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The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has announced 3 major changes to the way that mortgage applications for insured & insurable files will be assessed. If you are planning to buy a home with less than 20% of the purchase price as a down payment, these qualifying rules will affect you.

We usually associate zombies with Hallowe'en, but when it comes to old debts they could revive when you least expect it. More and more Canadians are facing record-high levels of debt, due in part to extremely low interest rates. If you've passed the point when budgeting will help you get your finances back on track, chances are zombie debt has caught up with you.

It can be an overwhelming experience to find yourself in debt, with your credit sliding from bruised to bad. If you want to make a major purchase, like buying a house, it might feel as though that dream is slipping away. While it can be difficult to find your own way back to a strong financial situation and repair your bad credit, there are many solutions available to you.

1. What is a credit score and how do lenders use them?
   
   A credit score is a three digit number calculated from your data-rich credit report and is one factor used by lenders to determine your creditworthiness for a mortgage or loan. Your score can affect whether or not you are approved, as well as what interest rate you are charged.

From Mortgage Emergency To Happy Homeowner

Your credit is a key factor in qualifying for a mortgage. It can be challenging to know what part of your finances you should focus on when preparing to buy a home, so we've asked our friends at the Credit Counselling Society to share their knowledge. Here's what they had to say:

Equifax has confirmed that 8,000 Canadians may have had their personal information – names, addresses, and Social Insurance Numbers – or credit card information compromised in a breach by hackers earlier this year. An outside cybersecurity firm completed the forensic analysis to determine how many people were affected.