When calculating the cost of a home or real estate investment purchase, many clients ask: is mortgage insurance mandatory in Ontario? The short answer is no, the longer answer is: it depends. There are also three separate types of insurance that need to be considered...
mortgage rates Articles
I’m Self-Employed…Are There Different Self-Employed Mortgage Rates?
If you are one of the estimated 2.6 million self-employed Canadians and you are considering purchasing a new home or a business loan for real estate investment property, you may be wondering about self-employed mortgage rates. The number of self-employed Canadians has...
Fixed vs Variable Rate Mortgage: How Do You Decide?
When you’re in the market for a home, you’re also usually in the market for a mortgage. There are two main types of mortgage in Canada: fixed vs variable rate mortgage. While they each have their pros and cons, there isn’t one right choice. You’ll have to weigh their...
Considering Buying an Investment Property? 5 Questions to Ask First
Buying an investment property can be a great way to invest in your future. Regular monthly rental income might add to your cash flow while paying for the property and increasing your equity. But to make the wisest decision, start by asking yourself the following five...
Thinking About an Online Mortgage Lender?
From filling out the application to signing the papers at closing time, it usually takes two to six weeks to approve and finalize (fund) a mortgage. In today's fast-paced world, that may seem like an eternity. However, mortgages are complex legal agreements. The...
Using Your RRSPs for a Down Payment with The Home Buyers’ Plan
Saving up money for a down payment is not easy for some prospective homebuyers. Rising home prices and tight mortgage qualification rules don't help. On a home with a sale price of over $1 million, you'll need to put 20% down to get a mortgage from a regulated...
What To Do Now That Interest Rates Are Rising
It finally happened. On March 2nd, 2022 the Bank of Canada raised the prime interest rate by 0.25%. This means that for people with a variable rate mortgage the cost of borrowing has started to increase from where it bottomed out at the start of the pandemic. However,...
The Connection Between Inflation and Mortgage Rates
Canada's inflation rate is now the highest since 2003. Rising inflation is often a signal that interest rates are also likely to increase. Higher interest affects business loans, car loans, credit cards, lines of credit, and of course, mortgage interest rates. But...
5 (Financial) Things To Do Before House Hunting
Most people will never borrow more money at one time than when they purchase a home. Getting a mortgage is a huge commitment. Depending on how much you borrow, the interest rate, and the amount of your down payment, your mortgage can change the course of your...
Calculating the Real Cost of Buying a Home
Taking the leap into buying a home is an exciting time for many. If it's your first time, you may still be learning the ropes - and there's a lot to know! How do mortgages work? Is a fixed-rate mortgage better than a variable rate mortgage? What is the mortgage stress...
Do Canadians Have Too Much Mortgage Debt?
According to reports, April 2021 saw the highest single-month increase in mortgage debt - ever. Canadians added almost $18 billion in new mortgages that month putting mortgage debt in Canada at an all-time high. Canadian homeowners now owe nearly $2 trillion to...
How Election Promises Could Affect Home Prices
Overall, Canadians have more mortgage debt now than they have ever had. The pace of increase in Canadian housing costs has been news for a long time. Furthermore, in a recent survey, 75% of people who want to buy a home believe they cannot afford one and more than 70%...