Investing in property has long been a great way to diversify your portfolio and improve your long term returns.
Unfortunately, recent rule changes have changed the playing field for many potential real estate investors. While buyers used to be able to purchase an investment property with very little down and still receive a great rate, current hiccups in the market and changes to legislation are making it more difficult for investors to get in the game. Continue reading
Mortgage brokers are expected to be honest when it comes to providing their customers with financial advice. It’s their job, after all, to find you the best possible rate based on your unique financial situation. But, as with any other position of authority, there are always a few bad apples in the bunch. If you’re shopping for a mortgage rate, never assume that just because your broker has a friendly face, that he or she is looking out for your best interests.
Educate yourself in order to avoid less-than-ethical mortgage brokers. Remember, mortgage brokers are usually paid by the lender for referring customers and processing applications. This compensation varies based on the lender and the mortgage type. As such, it’s difficult for many brokers to resist the temptation of a higher commission for recommending a certain product. The following are five important conflicts to discuss with your broker the next time you’re shopping for a new rate. Continue reading
The theme for 2012 mortgage rules was pretty obvious: crack down on homebuyers who were looking to purchase a home with little money down. Changes barring cash-back mortgages by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. made it clear that regulators wanted to dissuade cash-poor consumers from taking on more debt. Yet, even despite these changes, first time homebuyers can still manage to enter the real estate market with as little as 5 percent down.
Is this the best way to take your first step onto the real estate ladder? Not necessarily. However, if you’re well-qualified, (aside from the down payment), and have enough potential resources to withstand a loss of income along with the ever present threat of falling real estate prices, you might be better off borrowing to buy instead of throwing your money away on rent. Continue reading
While the Canadian economy continues to grow at a slower pace than expected, last week’s release from the Bank of Canada wasn’t all doom and gloom. Consumer debt and the housing market finally appear to be stabilizing here in the Great White North, at the same time debt concerns in the United States and Europe have begun to dissipate.
As such, the message was clear from Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney last Wednesday – interest rates aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Continue reading
The elusive soft landing has finally hit ground in Canada, as the latest reports from the Real Estate Association show a decrease in year-over-year sales. The real estate group found that sales were down 0.1% in October from September. Actual sales for October (without the seasonal adjustment) were down 0.8% from a year ago.
While not unexpected (a housing slowdown has been anticipated since the government tightened mortgage rules back in June) experts are worried that the changes to the regulatory system may have a bigger impact than originally expected. Continue reading