General Trish Pigott 27 Sep
As you may have heard, The Bank of Canada’s policy rate was 5% as of September. The recent rate hikes over the spring and summer have slowed the housing and mortgage markets as the rise in mortgage rates unsurprisingly spooked potential buyers. More recently, fixed-rate loans have become more expensive because of the increase in […]
Read MoreGeneral Trish Pigott 13 Sep
Financial independence is a critical skill for future success that your children will not learn anywhere else. Not only does financial literacy help your children have more success in life, but it allows them to move out sooner, and it avoids delaying your retirement with additional expenses to support them. So, how do you teach […]
Read MoreGeneral Trish Pigott 6 Sep
Today the Bank of Canada announced a pause in their rate hikes, leaving its policy unchanged. Which also means no change to current mortgage payments if you have a Variable Rate Mortgage. The central bank followed this announcement with a statement, saying that they are “prepared to increase the policy interest rate further if […]
Read MoreHome Tips Trish Pigott 30 Aug
More buyers are coming off the sidelines and looking to enter the market. Prices are high, so protecting your investment and home is more important than ever. What insurance will you need to protect your new home? A quick Google search will turn up title and home insurance entries. They each protect consumers but from […]
Read MoreHome Tips Trish Pigott 23 Aug
Although most credit card interest rates have not been affected by the recent surge in the prime lending rate, the fact remains that credit card debt is usually the most expensive debt you can have. The average is around 20%, and even the so-called ‘low interest’ cards carry a rate above 10%. Expediting the demise […]
Read MoreMortgage Tips Trish Pigott 16 Aug
While not the only factor to consider when choosing a mortgage, interest rates remain one of the more prominent decision criteria with any mortgage product. Understanding how mortgage rates are determined and the differences between your typical fixed-rate and variable-rate options can help you make the best decision to suit your needs. How Rates Are […]
Read MoreGeneral Trish Pigott 9 Aug
When purchasing a home, most offers include conditions or subjects, which are requirements or criteria to be met before the sale can be finalized and the property is transferred. Some of the most common subjects include: Financing approval Home inspection Fire/home insurance protection Strata document review if appliable The purpose of these subjects is to […]
Read MoreHome Tips Trish Pigott 2 Aug
If you want to up or downsize your home and are moving during your current mortgage cycle, keep a few things in mind. First, making any change to your mortgage during your mortgage term is considered “breaking” the mortgage. Portability If your mortgage is portable, moving up and scaling down will be much simpler. If […]
Read MoreGeneral Trish Pigott 26 Jul
When traditional lenders, such as banks or credit unions, deny mortgage financing, it can be easy to feel discouraged. However, there is always an alternative! If you’re seeking a mortgage, but your application doesn’t fit into the box of the big traditional institutions, you’ll find yourself in what’s commonly referred to in the industry as […]
Read MoreHome Tips Trish Pigott 19 Jul
Thank you to our partners at First National for a breakdown on the difference between the two. What is the difference between a Guarantor and a Co-signer? Guarantors are not on title to the property but will provide a guarantee to ensure the mortgage debt is being paid by signing the mortgage commitment and the […]
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