Rethinking the Renovation

Do Home Improvements Improve Value? According to a CIBC poll, only 32% of homeowners who’ve decided to renovate came up with a detailed budget. That’s only half the story. Of those who recently renovated, 39% went over budget. The same study found that 49% of Canada’s homeowners planned to renovate in 2019, a four-point increase…

The Right Rate: Fixed or Variable?

In a statement released in July of 2019, the Bank of Canada (BOC) reported positive trends in the national housing market. “At the national level, the housing market is stabilizing, although there are still significant adjustments underway in some regions.” With real estate prices fluctuating in recent years, exacerbated by the expanded mortgage stress test…

Why Borrowers Choose a Private Mortgage

More Canadians have started to turn to private lenders in search of mortgage financing. With mortgage regulations continually becoming stricter and tightening the lending gap, many would-be homeowners are being squeezed out of their dreams. Private mortgages abide by a similar set of parameters as the ones commonly imposed by many banks. However, these parameters…

Raising Property Value and How to Pay for It

For most people, a house is the most expensive purchase they will make in their lifetime, and aside from the obvious (having a place to live), homebuyers have incomparable incentives to own property. Not only do they secure a home for themselves and their families, but a real estate asset can also be liquidated in…

Time To Move Out

What are home equity loans? A guide for Canadians

Almost everyone takes out a loan to buy a home. As the loan is being paid back, you build up the equity in your home. Home equity is the difference between the market value of your home and what you owe that bank on the loan.