25 Nov

ADVICE AND OPTIONS MEAN YOU’RE IN CONTROL

General

Posted by: Patti MacLennan

Today, you and your spouse go looking for a new home. You’re excited because after years of scrimping and saving, you can finally afford your own place. You’ve engaged a realtor and he’s called you to say that he’s found your new home. You visit the property and while its not perfect, your realtor insists […]

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24 Nov

4 COMMON FINANCIAL MISTAKES EVERY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER SHOULD AVOID

General

Posted by: Patti MacLennan

Every entrepreneur and business owner will make a few financial mistakes during their journey. Those who aren’t savvy in accounting often overlook the need to brush up on their financial IQ. Truth is, these little financial errors can lead to some serious cash flow problems if you aren’t careful. Here are four financial mistakes you […]

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23 Nov

YOU JUST GOT A MORTGAGE. NOW WHAT?

General

Posted by: Patti MacLennan

Mortgages are a funny thing. On the one hand they allow you to become a home owner without saving up enough money to purchase the home outright, which is a really good thing. On the other hand, even at today’s really low interest rates, as they are amortized over a really long time (most of […]

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22 Nov

THE NEW NORMAL

General

Posted by: Patti MacLennan

THE NEW NORMAL ’Tis the season… this was no surprise here! The latest round of mortgage guidelines has been announced by OSFI, or Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. As of January 1, 2018, all conventional or uninsured mortgages will have to qualify at the Bank of Canada 5-year fixed rate or the contractual […]

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21 Nov

HOW TO GET MORTGAGE AFTER BANKRUPTCY

General

Posted by: Patti MacLennan

Bankruptcy is always the last resort-and it’s never easy or comfortable. However, sometimes it is the only option to turn to when life throws you something unexpected. The lasting impression it can have on one’s financial profile though can be overwhelming. If you have bankruptcy in your past, don’t fear-we have 6 steps to take […]

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6 Nov

5SIMPLE STEPS TO OWNING YOUR OWN HOME

General

Posted by: Patti MacLennan

Often, the route to owning your own home can seem like a trip to the moon and back. Really though, it comes down to five key steps: 1 – Manage your credit wisely. If there is one thing that will gum up the purchase of that perfect home, it’s an unwise purchase or extra credit […]

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4 Nov

THE NEW NORMAL

General

Posted by: Patti MacLennan

’Tis the season… this was no surprise here! The latest round of mortgage guidelines has been announced by OSFI, or Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. As of January 1, 2018, all conventional or uninsured mortgages will have to qualify at the Bank of Canada 5-year fixed rate or the contractual rate + 2%, […]

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3 Nov

PAYMENT FREQUENCY, DOES IT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

General

Posted by: Patti MacLennan

It has been said that there are two certainties in life; death and taxes. Well, as it relates to your mortgage, the single certainty is that you will pay back what you borrowed, plus interest. However, how you make your mortgage payments, the payment frequency, is somewhat up to you! The following is a look […]

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2 Nov

TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT INCREASES SPENDING AS THE ECONOMY NEARS FULL EMPLOYMENT

General

Posted by: Patti MacLennan

The Canadian economy has grown at a stronger-than-expected annual rate of 3.7% in the past year, taking the jobless rate down to its lowest level in nearly a decade. With Canada’s economy the strongest in the Group of Seven countries, Ottawa now projects much smaller deficits than it did in March. The Liberal government cut […]

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21 Oct

CREDIT RATING AND DEBT SERVICING A MORTGAGE

General

Posted by: Patti MacLennan

It is great feeling buying your first home, but for most of us the first step is preparing to get a mortgage. Your credit rating and cash flow are based on a minimum of a two-year history. As mortgage rules continue to change, the credit rating is becoming even more important as a higher credit […]

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