Most Canadian graduates finish their post-secondary education with an average of close to $17,000 in debt, according to the Canadian Federation of Students. They are ready to begin their careers. Many start to also think about starting a family and buying a property. The...
You probably know by know the Purchase Plus Improvements Program allows qualified purchasers to borrow up to 20% of the post-renovation value of a home, even with as little as 5% down. However, some planning still needs to be done before you venture into this...
We’ve said it many times: owning a house is almost everyone’s dream. We feel accomplished, it gives us a sense of responsibility, we feel like we have our own space. So, it’s only normal that we make a list to plan the house of our...
A Notice of Assessment, also known as NOA, is a statement from the Canada Revenue Agency notifying the taxpayer of the amount of tax they owe, if any, the amount of tax already paid, if any, tax credits received and contributions to a Registered Retirement...
Is there a difference between refinancing your mortgage and home equity? Yes, there is. In fact, you have two options: refinancing the first mortgage that you have or taking out a home equity loan. Both of these can provide funds for whatever you need (debt consolidation,...
A starter home is a “somewhat” small house or condo that meets the requirements of young people buying their first home. This is usually the case for the vast majority of young people (single or couples). So, what should be your priorities if you are...
Here’s the thing: closing costs are the one element people tend to forget or know less about in the entire home buying process. We’ve written a few blog posts where we mention closing costs and what they entitle. This particular post aims at answering the...
Since January 2018, qualifying for a mortgage has been very challenging for first-time homebuyers, unless they got a “down payment” gift from a family member. As we have discussed numerous times, the federal stress test and climbing prices are the main reason why it is...
You have purchased a home. The moving day is fast approaching. Have you considered all the costs? We decided to write this blog post to help every homebuyer budget for the costs - the obvious and the hidden ones - related to moving. What are the...
We all know the homebuying process is a complex task. From saving for a downpayment to finding the home of our dreams many steps need to be taken. We often tell people to budget on a monthly basis and to try to cut on certain...