If your mortgage is coming up for renewal, you’re probably keeping a close eye on rates. But it can be a little bewildering to see the banks offering a bunch of different rates. If you’re left wondering why, the short answer may be a little harsh. The banks offer different rates because they can, and […]

For some people, just owning one property and having a single mortgage is enough to handle. But for others, homeownership can be a gateway to owning multiple investment properties. You might be thinking: there’s no way I can turn the value of my modest home into a real estate empire. Ok, maybe not an empire, […]

The B.C. government is capping rent increases in the province at the rate of inflation, a move that will drastically cut the maximum annual rent hikes that had been allowed under the old formula. The province dropped the automatic two per cent increase in annual rental costs for renters around the province, starting next year. […]

As expected, the Bank of Canada held its key overnight rate this morning at 1.5%, asserting that July’s surprising spike in CPI inflation to 3% was in large part because of a jump in airfares. The Bank expects inflation to move back towards 2% in early 2019, as the effects of past increases in gasoline […]

It’s a topic not a lot of people want to talk about: Death. It’s especially not something people want to think about as they get ready to sign a mortgage. This should be an exciting time, and the last thing you want to be thinking about is your mortality. We’ve either dealt with our own […]

There’s little doubt, the biggest purchase in your life will be a home. So when you’re embarking on what can be both an exciting and stressful journey, you want the best professionals by your side. When it comes to picking a broker to handle your mortgage, it’s not always easy to decide who to choose. […]

Statistics Canada announced this morning that employment increased in July and the jobless rate fell .2 percentage points to 5.8%–returning to its lowest level since the 1970s posted earlier this year. The economy added a stronger-than-expected 54,100 net new jobs last month–its most significant advance this year. This gain, however, was driven by increases in […]

The province is introducing amendments to strata property regulations in an effort to crack down on strata vacation rentals. Under the new regulations, which will come into effect Nov. 30, strata corporations will be able to fine owners or residents not complying with short-term rental bans up to $1,000 a day. Currently, stratas can pass bylaws banning short-term rentals, with a […]

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. is making changes intended to make it easier for the self-employed to qualify for a mortgage. The national housing agency says it’s giving lenders more guidance and flexibility to help self-employed borrowers. Self-employed Canadians may have a harder time qualifying for a mortgage as their incomes may vary or be less […]

As expected, the Bank of Canada hiked its key overnight rate this morning by 25 basis points to 1.5%. What wasn’t expected was the hawkish tone of the press release which brushed aside the threat of greater protectionism, instead emphasizing the need for higher interest rates to keep inflation near its target. In today’s Monetary […]