Having several hundred thousand dollars on hand to purchase a home is pretty uncommon... Which is why most home buyers require financing to purchase a home.   But what are the options for buyers when it comes to funding their mortgage?   Let's look at Mortgage Funding Options.       Chartered Banks   The big banks like RBC, TD, CIBC, and Scotiabank all...Read More

  How to Pay Off Your Mortgage  Early It's a great feeling knowing a debt has been fully paid off and you're no longer tied to that specific expense. So it's obvious why homeowners who are still making mortgage payments look forward to the day when their mortgage is in the rear view mirror. Having a paid off home is a dream come true!    But before you start pla...Read More

You could increase the size of your mortgage payments, do accelerated mortgage payments, make lump-sum payments, shorten your amortization period when you refinance or pay it off in cash. But there are mistakes that can be a real setback if you haven't considered them.       Today, we're looking at some Mistakes to Avoid When Paying Your Home Off Early.   Are You A...Read More

Coming up with a down payment for a home can be a challenge. We all saw prices rise in our area to levels never seen before, pushing many aspiring homeowners to the wayside. The good news is, if you've been contributing to an RRSP, you may be able to take advantage of a plan to help first-time home buyers with the Home Buyers' Plan. Here is How You Can Use Your RRSP to Help Buy a Home. &nb...Read More

Mistake 1. Failing to Research. When you buy a home, you're not just buying a property – you're also investing in the surrounding neighbourhood and community.   So before you start house hunting, it's important to do your research and figure out which area is the right fit for you.   Consider things like the commute to work, the available schools, crime rates, and th...Read More

After you first start working with a real estate agent, pre-approval is the second step in the home buying process. Once you're pre-approved by a lender, your price range will be established so your agent can find you the right home.  But, pre-approval doesn't last forever and there are certain times where you may need to get pre-approved once again. Let's look at some occasions ...Read More

  When you sell almost anything in Canada you're going to have to pay taxes on the sale. But selling a property you own comes with some unique benefits. We all know about the principal residence exemption, where you can sell your home tax free. But rental properties are capital assets, which have capital gains taxation when they're sold. Understanding how capital gains work might giv...Read More

How much money should you put down as a down payment? Let's break it down for you and give you some tips on how to choose the right amount.   Down Payments in the  5%-20% Range.  5% is the minimum amount that you can put down on a home in Canada for your principal residence. It's also the amount that most people choose because it's the easiest to come up with.  ...Read More

When you're on your own buying or selling, you're missing out on some of the biggest perks of working with a real estate brokerage; agency. Our clients gain some big advantages over those trying to do so on their own. But how do we protect our clients' interests? Here are 6 Ways We Protect Our Clients' Interests.   Negotiating Terms.  First, we're going to negotia...Read More

  Selling your house is a big leap, especially for those who've put a lot of work into their home. There are a ton of moving parts, and complexities when selling, which is why we're here today to break it down for you into bite-sized chunks.   1. Research and Interview Realtors Interview a few real estate agents to see who can help you sell your home. You'll want to ask ...Read More