Perform post-holiday CPR on your savings account
No matter what you celebrated last month, the holidays are notorious for mercilessly squandering savings. After all, it’s hard to stay on budget when you’re faced with parties, potlucks and pricey gift exchanges, all packed into two weeks. Now that the
CMHC increasing mortgage insurance premiums
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) just announced that it is increasing its mortgage loan insurance premiums, effective March 17, 2017. Don’t worry, it shouldn’t affect your ability to afford a home. Mortgage loan insurance is necessary
4 reasons first-time buyers should stay positive
With home prices continuing to rise in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and condo prices in both the resale and new market expected to grow this year, it’s easy for first-time buyers to feel defeated. In addition to rising prices, the new stress-testing
How to convince your parents to downsize
When you’ve left the nest for good and you’re parents are all alone in a big house with too many possessions, it’s time for them to start thinking about downsizing. You’re building a nest of your own, so we realize this is a busy time in your life, but
5 common mistakes that first-time buyers make
Sometimes it seems like buying a house or condo unit is as easy as walking into a store and buying a new shirt. All you have to do is walk into a presentation or sales centre, pick a unit, sign an Agreement of Purchase and Sale, and write your cheques.
5 real estate New Year’s resolutions for those buying a home in 2017
We know New Year’s resolutions have kind of become a joke for some people, but we feel like there’s no harm in deciding to set some long term goals for yourself for 2017, especially if you’re interested in buying a home. Now that it’s January, keep these
Don’t buy a fixer-upper until you ask yourself these questions
Fixer-uppers are not for the faint of heart. As Toronto’s housing market continues to evolve, some ambitious buyers are attempting to transform undesirable dwellings into dream homes. But unfortunately, renovating a fixer-upper can be a long and
What is Kitec plumbing and do I need to be concerned?
If you’ve had issues with your plumbing in the last few years, you’ve probably heard of Kitec plumbing. You may also be aware that a class-action lawsuit was settled in 2012, awarding $125 million to affected homeowners. Even though Kitec was recalled by
How are homeownership and unemployment connected?
Evan Siddall, chief executive of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), told a Bank of England audience last week that we should be thinking about raising down payment requirements for insurance-backed loans. Since 1998, the Canadian government
First-time buyer land transfer tax rebate increasing to $4,000
The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) just announced that first-time buyers will soon receive a bigger and better land transfer tax rebate!In the 2016 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Ontario announced that the Land Transfer Tax rebate is
