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…

One of the many reasons why my clients are investing in real estate is because of the great financial return. Higher risk tends to generate higher returns. So, in the stock market, for example, you may see individual stocks performing very well. As a basket of stocks, the risk is reduced and the returns are…

Did you know that 60% of Canadians simply sign their renewal documents without giving them any thought or review? We find that many Canadians spend time shopping for their initial mortgage, but the same is not true for their renewal! Did you know that often your renewal offer isn’t the best offer available? We can…