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2202 Ghent Ave L7R 1Y7 Burlington, ON, Canada

The 2020 Rental Market Report is out. With an analysis of primary and secondary rental markets, a review of rent and vacancy trends and their economic and demographic drivers, analysis on the impacts of COVID-19 on rent arrears and indicators of affordability conditions for the primary rental market. Download the full report here https://assets.cmhc-schl.gc.ca//rental-market-report-69720

Considering buying a home now or in the future? Wondering about refinance options? We love questions! Give us a call. #TestimonialTuesday

Building wealth is often about how you are able to leverage money and can mean borrowing at the right times. With interest rates low, and expected to stay that way for the near future, it is worth seeing what opportunities are out there to help you work on your financial goals.

From offices and home gyms to school workstations our homes have proven to be central to our lives, so it is no surprise that additional focus on our living spaces has fueled interest in larger spaces or different locations.

The pleasure was ours. Very happy to have helped Patrick with their mortgage needs. Have questions? We are here to help you achieve your goals! #TestimonyTuesday

Home sales in the Greater Toronto Area reached a new high for the month of December.

With the Bank of Canada due to make a policy decision this week, there is an increased chance of a so-called micro rate cut of less than 25 basis points.

Wishing you a year fully loaded with happiness. Happy New Year!

From our families to yours, wishing you the best of the season.

The Bank of Canada maintained its overnight rate at 0.25 per cent this morning as it noted Canada’s economic recovery will continue to require extraordinary monetary policy support.

You might have seen the headline "HSBC crushes mortgage records with 0.99% variable rate". No doubt about it, this is a great rate. However, it's not for everybody. Wanting to find out more Check out my latest blog or Call our office to set up a review. Read more: https://canadamortgagenews.ca//because-not-everyone-fits-i

According to a recent survey by Leger for RE/MAX, 52 per cent of Canadians believe real estate is one of the best investment options in 2021. Home renovations are on the to-do list for 40 per cent of Canadians while 29 per cent decided they need more space for living.

Not to worry if you missed our Housing and Mortgage Market Insights Roundtable Discussion with Steve Garganis (Mortgage Broker) and his guests, Ted Tsiakopoulos (Senior Economist/Specialist Housing Markets Policy) Jenelle Cameron (Sales Representative Remax Hallmark) and Tracy Hanes (Moderator - Freelance Writer and Editor) The video recording is now available. https://youtu.be/Qzhr0lJPA6M Topics: Why is the housing market so hot right now? What neighbourhoods and hous...ing types are most active? Are investors still active? What impact is the rental market having? What is motivating the move out of Toronto? Is this a new phenomenon? What forces are impacting affordability? What solutions can address this problem? How has COVID-19 impacted mortgage rates? How low can they go? Is it more difficult to qualify for mortgages? Who is being most impacted? Where is the housing market headed? (short vs long term) As always, I welcome your comments, calls and questions.

According to the Canada Mortgage Housing Corp. more than 11,000 condos were added to rental market in Metro Vancouver last year, spurred in part by taxes on empty homes.

While "Life is what happens when you least expect it", an emergency fund can help you face the unexpected with some financial peace of mind. For more great info on Emergency Funds, check out Part One of a Finance Series I will be posting.

It's here... Join us at 11:00 am. Join us for today's roundtable discussion with Senior Economists, Ted Tsiakopoulos, Real Estate Sales Representative, Janelle Cameron and Myself. With Journalist Tracy Hanes, moderating we are sure to cover some great questions. Register now: https://buff.ly/31Pxqbn

If you are interested in the State of the Housing Market now and in the future, Neighbourhood and Market Trends, the Impact of Covid-19 on Mortgage Rates, changes to the Qualification Process, and more, Register now and join us live this Wednesday, October 28th, at 11:00 am EST. Learn more: https://buff.ly/3mv0IDU Register now: https://buff.ly/31Pxqbn

Taking a moment to reflect on all that we are thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

While 40 per cent of potential first-time homebuyers think now is a good time to buy, according to a recent survey, the biggest impact COVID-19 has had in their decisions is the type of property they are looking to purchase.

With gains led by the Greater Toronto Area and B.C.'s Lower Mainland, home sales in August climbed 6.2 per cent compared with July.

With interest rates this low you can feel good about buying.

Wondering about the economic outlook? Check out highlights from my recent call with Scotiabanks Chief Economist & SVP, Jean-Francois Perrault and John Webster President & CEO Scotia Mortgage Corporation.

As expected, the Bank of Canada held its key overnight interest rate steady at 0.25%.

Happy Labour Day! Be safe and have fun.

With the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) announcement that they will begin phasing out special treatment of payment deferrals in September, those still seeking reprieve may have fewer options. While it doesn't mean an end to all deferrals, it is likely payment deferrals wont be as easily granted from lenders. Have questions? Im here to help!

Housing starts continue to rebound nicely with a 16 per cent increase in July over June.

The benchmark five-year mortgage rate reported by the Bank of Canada fell for the third time this year, easing a key stress test faced by borrowers. Under the new rate, homebuyers gain a little more borrowing power.

