We’ve all been faced with a major expense at some point in our life. Perhaps the furnace has failed in the middle of December, or your car has unexpectedly quit in the middle of a busy work week. You need a large sum of money fast, but your options are slim. Maybe your income stream varies from month to month, or your bank account just isn’t big enough. In a situation like this, you need to act fast, but you don’t want to make a decision that could hurt your credit score for years to come. So, what’s a frantic homeowner to do? How about tapping into your unused home equity to quickly and easily cover your costs? Continue reading
Category Archives: FamilyLending.ca
How to Buy a Foreclosed Home
It’s no secret that foreclosures have rocked the American real estate market over the past five years, but what about the Canadian real estate scene? While our major housing markets have faired better than that of our neighbour, there are still many foreclosed properties available across the country. First time home buyers and investors alike are jumping at the chance to take advantage of this surge of inventory thanks to affordable investment opportunities. But you can’t reap the rewards until your experience the risks. If you’re considering bidding on a foreclosed home it is important that you first understand the pros and cons of purchasing a property that’s in financial limbo. Continue reading
Is Your Home Underinsured?
Did you know that a large number of Canadian homes are underinsured? The following are six important steps to make sure your home is protected against the unexpected.
1) Know Your Policy And What it Covers
Your policy type should reflect your type of home and your needs. It’s important that you review your policy basics and have a good understanding of what you are and aren’t protected against. If you own an older home, or one that has special features (carved moldings or hardwood floors, for example), you will want to make sure you have special coverages in place to protect these items. Continue reading
Should You Use Your RRSP To Buy Your First Home?
Purchasing your first home can be tough, especially when it comes to scrounging up a sizable down payment. In Canada, you must be able to cough up a 20% down payment in order to avoid purchasing costly mortgage insurance. If you’re struggling to find enough cash to meet this requirement, don’t throw in the towel quite yet. Under the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP), first time home buyers in Canada can borrow up to $25,000 tax free from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) in order to help with their down payment and lower their monthly mortgage requirements. Continue reading
Short or Long: Which Mortgage Term Works For You?
The term of your mortgage is an important factor to consider when choosing your financing program. A few quick strokes on a mortgage calculator will show that long term mortgages do, in fact, reduce your monthly payments, but do these short term savings really add up over time? The professional mortgage brokers at FamilyLending.ca take a look at various mortgage terms to help you decide which financing option is right for you. Continue reading