Blog
- Aug 25, 2017
Is Airbnb good for your investment property?
Is Airbnb good for your investment property? The Airbnb accommodation phenomenon has taken the world by storm with the concept of privately owned homes used as hotels to profit home owners. Since inception in 2008, Airbnb has launched in over 191 countries and over 65,000 cities worldwide. The Airbnb model may not be for every second-home investor, but it can be a lucrative arrangement.
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- Aug 11, 2017
Are you a Millennial dependent on gifted down payment?
As home prices soar across Canada, millennials are being priced out of the market – unless they have the assistance of a gifted down payment from the “bank of Mom and Dad”. Millennials are an eager group, born from the early 1980s to early 2000s, who have shown they too want to live the Canadian dream of home ownership. Just over one-third now own a home.
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- Jul 28, 2017
Net Zero Housing Revolution
When it comes to new home development, there has been a new craze helping home owners reduce their impact on the environment and save money on their energy bills. Net zero homes are designed to produce as much renewable energy as they consume, even allowing some home owners to supply extra electricity back to the grid to power other homes.
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- May 29, 2017
The Power of Pre-approval
With home buying season upon us, most people will dive right in with a loose budget. A loose budget however, can be dangerous if your heart gets set on a home that is out of reach financially. The first thing that any potential buyer should do is get pre-approved for a mortgage. Once approved, buyers can shop within a clear budget and focus the search on properties within a specific price range. This not only saves time and money, but also a little heartache.
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- May 11, 2017
Not All Mortgage Penalties Are Equal
This is a story about Joe and Sue. Two different people with similar mortgages, but very different prepayment penalties. Joe and Sue each buy a house at the exact same time for the exact same price and get a mortgage for the exact same amount. The only difference is Joe uses a Big Bank, and Sue uses a monoline lender for their mortgages. Let’s assume they both received a rate of 2.99% for a 5 year fixed term.
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- Apr 24, 2017
Your Home Buying Team
Purchasing a home is likely to be the largest investment you will ever make, and that means that it is very important you have a team of professionals working with you throughout the entire process. More and more clients are discovering the benefits of utilizing the services of a professional mortgage broker to help them secure financing for their homes. Why is this? It is simple really.
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- Oct 11, 2016
Time for a Roof Checkup!
With winter just around the corner, now is the perfect time to inspect your roof to ensure that your home will be protected from the snow and rain that comes with it! Depending on the age of your roof, environmental factors and building materials, it’s a good idea to complete inspections twice a year, with the best seasons being spring and fall. While you can carry out a visual examination from ground, it’s always recommended to have a professional perform rooftop inspections.
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- Aug 26, 2016
Follow these six tips to save money and time during the back to school season!
Follow these six tips to save money and time during the back to school season: 1. What do you already have? To avoid unnecessary shopping trips and expenses, take some time to go through your home to see if any of the stationary supplies that you already have, such as binders, calculators or art supplies, can be reused.
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- Aug 04, 2016
Home Inspections
What are their purpose and why are they important? The purpose of a home inspection is to reveal any defects or flaws that a property has, so that potential buyers can make an informed decision and avoid costly surprises down the road. During an inspection, the inspector will investigate every room in the home to identify and assess possible underlying health and safety issues; they will look for structural issues, water damage, working appliances, insect or pest problems and even forecast potential future expenses.
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- Jul 19, 2016
Standard Charge VS Collateral Charge Mortgages
When you need a loan to purchase a property, your bank or lender will require security for repayment in the form of a charge that is registered at your provincial land registry office. This process secures the residential mortgage loan to your property, and gives your lender certain rights as it relates to the terms of your agreement. There are two forms of charges: standard and collateral.
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