News Release: June 2, 2011   Fraser Valley housing market shows local variation   (Surrey, BC) – The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,608 property sales on its Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) in May, an increase of 9 per cent compared to 1,477 sold during May of last year, and an increase of 6 […]

Is buying a student condo for my child a good investment? Sometimes a parent decides to buy a place for their children while they hit the books in university or college. It can be a good alternative to paying thousands of dollars toward residence fees or rent. Just look at the math: Student rent of […]

“WORLD CLASS” COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IN FRASER VALLEY RECOGNIZED  LANGLEY, B.C. – May 27, 2011 – The best of commercial real estate in the Fraser Valley was showcased at an inaugural awards gala presented by the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) and the Business Fraser Valley (BFV) newspaper on May 26 at the Langley […]

You — through the eyes of a mortgage lender Golden Girl Finance, On Tuesday May 24, 2011, 11:36 am EDT If you’re a newcomer to Canada, self-employed, work on commission or have a poor credit history, you may think your chances of qualifying for a mortgage or refinancing are slim to none. Think again. It […]

BoC rate hike on hold until September: RBC Eric Lam Financial Post May 24, 2011 The Bank of Canada’s plan to raise interest rates and exit its stimulus program has been delayed to September due to renewed uncertainty about the fiscal crunch in Europe and its potential spillover effects into Canada, the team at RBC Economics […]

Five steps to scoring a mortgage Amy Fontinelle Investopedia.com A variety of factors can keep you from qualifying for a mortgage. The big ones include a low credit score, insufficient income for the size of the loan you want, insufficient down payment and excessive debt. All of these factors are within your control, however. Let’s […]

Good Morning Heads Up!!  Bond yields are almost up by 8bps, this means it is quite possible that we will have an increase in our 5yr fixed rate.  Guaranteed until midnight…Conventional 5yr Fixed – 3.87%…High Ratio 5yr Fixed 3.77%  You may want to get that deal in the system, but don’t hit the button until […]

Why I paid $10,000 to break my mortgage Tara Walton/Toronto Star  By Bryan Borzykowski | Last September, my wife and I started scouring the city for a new house. We were living in a cozy bungalow, but with a growing kid and another on the way, we decided it was time to move. Buying a […]

Nine signs you can’t afford a mortgage Michele Lerner Investopedia.com While plenty of individuals live from paycheque to paycheque, most consumers know they should be saving money and reducing debt. The recession has drummed that concept into everyone’s head as people have watched their neighbours and friends lose jobs and sometimes their home. Many people […]

Rent or buy? Do the math William Hanley, Financial Post · Apr. 28, 2011 A young couple who have been renting in our modest Toronto condo building recently bought a home a couple of miles away in a nice old neighbourhood with the aim of starting a family. The house is a big, detached fixer-upper […]