BC Assessed Values are now available online.  Don’t be too surprised when you see a substantial increase over 2015.  For property owners where your value is over $1.2M, unfortunately you no longer qualify for the Home Owners Grant for your 2017 property taxes.  If you would like to see your value before receiving it in […]

We’re still waiting on details to unfold regarding this new program  and what banks and lenders will support it.  So far we’ve heard from one insurer on how they will handle it.  Here’s what we know so far and I will continue to update my blog with further details.  All borrowers must be first time […]

If you would like more information on credit and how to ensure you have good credit, click the link below to get a full guide on how your score is derived and how to keep it above the minimum that banks and lenders want to see in order to approve your mortgage or other loans.  […]

If you are wondering about how you are affected with the new mortgage rule changes announced in October 2016, click on the link to find out the most recent changes and how much you can afford under the new rules.  If you are still wanting further clarification, call my office at 604-552-6190 and I will […]

With some lenders moving towards collateral charge mortgages, it’s important to understand the differences between a collateral and a standard charge mortgage. The primary difference is that a collateral charge mortgage registers the mortgage for more money than you require at closing. For instance, up to 125% of the value of the home at closing […]

If you are looking for a new home, be sure you are pre-approved. With a mortgage pre-approval, a licensed mortgage professional can do a more complete verification prior to sending you shopping for a home, and with that done, the dollar figure you are going shopping with is actually what you can spend. The mortgage […]

The decision to choose a fixed or variable rate is not always an easy one. It should depend on your tolerance for risk as well as your ability to withstand increases in mortgage payments. You can sometimes expect a financial reward for going with the variable rate, although the precise magnitude will ebb and flow […]

Owning a home is generally considered to be a sound, long-term investment that can provide satisfaction and security for you and your family. Each month when you make your mortgage payment, you are building equity in your home. Equity is the portion of the property that you actually build through your monthly payment versus the […]

There are generally two ways to get a mortgage in Canada: From a bank, or from a licensed mortgage professional. While a bank only offers the products from their particular institution, licensed mortgage professionals send millions of dollars in mortgage business each year to Canada’s largest banks, credit unions, and trust companies … offering their […]

The question of whether it’s better to lease or buy a vehicle is a common dilemma. And do you buy or lease a new or used vehicle? The answer depends on the specifics of your situation. It’s important to realize that many consumers overburden themselves with car leases or loans they simply can’t afford. While […]