Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (“Ontario Teachers’”) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of HOMEQ Corporation (“HomeQ”), the parent company of HomeEquity Bank, from Birch Hill Equity Partners Management Inc. (“Birch Hill”) and the other minority shareholders of HomeQ, in a deal that was first announced in September 2021. The acquisition by Ontario […]

Recently, our segment on the Marc & Mandy show aired in which we discussed the top five tips for mortgage renewals. To put it succinctly, the tips you should follow are as listed: Plan your mortgage renewal four months in advance Understand the difference between fixed and variable rate mortgages Consolidate your debt Assess and […]

Today, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) released a new Advisory (Clarification on the Treatment of Innovative Real Estate Secured Lending Products under Guideline B-20). The Advisory complements existing expectations under Guideline B-20, which articulates OSFI’s expectations regarding underwriting practices and procedures for reverse residential mortgages, residential mortgages with shared equity features and combined loan […]

Recently, Angela was interviewed on the Vancouver Consumer, hosted on CKNW 980, to talk about the current real estate market. In this 30-minute interview, Angela covers the recent rise in interest rates, why it is happening, what we can expect in the future, and what you can do to prepare yourselves to be in the […]

After two years of ultra-low, pandemic-induced core lending rates, inflation in Canada is now the highest it has been in 30 years. To accommodate, the Bank of Canada is hiking those rates back up. For mortgage seekers and current borrowers, payments could be on the rise. Add in record-high home prices and a constantly changing real estate market, and […]

Mounting fears of a recession have gripped equity markets, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index now firmly in correction territory. The S&P/TSX is down 13 per cent from its record closing high of 22,087, reached on March 29. The Globe and Mail recently spoke with Benjamin Tal, deputy chief economist at CIBC Capital Markets, who shared […]

Mortgage broker Angela Calla advises her clients to tread carefully when buying property with a friend. A lot can change over the years of a friendship, particularly when new romantic partners come into the picture and alter someone’s financial priorities. The advice comes from a place of experience – Ms. Calla and a friend went […]

If you have a variable rate mortgage, we wanted to connect with you prior to the next Bank of Canada meeting on July 13th. We fully anticipate a 75-basis point increase as we know it is the highest increase we have seen in decades. What this translates to is a $40 increase in monthly payments […]

Recently we were invited by The Morning Buzz to talk with their host, Natasha, on decoding the mortgages and the current real-estate environment. We are always very honoured to have the opportunity to bring education to Canadian listeners so that they can have the tools equipped to best navigate the ever-changing market. The interview can […]

With summer underway, it might be time to consider a backyard upgrade! These don’t have to be luxurious or expensive, but a couple tweaks can give your yard a facelift and make your outdoor space feel brand new! Check out my backyard renovation ideas below: Revive Your Deck: You don’t necessarily have to tear it […]