In a time where identity theft and Ponzi schemes are plastered across the daily news, the last thing you want to worry about is yet another way to lose your hard-earned money.   But as a homeowner, you need to be aware of crimes on the rise known as mortgage fraud and real estate title […]

With interest rates still sitting near historically low levels – with nowhere to go but up – now is an ideal time for first-time homebuyers to embark upon homeownership.   But if low interest rates still don’t tip the scales on your decision to enter the property market, perhaps the information below will.   Down […]

Higher Canadian rates, sooner. That’s what the markets figured out this week and that’s what is powering the Canadian dollar. Sometimes when you see a big market reaction you know it’s probably an over-reaction and you can ignore it – but not this time. Let’s start with a little tutorial (no, please keep reading, it […]

Canadians can now get their individual Financial Fitness Score to help discover how financially fit they are courtesy of Genworth Financial and the Canadian Association of Credit Counselling Services (CACCS).   This new Financial Fitness Score, the first of its kind in Canada, is available online at www.financialfitness.ca <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=14777983&msgid=371287&act=G0OG&c=191858&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.financialfitness.ca> . The score is based on […]

Whether it’s a duplex, a cottage or a Florida getaway, a second property can be a rewarding investment over time. But if you’re not careful, it can prove taxing as well. A little planning goes a long way.   The following are some common mistakes financial planners see in their practice, as well as some […]

Canadian household debt loads hit record territory this year, surpassing even levels south of the border. A new Statistics Canada paper <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=14777983&msgid=371287&act=G0OG&c=191858&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.statcan.gc.ca%2Fpub%2F11-008-x%2F2011001%2Farticle%2F11430-eng.pdf>  out last Thursday sheds some light on just who’s most indebted and why.   First, the aggregate numbers: household debt for Canadians more than doubled between 1984 and 2009 – from $46,000 to […]

Canadians struggling to save and pay off debt; 38 per cent have no savings LuAnn LaSalle, The Canadian Press Many Canadians are finding themselves caught between the struggle to save money and repay their debts, says a survey from TD Bank. And with interest rates expected to rise this summer, clearing debts probably won’t get […]

Good Morning, As suspected rates have held steady this morning, meaning no change to variable rate mortgages or lines of credit with the current payments. Fixed interest rates (which are tied to the bond market) have been on the rise over the last week on average 30 basis points. With timing being a key componet to financial freedom […]

JEREMY TOROBIN – The Globe and Mail As the recovery gains momentum, it’s increasingly clear a summer interest-rate hike is in the cards, even if Mark Carney is very unlikely to touch borrowing costs this Tuesday. And for the first time in more than a decade, one of the Bank of Canada’s most effective tools […]

Why we might see a rate hike sooner rather than later Paul Vieira, Financial Post OTTAWA — Stronger economic growth, propelled by a commodity boom and an improving U.S. job market, will prompt the Bank of Canada to begin rate hikes in July to a 2% level by the end of the year and 3.5% […]