A great piece with Paul Taylor, president and CEO of Mortgage Professionals Canada, as he discusses the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)'s plea with Canadian banks to "reconsider" offering mortgages to highly leveraged households.

By providing time to transition between properties or complete that renovation before moving in, Bridge Loans are gaining in popularity as more people take a relaxed look at the home buying process. To learn more about Bridge Loans check out my blog.

Getting professional unbiased advice is not just for peace of mind, although that's an added benefit, it could also offer significant savings over trying to go it alone.

Happy Civic Holiday! Hope you are taking a well-deserved break and enjoying the long weekend.

Mortgage Deferrals have allowed some homeowners to 'buy time' and help them get through the economic crisis. What's next for borrowers when that window comes to an end. Have questions? Im here to help!

A new report reveals double-digit increases for single-detached homes in Greater Toronto Real Estate Markets. Check out the highs and lows.

According to Statistics Canada, excluding gasoline, the consumer price index rose 1.2 per cent in June, matching the fastest acceleration in the headline inflation reading since March 2011.

While open houses are once again an option in many areas, they come with new rules and a different way of thinking for some.

Data from the Canadian Real Estate Association showed Canadian home sales rebounded sharply in May and June following the weakest April on record.

The Bank of Canada (BOC) announced today it is holding its key interest rate at 0.25 per cent and projecting that the economy wont return to pre-COVID19 levels until 2022. The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is September 9, 2020.

Rather than focus stimulus measures on boosting homeowners, a group of 56,000 realtors suggested that improving the supply of homes will keep prices affordable for buyers.

In case you missed it here are some highlights of the 2020 fiscal 'snapshot' presented by Bill Morneau yesterday. Download the Full Report https://www.canada.ca//pu/efs-peb/homepage/EFS2020-eng.pdf Mobile users can view the document here http://s3.documentcloud.org/documen/6983009/EFS2020-Eng.pdf

When it comes to home buying, Guelph, Ont took the top spot as the best place to buy real estate in Canada. With London, Ont., Victoria, B.C., Ottawa and Kingston, Ont., rounded out the top five.

When it comes to a variable or fixed rate, or whether breaking a mortgage, paying the penalty and renewing early is a good option, your decision should be made based on your goals, objectives, risk tolerance and financial circumstances. Speak with an experienced mortgage broker. As always, I welcome your comments, calls and questions.

Wishing everyone a Happy Canada Day!

Saving money and avoiding debt is among the top goals of respondents in the latest Financial Priorities Poll by CIBC. Check out what else the survey found...

If working from home has become your new normal you might be able to squeeze some extra value out of your home.

According to The Conference Board of Canada, if the country can avoid a second national shutdown, Canada's economy could grow by 6.7 per cent in 2021 and by 4.8 per cent in 2022.

Wishing all the amazing dads out there a Happy Father's Day!

There are small moments in time when interest rates are super low this is one of those times. If you have a mortgage, it's a good time for a review!

On the road to recovery... Credit card transactions, restaurant bookings and mobility data all show Canadians have begun to venture out and spend money.

You might have heard recently about TD Bank charging a $30,000 mortgage penalty to a woman forced to sell her home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Penalties have once again become a hot topic and an important one at that. Check out my blog for more information on how mortgage penalties are calculated by different lenders.

After CMHC introduced changes to their Mortgage Insurance Underwriting and Acceptance Criteria, Genworth Canada and Canada Guaranty confirmed they will NOT be following CMHC's lead. Read Genworth Canada Underwriting Policy Clarification here https://buff.ly/3f3lIxW Read Canada Guaranty Underwriting Policy Clarification here https://buff.ly/30mvqYk

The mortgage rules are changing on July 1st, 2020. Effective July 1, the following changes will apply for new applications for homeowner transactional and portfolio mortgage insurance: * Limiting the Gross/Total Debt Servicing (GDS/TDS) ratios to our standard requirements of 35/42;... * Establish minimum credit score of 680 for at least one borrower; and * Non-traditional sources of down payment that increase indebtedness will no longer be treated as equity for insurance purposes. If you're thinking about buying, contact me to discuss what these new changes mean for your situation. Read More: https://buff.ly/3093M0J

As Herbert Stein wrote: If something cannot go on forever, it will stop. The reality of what things will look like when we 'get back to normal' should make one pause and look at how we got here.

Bank of Canada keeps key interest rate target on hold at 0.25%. While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy appears to have peaked, uncertainty about how the recovery will unfold remains high.

While it seems like we've all been told to always have cash in case of an emergency, a startling change for many during this pandemic has been a shift to digital-only.

While the average house price has not seen a significant drop yet, it is unlikely for things to stay that way if people keep feeling the financial impacts of COVID-19.

Whether it's finding ways for our clients to save by refinancing their debts into one low payment or a frank discussion around government programs, here's a little more about how we can help?

It is hard to find anyone not impacted in some way or another by the current situation, but for some this has caused a significant change to their finances. If you are experiencing a negative cash flow situation, here are some steps you can take to improve your situation.