It is the back to school season and children have undoubtedly asked for the latest, greatest gadgets and clothing before seeing their school friends again. One lesson could give kids the confidence to start the school year off well, and stay with them until their adulthood: financial budgeting. Financial lessons can start young with simple concepts around [...]
There have been many new articles lately that talk about rising interest rates and what that will mean for Canadians. Some believe that this is a way for the government to stress test loan delinquency rates in the country since a rise in interest rates leads to higher monthly payments. Others simply believe that since [...]
I was out shopping the other day and was surprised to see “Back to School” products already on store shelves. While we may not want to think of the Fall’s approach so soon after the start of summer, it’s important to think ahead as you plan the return to school for your university-aged children. Where [...]
There was an article reprinted in the National Post recently about an Australian millionaire’s opinion on millennials not being able to afford a home because they’re wasting money on avocado toast, at $22 per plate. The article was quickly mocked but it was an interesting article on two fronts: 1) the irresistible urge for avocado toast [...]
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of students ranging from first year to post-graduate during a University of Alberta Real Estate Association event. There were two other speakers who spoke about real estate but the topic of credit ratings, down payments and other financials were very clearly on the [...]
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 mortgage broker (i.e. www.maxomar.ca) to [...]
For many people, saving enough for a down payment on a house is not an easy task. (You can't rely on finding One-Eyed Willy's treasure like they did in the Goonies movie, either!) Once you have an idea as to how much you can afford on your home, relative to your salary and monthly costs, it's [...]
So, you’ve finally made the decision to transition from renter to homeowner? Congratulations! It is probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll make throughout your lifetime and no small feat. But don't fret! This is why it’s essential to surround yourself with a team of experts – including both a mortgage and real estate professional [...]
5 Questions Mortgage Borrowers Should Ask Before They Borrow It might be the first time you are getting a mortgage and may have a lot of questions that just aren’t getting answered through your Google search. You may also be too afraid of asking them for fear of looking ill-prepared for the biggest purchase you’ll probably [...]
It’s the season of giving and although your sentiment might be in the right place, your wallet might not be. I can sympathize with the holidays being a tough time to get through when you’re a little strapped for cash. If it’s that time to renew your mortgage, though, this holiday might just be very [...]
