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A common problem many soon-to-be home buyers have is that they have the will to buy, but not the means. If you’re looking to buy but don’t have enough saved up for a down payment, try these tips that are sure to help grow your bank account.

Welcome 2020 with goals you can achieve

It’s that time of year again - a time of fresh starts and good intentions. This month we're talking about setting financial goals and the benefits of doing so. Whether you want to get your debt load under control, save up for a down payment, or want to finally set a family budget and really stick to it, I want to help. Our team will be providing a few tips that can help achieve those financial New Year’s (or New Decade) Goals. Sorry, we can’t help you with losing weight, finding your dream job or that special someone, but get your financial house in order and you never know what else might come your way.

The First-Time Home Buyer Incentive is a federal program introduced in the 2019 budget as part of the National Housing Strategy. It is a shared equity mortgage with the Government of Canada, with the goal of reducing your monthly mortgage payment. In the examples provided by CMHC and the scenarios we've run, you can expect your monthly payment to be lowered by $100-$200 versus borrowing the full mortgage amount from a lender. Applications are open as of September 2, 2019.

In the Housing section of Canada's federal budget released on March 19, 2019, the greatest emphasis is on the affordability of housing for first time home buyers. First, the straight-forward news: effective this year, the Home Buyers' Plan that allows Canadians to withdraw funds from their RRSP to buy a home will be increased to a limit of $35,000. If you've been diligent in using this saving product, it could work to your advantage when it's time for your down payment.

Are you looking for a mortgage that will give you flexibility with your finances, have lower payments during the term, and provide you with extra monthly cash flow?

As the price of property in Canada has continued to rise, many home buyers have turned to purchasing a house with a rental suite to help with mortgage payments. Over the past few years, we've worked with many folks who were only able to qualify for a mortgage if they had rental income to supplement their household earnings. But if you're planning on your tenant completely taking care of your mortgage payments, is that really the case?

The provincial budget originally announced the introduction of a new speculation tax on residential property in BC aimed at property owners – both foreign and domestic – who don't pay taxes to the province. But buried in the "Homes for B.C." housing plan, one of several plain-language documents that accompanied the budget, is the idea that "the Province will also introduce a non-refundable income tax credit which will allow those who pay income tax in B.C. to offset the property tax." This apparent contradiction led many people to ask who exactly will be paying the tax.