There are expectations of further cuts to the prime lending rate (currently at 4%) as the Bank of Canada tries to fight off the threat or at least dampen the damage of the recession. Also helping the cause is the liquidity that Federal Governments across the world have been injecting into markets, including $25 Billion [...]

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When looking to buy in a neighborhood experience it. Walk the streets and parks after work and on weekends. Get a real good feel for its vibe. You should also check out Homezilla.ca. By entering an address you will be able to view the area and what’s in it - schools, parks, pubs, coffee bars, [...]

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Yesterday, I spent 3 hours at the company that provides me with my cell phone service. I didn’t want to ’supersize’ my plan but instead reduce it. You see my intention is to simplify my life by saying goodbye to packages that I don’t use and really understand. So that when the cell phone company [...]

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First off, what is a mortgage broker? Often, people confuse mortgage brokers with lenders. A mortgage broker (e.g. Buyingblock) offers the mortgage products of various lenders, while a lender (e.g. Royal Bank) provides the actual money to the borrower. Essentially, a mortgage broker serves as a liaison between borrowers and lenders. 
A mortgage broker doesn’t loan money. Instead, he or she works with borrowers, assisting them in finding appropriately matched mortgages. Typically, amortgage broker will learn [...]

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Typically, we advise that If you plan to live in a home less than four years, then renting may be the better option. If you are looking to live for five years plus, building equity and living in your own home outweighs renting. In today’s world, however, you may want to wait a bit to [...]

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If you read the newspapers over the weekend, you probably read about deflation. Deflation generally occurs when the supply of goods rises faster than the supply of money. A good example is computers. Computer prices have sharply dropped in price over the last ten to fifteen years. This is because technological improvements have allowed the [...]

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You need to be prepared for a number of costs related to buying a home. A rough estimate is 3% of your home purchase. So, on a $400,000 home, closing costs will be approximately $12,000. The costs include: Survey - $650 (should be provided by seller but if they don’t have one you will need [...]

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When looking for a condo you should be aware of LEED. From the LEED website, “The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED is a [...]

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Can you believe it? The Strata Condominium in Burlington, expected to be completed in June of 2011, is taking going green seriously. The complex will use a geothermal system producing no greenhouse emissions and saving residents energy costs. Prices are affordable from $185k to $730k with condo fees of 39 cents per square foot. Check [...]

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One of the simplest ways I use to get a better sense of whether I should buy a property is to ask the neighbors. If you are looking at a condo, find out if the building has a good reputation. Ask current residents how often repairs and maintenance are required, and how good the soundproofing [...]

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