Is Rate the Most Important?
Mortgage clients frequently tell me, “I need the best mortgage rate; what rate do you offer?” Rates today are not that simple, period. If you ask me, what’s your best mortgage rate? My response will be, I don’t know, what’s your credit score? How much is your down payment? How are your ratios? Are you employed,…
Mortgage Repayment Options Explained
So you’ve got you’re mortgage approval, now the lender gives you the choice of several repayment options. You’ve heard about the standard monthly payments but what’s semi-monthly or accelerated bi-weekly? Which one can save you the most amount in interest and which one can pay your mortgage off sooner? Here’s the down and dirty on…
Let’s Boost Your Score
There’s a virtual credit file with your name on it. When it comes time to apply for your mortgage, everything in this file and how you managed credit use until now, will determine if you will achieve financing, how much you can borrow, and at what rate. Well, that sounds a little intimidating. The good…
5 Ways To Improve Your Credit Score
I hope this email finds you happy and well. Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that your credit score plays a crucial role in obtaining a mortgage. Talk about credit scores is everywhere – on television ads, in apps, on social media. But how, exactly, does YOUR credit score affect YOUR…
A Fun Look At How Others See Your Home
We all think our homes are worth a million dollars, but you may be surprised to know that not everyone in the housing chain sees your home as you do. Check out the photos below, they will give you a glimpse at how real estate industry professionals value your home.
What does it mean to refinance?
“My friend rolled their car loan and other debt into their mortgage. Can you do that for us?” When someone says this to me, I know what they really want to do is use the equity they’ve built up in their home to help alleviate some of their financial pressure and freeup cash-flow. And, yes,…
The Ten Commandments of Buying a Home
When buying a home, there are sure-fire ways to cause hiccups at closing; on rare occasions, it has cost the client their purchase. Here’s a fun way of remembering what not to do, until you hold the keys to your home in your hands. The Ten Commandments of Buying a Home 1. Thou…
The Five “C”s of Credit
If you’re a newcomer to Canada, self-employed, working on commission, or have a poor credit history, you may think your chances of qualifying for a mortgage are slim. Think again! The trick is to see yourself through the eyes of a mortgage lender. The 5 C’s of Borrowing Mortgage lenders look for certain characteristics in…
Using Equity To Renovate Your Home
Selling your existing home and buying another home can be very costly and stressful. Suppose you like your current home or your location. In this case, you may want to consider staying where you are and renovating—allowing for you and your family to be more comfortable and provide for better personal enjoyment. There are many…
72 Hour Preparedness Do you know what to do?
When I first moved to Ottawa in 2006, I applied for a position and was accepted as a DM Disaster Management volunteer at the Canadian Red Cross. WOW! Did I get a wake-up call? I am so incredibly grateful for the experiences I shared with other volunteers, the knowledge, the skills, and understanding I gained…
