Share Tax season is upon us, and you are probably checking to make sure you are taking advantage of every tax break you can. Here is a cheat sheet to remind you of all the tax deductions you can use: 1. First Time Home Buyers If you bought your home last year, and it was [...]
Share We have already mentioned Real Estate Income Trusts (REITs), but it’s probably a good idea to go into a little more detail about them. As mentioned in the previous article, REITs are one way for investors to invest into the real estate market, without getting directly exposed. REITs are regular public companies, and you [...]
Share Last week, I gave you some tips on mortgage calculators to use to determine how much money you could save if you break your mortgage and try to get one with a lower interest rate. This week, to continue the discussion, I’ll provide you with some online calculators that can help you find the [...]
Share While there is no evidence that Canada is experiencing a housing bubble, there is plenty of evidence that Canadians are developing a greater and greater debt burden. A recent Vanier Institute of the Family study suggests that the debt-to-income ratio for households in Canada is at 145%. This is the highest it has ever [...]
Share BMO Bank of Montreal announced that effective April 7th, its five year low rate fixed closed mortgage will be increasing to 3.95% from 3.75%. This new rate remains at the lowest in the marketplace, and the gap between BMO’s rate compared to the competition has widened following the recent round of rate increases. This [...]
Share Are you thinking of breaking your mortgage? With interest rates as low as they are and expected to go higher, this might be your last chance for a long time. But you don’t want to do it if it’ll cause you to pay more in penalties. I’ve already given you an idea of a [...]
Share Has this happened to you? After hearing about the great new low interest rates, you decide to refinance your mortgage to the lower rate. However, when you go into your bank to make the changes, your bank’s financial advisor tells you that you are on the hook for some very expensive penalties if you [...]
