Homes often times seem as trend-conscious as the latest runway show. With fancy roof lines or sleek and modern exteriors; floral-print decor comes and goes; the bigger the better then the tiny house fad. One thing’s for sure: conformity is not part of homes in 2016. Here’s some of what you can expect to see…
It’s finally year. 2016. You’ve popped the champagne, counted down, watched the New Year arrival, and now it’s time to get down to the details of planning out the next twelve months. Perhaps it is time to join a gym, plan your travels down south, and of course set your personal and professional goals for…
You may or may not have heard this phrase before: “Pay yourself first.” Many people often times say they will save whatever money is left over at the end of each month. Basically they are agreeing to pay themselves what’s left. As you might figure out, the flaw with the idea of setting aside whatever…
Just last Friday, the federal government announced significant changes to mortgage rules. The new regulations will increase the minimum down payment to buy a home that costs more than $500,000. The new plan will increase the minimum down payment from 5 per cent to 10 per cent for the portion of the home over $500,000….
A mortgage pre-approval is extremely beneficial in showing you, the home buyer, what value of home you can afford as well as the mortgage payments associated with various purchase prices. It also guarantees a mortgage rate for a set period of time, thus, protecting you against possible rate increases. You are not obligated to the bank…
It’s been a tough journey but you are now ready to join the ranks of the home owning class. You’ve cleared your debts, saved enough money for a reasonable down payment, gone through open houses and found the perfect home. Your offer has been accepted and you have two months to seal the deal! This…
The holidays can be a joyful time of year. They are a time for relaxation, celebration and coming together with the people you love most. Unfortunately, all the traveling, entertaining, gifting and feasting comes with a large price tag. On average, each Canadian planned to spend $1,517 during the holiday season last year, according to…
Our family and friends always mean well when trying to give us advice about our first home, but unless they’re mortgage specialists, they’re probably going to give you advice that’s more myth than fact. Here are some of the most common mortgage myths that we hear of: “The market is going to crash” We have…
Ottawa is a great city to call your home. What is your favourite season in Ottawa? Do you mind the frosty days of our capital’s Winterlude? Do you long for the colourful tulip festival, or the warm and relaxing days of summer at Dow’s Lake? Despite the strong arguments that these other seasons make, fall…
Deciding you’re ready for home ownership is just step one on your long journey. Then you need to get your financial situation under control in order to be able to actually afford to purchase a home. The typical down payment on a conventional mortgage is twenty percent of the purchase price of the home. Mortgage…
