What Canadian Homebuyers Need to Know When embarking on the journey to homeownership in Canada, understanding key financial concepts is crucial to making informed decisions. One such concept is amortization—a term frequently mentioned in mortgage discussions but often misunderstood. In this blog post, we will demystify amortization and explain its significance in the Canadian mortgage…
The holiday season is here, along with the excitement of family gatherings, festive decorations, and gift-giving can often lead to financial stress. The good news is that with some strategic planning, you can enjoy all the joys of the season without breaking the bank. Here are some top ways to budget and save financially during…
Have you heard of the 28/36 rule? This is a guideline used in personal finance to determine how much of your income should go toward housing and debt expenses. Here’s how it works: 28% for Housing Costs No more than 28% of your gross monthly income should be spent on housing costs, typically mortgage payments,…
In Canada, the majority of people who buy property do so by taking out a mortgage, which is typically repaid over a specific period of time through a process called amortization. However, most mortgage contracts only last for a period of one to five years. Once the contract comes to an end, the homeowner is…
Managing debts with high interest can feel like an uphill battle. If you’re only making the minimum payments, it’s very difficult to get ahead. A simple example… If you have a balance on your credit cards, you could typically be paying 19.99% in interest. If you owed $5,000 on a high-interest credit card, the annual…
Inflation is a natural part of a healthy economy, but if it rises too quickly, it can become problematic. When inflation increases rapidly, everyone tries to raise their prices to keep up, which can cause the value of the currency to plummet. This can lead to a recession and, in some extreme cases, currencies have…
Managing your finances does not need to be complicated! It just needs to be simple, consistent and effective. 1- If you’re finding that everything is expensive and you’re having a hard time prioritizing your spending every month, create a budget and a plan. 2- With current interest rates, paying down your debt needs to be a…
Whether you are purchasing a home or looking to refinance, determining the property’s value is an important step in the mortgage application process. This amount will determine the amount of mortgage you’ll be offered. How home value is measured? A home’s value is based on its features. These include square footage, location, age, quality and…
A good credit score will affect your ability to borrow and also the interest rates that will be available to you. Generally speaking, a good credit score will result in a lower interest rate. How to build credit history that benefits you: Start early The length of your credit history is a key factor in…