation(s) to your purchase price which means you can put as little as 5% down and still get industry best mortgage rates! Here’s an...
PRE-APPROVALS
Getting a pre-approval is one of the most important steps in purchasing a home. A pre-approval ensures you aren't wasting time looking at homes outside your qualified price range. It also helps you create a financial plan with respect to the costs of home ownership as...
Mortgage Basics
Here’s part 10 of my 10 step series on mortgage tips here at Financial Uproar every Wednesday. Every step of the process will be covered from the application to qualifying to tips and tricks to save money on your mortgage and everything in between. To read all of...
4 risk categories of real estate insurance
When buying an investment property, there are many different things to consider, such as location, cost, maintenance and how much money you make. But one thing you may overlook, especially if this is your first time purchasing an investment property, is the type of...