16 Oct

Are you looking for a mortgage as if it were a commodity?

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

I’ve heard brokers say more than once that mortgages are a commodity, by definition a commodity is a basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other commodities of the same type. That doesn’t sound like mortgages to me. While the core product is always the same, money lent that is secured by real […]

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12 Oct

OSFI stress test could harm lender competition says Fraser Institute

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

Another organisation has added its voice to those opposing OSFI proposals to introduce tougher lending restrictions for uninsured mortgages and warns it could harm competition in the mortgage industry. The Fraser Institute says that requiring a stress test with a margin of 2 percentage points above the agreed rate for those homebuyers with at least […]

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11 Oct

After 8 months, housing starts paused last month

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

There was a decline in Canada’s housing starts in September, following eight months of trending upwards. CMHC reports that the six-month trend of starts slipped to 214,821 last month from 220,573 in August. “Housing starts are trending lower in September after increasing for eight consecutive months,” said Bob Dugan, CMHC’s chief economist. “Nevertheless, new home […]

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4 Oct

Stricter mortgage rules could be in place by January

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

By the end of October we should have a clear idea of proposed changes to mortgage lending regulations with updated B-20 rules implemented within two to three months. Speaking at an event in Toronto, OSFI superintendent Jeremy Rudin said Tuesday that much of what will become the updated regulations will be what the regulator set […]

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4 Oct

Yes, You Can

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

This story is from the Fall edition of Our House Magazine Moving on up from condo to house, these young homeowners prove age is just a number For Jordan Rothwell and Karissa Roed, the timing to find their forever home couldn’t be more perfect. The couple, who recently moved to Mission, B.C., are expecting their […]

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2 Oct

Don’t assume anything when dealing with mortgage financing

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

A lot of people get into hot water when they assume that because they’ve qualified for a mortgage in the past, they will qualify for a mortgage in the future. This article has one point to make and it’s this: Don’t assume anything when dealing with mortgage financing! And if that’s all you take away, […]

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28 Sep

Sales of $1 million condos up 85% in one Canadian market

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

Demand for luxury property remains strong in many of Canada’s cities but for million-dollar condos one market has seen a huge surge. Sales of homes priced $1 million or more increased in the first seven months in Victoria, and Calgary but it was the GTA where sales were up 85% year-over-year according to data from […]

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28 Sep

Getting Pre-Approved For A Mortgage

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

You’ve been squirreling away your bonus cheques, savings and reducing the amount of times you visit Starbucks so you can finally get into your own home to build solid equity for your future. Now that you know what you want and what you can afford, it’s time to visit your local Dominion Lending Centres mortgage specialist […]

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