28 Feb

Fixed versus variable interest rates

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

Fixed Interest Rates This is usually the more popular choice for clients when it comes to deciding on which type of interest rate they want. There are many reasons why, but the most unsurprising answer is always safety. With a fixed interest rate, you know exactly what you are paying every month and you know that […]

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26 Feb

What is a Collateral Mortgage?

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

A collateral mortgage is a way of registering your mortgage on title. This type of registration is sometimes used by banks and credit unions. Monoline lenders, on the other hand, rarely register your mortgage as a collateral charge – which is an all-indebtedness charge that allows you to access the equity in the home over […]

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14 Feb

The role of the insurer in a mortgage

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

Any time a down payment for the mortgage is less than 20%, it is required that the mortgage must be insured thru an Insurer. Why does this mortgage need to be insured, who provides this type of insurance, what does this insurance mean, who is the beneficiary, how much does this insurance cost? All these […]

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13 Feb

What’s an acceptable down payment for a house?

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

Ask people this question and you will get a variety of answers.  Most home owners will say 10% is what you should put down. However, if you speak with your grandparents, they are likely to suggest that 20% is what you need for a down payment. The truth is 5% is the minimum down payment […]

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6 Feb

What is the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)?

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is a corporation that most are semi-familiar with, but do not know what CMHC actually does. CMHC is Canada’s authority on housing. They contribute to the stability of the housing market and the financial system. They also provide support for Canadians in housing need and offer objective housing […]

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5 Feb

Which Lender is Right for You?

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

The following is a summary of the choices available for clients when looking at the four different types of lending groups. Which one is best will all depend on who you are as a borrower, what your current situation is now, and what your situation will look like in the future. Big Banks Currently, mortgage […]

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2 Feb

2018 brings more of the same for Fraser Valley real estate

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

SURREY, BC – Fraser Valley housing market activity in January continued on the momentum seen throughout 2017 with year-over-year increases seen for both sales and pricing. The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,210 sales of all property types on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in January, an increase of 24 per cent compared to […]

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2 Feb

Most buyers won’t delay despite rate rises

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

The recent increases in interest rates appears not to have dampened the intentions of most Canadian home buyers. Just 1 in 4 surveyed for CMHC’s 2018 Prospective Home Buyer Survey said that an interest rate would make them very likely to delay purchasing a new home. However, the tight inventory in some markets is likely […]

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1 Feb

Bank vs. Credit Union – A who is who in borrowing

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

Banks and Credit unions are often grouped together into one category under “financial institutions”. While they may have several similarities in terms of financial service offerings, in the world of mortgages the banks and credit unions have little in common. As mortgage professionals, we work with both of them and are well versed in the […]

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31 Jan

Are you in a Variable Rate Mortgage? Me too.

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

Are you in a Variable Rate Mortgage? Me too. If you’re in a fixed rate mortgage, this news does not impact you. Mind you ‘impact’ is too strong a word to use for the subtle shift that occurred Jan 17, 2018. Short Version The math is as follows: A payment increase of ~$13.10 per $100,000.00 […]

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