Blogs

There has been a lot of speculation about the impact of foreign property ownership on real estate prices over the past couple of years. In joint research from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Statistics Canada, we can finally see some numbers and what they mean for our local housing market.

Do you know the difference between the term of the mortgage and its amortization? If you're a first time home buyer, you might have heard both words used without explanation – sometimes interchangeably – and even an experienced homeowner can confuse the two. Understanding some of the basic words and phrases that your mortgage broker uses on a daily basis can help you feel more comfortable and informed during the mortgage process.

We've written before about the importance of a home inspection when you're buying a property. Even if you're pre-approved for a mortgage, your lender may hesitate if there's something slightly unusual about the property you choose. Your home insurance company also wants to make sure your property is in good condition. Allstate Canada conducted a survey earlier this year that shows 1 in 4 homebuyers had problems after buying their home that could have been caught by a home inspection.

The countdown is on to January 1st, when the latest mortgage rules from OSFI will come into effect! A recent survey by Re/Max found that over 40% of Canadians don't even know about the upcoming changes, and another 40% don't think – or aren't sure – that the new rules will affect them. At the same time, nearly half of Canadians are considering purchasing a home in the next five years. A home is the largest purchase most of us will make, so do you really want to go into that decision without all the facts?

Everything is set for your mortgage. You've signed the paperwork, chosen your payment frequency, and you know when your first payment will be due – or do you? While you've covered the major points, one thing we don't often discuss when it comes to financing is the interest adjustment date.

According to many, it's the most wonderful time of the year: whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another holiday during the month of December, chances are you're busy decorating your home to give it a festive glow. However, all those decorative touches can increase the risk of fire in your home, and that's one glow you definitely don't want to have. Here are the top 5 holiday fire hazards – and how to avoid them.

On November 22, the federal government unveiled a National Housing Strategy that aims to reduce homelessness and improve the availability and quality of housing for Canadians in need. The goals include investments in new affordable units, repairs to existing units, and protecting those who have already secured housing from losing an affordable place to live. The results of this work can't come soon enough for those of us who live in areas where traditional ideas of home price affordability were left by the wayside months – or years – ago.