Jason Cleland, Ottawa Mortgage Pulse
500 Claridge Drive #104 Ottawa, ON, Canada

It’s no surprise that many Canadians took on a lot of debt in 2020. If one of your financial resolutions for 2021 is to pay down your debt, refinancing your mortgage may be the solution! Contact me to learn more.

Have you set Financial Resolutions for 2021? Here are some ideas that may work for you! Contact me for more information!

May this Christmas season end the present year on a cheerful note and usher in a brighter New Year. Wishing you, your friends, and family moments of peace and happiness. May the sharing of good cheer warm your heart and be a blessing for the distance and sacrifices we've all had to endure this year. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.

With the new year right around the corner, one of the top things you'll inevitably want to focus on will be your financesespecially after a year like 2020. To help you accomplish that, here is a list of some of the best financial blogs in the space to help make your journey easier, along with a little entertainment along the way.

The Holiday Season is certainly going to look different this year and so many small businesses, charities, families and individuals will be struggling to make ends meet. If you can, support a local business!

The new norm will likely be a mixed work environment, flex time possibilities, the potential for compressed workweeks, and job sharing.

As we await the US election results, this is an interesting read that examines which candidate may be better for Canada by breaking down a few issues that matter to this country.

Many Canadians will not recover from Covid financially. Everyone regardless of financial status deserves a financial plan and that working with a professional isn't only for the wealthy. Here are three key benefits of financial planning.

With mortgage rates at all-time lows, refinancing now could save you thousands. This truly is a chance to trade in your current mortgage for a better one. Contact me to discuss!

Thinking of selling your home? Contact me to discuss your current mortgage. It could save you thousands.

The lowest rate isn't always the best product. Contact me to find out what is the best fit for you!

Here are the three biggest items that come up quite frequently as unexpected costs: property tax adjustments; mortgage interest adjustments; and PST on mortgage-default insurance.

It's not too late to check everything off your summer bucket list.

Its not too late to check everything off your summer bucket list.

Mortgage experts say the Bank of Canada will reduce the benchmark qualifying ratea.k.a., stress test ratefrom 4.94% to 4.79% this week.

While the pandemic has put the financial plans of Canadians to the test, it has also been the kind of crisis that reminds us why we make such plans to begin with.

Observers say that implies the Bank has no plans to start raising rates until at least 2023.

While mortgage rates have been tumbling steadily over the last couple of months, many are now in record-setting territory, with certain 1- to 5-year fixed rates now available for under 2.00% from discount brokers. Give me a call to find out what great rates and products are available to you!

Home offices have been sprouting up and the responsibility of the office employee to create a home work environment has resulted in a new tax-saving opportunity they have not qualified for in the past.

Genworth said in a statement the company doesn't plan to change any debt service ratio limits, minimum credit score and down payment requirements for homeowners looking to insure a mortgage with the firm.

Companies are rethinking their office footprints and warehouse needs.

Homebuyers excluded by these changes should look around for a lender that also works with Genworth or Canada Guaranty, the countrys two private-sector providers of mortgage default insurance. Those companies have decided not to tighten their restrictions.

From hair salons to gyms, experts rank 36 activities by coronavirus risk level.

Genworth said in a statement the company doesnt plan to change any debt service ratio limits, minimum credit score and down payment requirements for homeowners looking to insure a mortgage with the firm.

Before making a final decision talk to a financial advisor; using credit rather than RRSP funds isn't a simple decision and there are always exceptions and other variables to consider.

The state-owned Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp., which offers default insurance to home buyers with low down payments, said it will narrow eligibility criteria as of July 1. Buyers will need higher credit scores and lower debt burdens to qualify.

Potential buyers should consider several factors before they enter the market, including job stability and whether your family is expanding or contracting.

Before making a final decision talk to a financial advisor; using credit rather than RRSP funds isnt a simple decision and there are always exceptions and other variables to consider.

The third phase of CERB is about to start: Here's what you need to know.

Buyers and sellers in the Toronto-area real estate market are starting to loosen up in May after lockdown measures surrounding the coronavirus pandemic brought sales to a standstill in March and April.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. officials said Tuesday they expect real estate prices won't return to pre-recession levels until late 2022 at the earliest.

Despite multiple headwinds and the continuous ravages of COVID-19, Canadian market activity and purchasing power will be able to recover quickly after the outbreak eases, according to outgoing Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz.

Some good news: effective May 25, itll be slightly easier to qualify for a mortgage. The qualifying rate that is used in stress tests for both insured and uninsured mortgages has gone down to under 5% for the first time since January 2018. A lower rate means its easier for borrowers to qualify.

Hoping #COVID19 will soften the #realestate market for you? Six experts weigh-in on post-pandemic conditions. Will they be first-time-buyer friendly? Heres what they had to say.

The third phase of CERB is about to start: Heres what you need to know.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. officials said Tuesday they expect real estate prices wont return to pre-recession levels until late 2022 at the earliest.

If conditions improve quickly, the economic shock is likely to be "abrupt and deep but relatively short-lived" and followed by a strong rebound for most, but not all, sectors of the economy.

Easter was the beginning of hope for all. That hope continues to today and into the future. During this difficult time, I wish you an Easter holiday filled with plenty of family, friends, love, and laughter, but virtually of course. May you feel the hope of new beginnings, love and happiness during this joyful Easter holiday. Stay safe! Where flowers bloom, so does hope.

Bank of Nova Scotia announced late Friday that, effective April 1, it would reduce credit card interest rates for personal and small business customers to 10.99 per cent if those clients are facing COVID-19-related financial troubles and are getting their minimum payments deferred.

Its expected the stimulus package will be worth about $25 billion -- equal to how much some economists estimate the coronavirus pandemic will cost the Canadian economy. It will put money into the hands of Canadians and their families, and help out the countrys hardest-hit sectors.

Expectations of a BoC interest-rate cut this week have moved to imminent as global governments and banks begin to respond en masse to the escalating economic threat from the COVID-19 virus.

If youre a mortgage shopper wondering whether any of this matters, here are nine reasons why it does.

The federal government is changing the stress test rate for insured mortgages starting April 6.

Here are some strategies that sometimes give you that much needed quick score boost.

The posted rate is significant for the federal mortgage stress test, which is based on the posted rates at the big Canadian banks. The posted rate is also used for calculating mortgage penalties.

People who ask questions about topics such as paying down debt versus saving and investing tend to be good money managers who will end up doing fine, whatever decisions they make. If youre not sure, give me a call.

Bank of Canada keeps key rate target on hold, trims growth expectations for 2020

Looking ahead, 2020 is guaranteed to have its own twists. These are five undaunted predictions of whats to come.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Finance Minister Bill Morneau to consider changes to the mortgage stress test that Canadas real estate industry has criticized for being a drag on the housing market.