Ben Rutledge

Wouldn’t that be nice!

Brock Hunter unpacks the current trends in Victoria’s spring housing market.

Wouldnt that be nice!

Every week a news outlet or economist will guess where interest rates are going. But what will stay the same is good mortgage advice for you specific situation, and pictures of Stephen Poloz with shifty eyes.

Brock Hunter unpacks the current trends in Victorias spring housing market.

Life can be unexpected. There are many reasons why you may choose to break your 5 year term mortgage agreement. It is important to be prepared and protected against mortgage penalties. Reach out to me directly, I can give you the support you need to make the right decision. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=488

RRSPs are not just for retirement! Here's a nice article to show that your RRSP can be used during many different stages of your life, not just retirement. Depositing your down payment into an RRSP and using the first-time home buyers program to access it can add 15-25% to the down payment for your new home. It's not hard to do. You just need the right advice and at least 90 days to implement this plan. ... Reach out to me today and we can discuss the details. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=3056

Canada's Finance Minister has been warned that further increases to interest rates could significantly impact Canadians with heavy debt loads. Should the government continue to focus on using interest rates to stabilize the housing market or pivot to helping everyday Canadians manage their existing mortgages and debt payments? Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=3038

BC Government cracks down on Tax Evasion with legislation targeting Condo Flippers! Condo Developers must now disclose the identity and citizenship of anyone completing a contract assignment. What do you think? Will this serve its intended purpose of keeping speculators out of the market? Should it be implemented in all major Canadian cities? Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=3044

What do you look for when shopping for a mortgage? What research do you do? Unfortunately, we see far too many people focused only on the lowest rate when there is so much more to consider! I can show you whats important, what is just a distraction, and help you set up your mortgage to protect against all sorts of unplanned events.... Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=445

Here are six reasons to reach out to me now to get pre-approved before the spring market. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=965

I received my declaration form in the mail yesterday. Be on the lookout for yours. Not responding could have some serious tax implications.

Invest in RRSP's or pay down your mortgage? Which one is better for you? The decision may not be as hard as you may think. A balanced approach to both investing and debt reduction may provide you with the best results. The investing world uses dollar-cost averaging. In the mortgage world we use mortgage payment optimization to achieve the same effect. Reach out to me, and we can automate additional principal payments to your mortgage and knock years off your amortization, Wh...ich will save you thousands of dollars in interest. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2983

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has declared the overall Canadian housing market to be "vulnerable" for the tenth consecutive quarter. This assessment factors in overall housing demand, pricing, new housing startups and other economic factors to determine the overall health of the Canadian housing market Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2961

Good work taking the next steps Saanich and Zac de Vries - Saanich Councillor. I used to live in a 5 bedroom house with 6 adults near Elk Lake while training for the Olympics. Normally we were in bed around 9:30pm and really only slept in the house when we were not training. Hard to think a situation like this would be cause for eviction. Maybe safety is a concern? But wouldn't having 4 kids and two adults be less safe? Anyway I'm just glad we were not caught;)

Don't let past credit mistakes keep you in the cold this winter. Here are 3 easy steps to building or repairing your credit! Anyone with good credit should read Step 3 - Maintaining Good Credit, especially if you are planning any major purchases in the near future including a home. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=1918

So why go with a Mortgage Broker instead of going straight to the bank? Doesn't that just add a middle-man? The advice of a mortgage broker when you're shopping for your new home is invaluable. Your broker will know which lenders specialize in certain property types (rural properties, rental properties), which have the most forgiving penalty structures and how to tailor the biggest financial commitment of your life to your unique situation. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=445

Getting pre-approved for a Mortgage will make the process smoother. Pre-approval sets your budget and locks in your rate. However there are some common pitfalls that may cause problems if they happen between the pre-approval and the mortgage finally closing. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=965

If you're looking at buying a condo this year, there are a couple other considerations if you have pets. Not all condos are pet-friendly, with some condo complexes either banning pets outright, or setting limits on number, breed or size. Before submitting an offer, it's important to research the condo corporation's by-laws and procedures to ensure you don't have to make the choice between the home of your dreams and your furry family member. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=1802

With the new year, tax season and RRSP season is upon us. Many young adults have yet to start saving for retirement, with most citing either lack of available funds to start or not knowing how or where to begin. A financial planner can help you on the road to retirement saving. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2832

A HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) can be a powerful financial tool, allowing you to finance renovations, or the purchase of a rental property. However, it's important to read the fine-print to ensure that you won't run into problems when the time comes to sell your home if your HELOC has a balance owing. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=1756

If you're struggling financially or have a low income, it may feel like you're staring up from the bottom of a deep, dark well. There are steps you can take to start your climb back up to the light. It starts with planning. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2809

Do you have a plan in case your home gets flooded or is damaged by severe weather? A study by the University of Waterloo suggests that if you do, you're in the minority even though 1 in 5 Canadians live in an area prone to floods. Many Canadians in disaster-prone areas either find insurance premiums unaffordable or lack prevention measures such as sump pumps. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2812

How well do you know your credit score? A recent study by Equifax shows that less than half of Canadians check their credit score regularly with almost a third of respondents admitting to never checking their credit score. It's critical to ensure that the information reported on your credit bureau is accurate and that any suspicious activity is caught and acted on quickly. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2795

It's mid-January and holiday bills are starting to come in. If you found yourself struggling financially over the holidays, there are steps you can take over the next year to make the next holiday season less stressful Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=463

New housing construction decreased slightly month-over-month in December, but still remain elevated compared to historical trends for the time of year. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2774

The Bank of Canada has elected to hold its Policy Interest Rate at 1.75%. The Bank of Canada cites recent decreases in oil prices as a contributing factor. As a result, variable-rate credit products should see no corresponding changes in interest rates. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2766

When you're buying a home, you need to prove you'll be able to make the mortgage payments going forward. That means that you will need to provide proof of income, including how much you make annually, and how long you've been with your current employer Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=1123

Are my 2019 fixed mortgage rate predictions coming true already? https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-why-a-drop-in-fi/

There are many advantages to getting pre-approved for a mortgage. These include an opportunity to increase your down payment, locking in a lower interest rate, and being able to include renovation costs into your mortgage balance among many others. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=502

New year, new changes to Federal and Provincial income tax coming into effect. There are a number of changes affecting both individuals (Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance contributions) and Businesses (Small Business Tax Rate). Talk to your financial professional today to find out how you can optimize your tax return Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2724

2018 Tax assesments are out. Do you agree with yours? You can type your adress in the link below if you have not received it in the mail. https://www.bcassessment.ca/ https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2726

Do you agree with my fixed rate mortgage prediction? Watch and let me know. #lower #higher #ILikeVariable

Are you comfortable with a Variable rate mortgage? Now may be the time to refresh your discount.

Should you lock into a 5 year fixed rate now? Watch below for my 5 year fixed rate mortgage prediction. Next video will be my Varible rate prediction:).

How would your pocketbook handle an interest rate hike? If interest rates increase as predicted, it is important that you take steps to either ensure that your budget can withstand a sudden increase in expenditures, or find out how to restructure your finances in order to stay out of trouble. Talk to your mortgage broker to find out how they can help. Learn more by reading my new blog post: https://www.clearhome.ca/links/?b=BenRutledge&l=2714