Blog
Bank of Canada Overnight Rate – Not just important to the big banks!
What does the Bank of Canada do? Well, that is a loaded question. A simplified answer is that it makes sure that Canada’s monetary policy is creating a safe and stable financial system for Canadians. If that already sounds like something out of a boring high school...
Is Rate King? Understanding the Importance of Fit and Affordability in Your Mortgage
When it comes to mortgages, rate is king for many existing and future homeowners-but should it be? The idea that chasing the lowest rate possible is the best strategy when choosing your mortgage is a common, but frankly misguided notion. Understanding what is a...
Financing Your Spring Renovation
Discover Your Options Spring has sprung and you are ready to refresh your home with a renovation. Before you start choosing whether you want marble or granite countertops, make sure you have made a decision on how you are going to pay for your renovations. With tons...
What The 2019-2020 Federal Budget Means For First Time Home Buyers
First Time Home Buyers Incentive Canada: Are you or someone you know… a first-time home buyer in a household with an income of less than $120,000 per year purchasing a new or existing build valued at less than 4 times the household income have a down payment of at...
Tips To Upsizing Your Home
Purchasing a home is always an exciting endeavour but for those who are upsizing, the second (or third, or fourth) time buying is different. You are more knowledgeable, you can make better decisions faster, and you’re more confident. When your lifestyle evolves to a...
Does Mortgage Payment Frequency Make A Big Difference?
When it comes to your mortgage there are a lot of options to choose from and details to go over. These can sometimes be unclear, especially if you’re a first time home buyer. Things like a fixed or variable rate might not mean anything to you right now, but that’s...
Divorce and Mortgages
Life has many unexpected twists and turns and no matter how much we plan sometimes it just doesn’t work out as we thought it would. The splitting of a partnership is never something that we see coming or plan for, so when it happens it’s easy to be caught off guard....
Mortgage Renewals: Getting Denied, Shopping For New Lenders, & Other Essentials
The time has come for you to renew your mortgage. Just like when you purchased your first home, now is the time for negotiations. Start thinking about your financial goals, it’s time to explore the process of mortgage renewals and how you can make the most out of it....
Leveraging Your Home For A Loan
Sometimes life hits us with unexpected expenses, or expenses that sneak up on us. Usually, this means that we need a loan from the bank. With all the available options of getting a loan, how do you know what it the right option for you? As a homeowner, you have the...
The Ins and Outs of a Home Improvement Mortgage
Home renovations are a hot topic when we get into the warmer months of the year. Not many people realize they can refinance their mortgage to access home equity to fund their renovation. Leveraging your mortgage for renovations isn't only for those who are already...
First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit
First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit Not many people know that as a first time home buyer, you may be eligible for up to a $750 tax credit on your 2017 income taxes! This article explores the major points of this claim, however, it's always important to consult your tax...
Mortgage Renewal Process
The Mortgage Renewal Process When your mortgage term is over, it's time to begin the mortgage renewal process. Mortgage terms are usually 5 years, so at the end of your 5 years your mortgage broker should be in touch to give you information on your renewal. Remember...
10 Common Mortgage Mistakes You’re Making
10 Common Mortgage Mistakes You're Making Congratulations! You're on your way to home ownership. But have you been doing all you can to ensure the smooth sailing of your mortgage approval? From pre-approvals to small decisions, there are many factors to consider when...
Canada’s New Mortgage Rules 2018
It’s been a year since the Minister of Finance made the previous rule changes (Oct 2016) to home purchases for down payments that were less than 20%. These purchases required stress testing and to be able to debt-service at the Bank of Canada benchmark rate (which is...
Purchasing A Second Home: What You Need To Know
Purchasing a second home is becoming more and more popular amongst Canadians. A second home could be anything from a cabin getaway to a rental property. Many people have dreams of…
How Does Marriage Affect Your Mortgage?
When applying for a mortgage, your relationship status plays a significant role in how you will go about the process. Getting a mortgage can either be made easier, or more difficult…
Tim Lacroix Celebrates 10 Years As A Calgary Mortgage Broker
To celebrate this exciting milestone, we’re doing 10 weeks of giveaways on Facebook! Visit Calgary Mortgages by Tim Lacroix on Facebook to enter this week’s draw! Due to Tim’s 10 years anniversary of being a mortgage broker in Calgary, each week there will be a winner…
A Guide To Organizing Your Finances
Have you thought about Financial Spring Cleaning? Take a minute to go through this guide and get your finances set up for the year. This guide is also great for any young adults just starting out on their own who need a hand…