Blogs

Housing was a prominent feature of the 2018 BC Budget, and the BC HOME Partnership loan program will be ending early because of the NDP government's new focus. Originally launched in January 2017, the program offered help to first-time homebuyers with their down payment by providing a matching loan interest-free for the first 5 years.

As renovation season rolls around once again, our team wanted to look at the top challenges that homeowners face in their renovation projects. After all, if you can plan ahead you can hopefully avoid some of these headaches in your own work.

Do you know where your last Notice of Assessment (NOA) is filed? If you're like most Canadians, you either stuffed it in the back of a drawer somewhere or recycled it after you checked the amount of your tax refund. Here are 5 reasons you should keep track of it:

It may seem counter-intuitive to think about refinancing your mortgage right before your income taxes are due. After all, how are they even related? The reality is that your mortgage is probably the single largest debt you carry, and you're paying it off with after-tax income.

In the face of an increasing cost of living, it can be tempting to give up on the monthly grind of saving - whether for your down payment or to pay down your mortgage faster - and instead use that money for something that will bring you satisfaction right now. For example, did you know that Canadians spend more time planning their vacation than their mortgage? A mortgage may not be as exciting, but it is something you'll be living with for years. And if you take the time to figure it out, you may be able to afford to travel more in the future.

It probably comes as no surprise to residents of British Columbia – especially those in Vancouver, Victoria and the Fraser Valley – but the province once again has the least affordable homes in Canada. Toronto and Nanaimo round out the top 5, at third and fifth respectively.

Post-holiday travel plans? Getting away for spring break? Looking ahead to summer vacation? Have you thought about travel insurance? While it's not as exciting as choosing your destination, travel insurance is key to making sure your vacation is everything you want it to be.