Introducing the 55 / 55 Financing Option

Introducing the 55 / 55 Financing Option

According to the 2016 Census, seniors now outnumber children for the first time in Canadian history. With an estimated 5.9 million Canadian seniors, the population is not only growing older but the pace of change is accelerating. This is all very positive news, but...
Are You Stressed by OSFI’s ‘Stress Test’ Yet?

Are You Stressed by OSFI’s ‘Stress Test’ Yet?

Effective January, 2018, the qualifying rate for uninsured mortgages, (20%+ down payment), will be the greater of the five-year benchmark rate published by the Bank of Canada, (4.89% today), or the contractual mortgage rate + 2%. In plain English, IF the 5 year...
Valuable Tips about how to Pay off your Mortgage Faster

Valuable Tips about how to Pay off your Mortgage Faster

When shopping for a mortgage, the lowest rate should not be your only concern. Pay attention to the three ‘P’s’: Prepayment privileges By how much can you pay down your mortgage annually without being penalized? Penalties What penalty will you pay to pay your mortgage...
Should you pay down the mortgage or invest?

Should you pay down the mortgage or invest?

One of the biggest debates in the personal finance community is whether someone should use their extra cash to pay down the mortgage or put that money to work in investments. The mortgage paydown strategy is popular with risk-adverse folks. Investing is risky, while...
Five ways to improve your credit score

Five ways to improve your credit score

If you currently have a mortgage or are looking to obtain one, it is imperative you maintain a healthy credit score. The three digits that make up your credit score tell a lender a lot about your credit history and ultimately the status of your financial health....