Location, location, location – it’s the most important aspect of any potential house hunt. But just what constitutes a good location? Whether you’re searching for a new home or thinking about putting your’s on the market, it pays to know what makes or breaks a prime location in your area. Continue reading
Category Archives: General Interest
How to Get More Money Out of Your Home
We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s the small things that matter most,” but what you might not know is this is also true when it comes to building equity into your home. Whether you’re thinking about selling now or later, it’s never too early to start investing in your home’s potential. Continue reading
Stop Worrying About The Housing Market
It’s no secret that the Canadian housing market has been a bit volatile as of late. In certain portions of the country, prices are hot, hot, hot. Price bidding is common in Vancouver, and Toronto and Montreal are both posting record sales numbers. And yet, everywhere you look, experts keep warning of an impending bubble.
So, what’s the deal? Is the housing market rock solid or on the rocks? Continue reading
Buyers Doubt Mortgage Rates Will Rise This Year
Looks like fewer people are buying into the idea that mortgage rates are going to increase in 2013. This according to a studying by CIBC released in mid-March. The study showed that almost half (46 percent) of Canadian homebuyers believe that the near-record low mortgage rates of today are going to stick around for at least another 12 months. That’s almost twice as many people who said the same thing back in 2011 (24 percent).
These findings raise some interesting questions, like whether Canadian home hunters are blindly optimistic or if the expectations of low rates is now relevant to the mortgage selection process? Continue reading
Housing and the Big, Bad Budget
A lot has been said about Thursday’s budget announcement. From Flaherty’s shoe selection to a vague job-training program, many Canadian’s were left slightly confused following the much-anticipated announcement.
With that being said, Flaherty’s eighth (and potentially final) budget announcement could have been worse, especially for the mortgage industry. Thursday’s budget included a tightening of controls on mortgage lending once again, as well as another promise to further limit lender access to bulk mortgage insurance. While this will inconvenience some lenders, it’s actually good news for taxpayers. The announcement is just the latest in a long line of moves from the Finance Department that touch on concerns over the housing market. As Canadian’s continue to sink themselves deeper into household debt, Flaherty once again verbalized his mounting anxiety over interest rates. Continue reading