Major Canadian housing markets have continued to show "exceptional resiliency" so far this year, setting the stage for a busy spring, according to a major Canadian real estate organization.
In its market trends reports, Re/Max said its survey has found that 12 of 15 Canadian centres, or 80 per cent, reported sales activity in January and February that was ahead of last year's levels.
More than ...
Posted by Todd Fryer
on March 28, 2012
Mortgage life insurance: Why I passed
By Robb Engen
SHUTTERSTOCK
Mortgage life insurance is marketed by the banks as a flexible, low-cost way to protect one of your largest financial obligations. If you face a terminal illness, or have a serious accident, mortgage life insurance can help you out. It will pay for such things as:
The outstanding ...
Posted by Todd Fryer
on March 21, 2012
When To Consider Raising Your Home Buying Budget
When To Consider Raising Your Home Buying Budget
Setting a budget for your home purchase is an important decision. You need to know how much you can afford each month and translate that into the amount you can afford to take out on your new mortgage. When you start house hunting with that budget in mind, you may find that you are not seeing ...
Posted by Todd Fryer
on February 28, 2012
5 reasons why the housing market won’t crash
By Larry MacDonald | Canadian Business Online
The media and blogosphere is full of predictions that the housing market in Canada is going to crash. My hunch is that it won't. It could level off or stagnate for a while, but Canadians aren't going to wake up one morning a year or two from now and discover their ...
Posted by Todd Fryer
on February 8, 2012
Energy efficiency worth the effort
By Helen Morris, Nest Egg
As temperatures head down to their seasonal norm, we’re turning up the heat at home. That means higher bills, but having an energy-efficient home can keep heating costs under control.
EnerQuality designs and operates five “green” building standards for the construction industry in Ontario. ...
Posted by Todd Fryer
on January 14, 2012
Should I Wait Until Spring to List My Home?
by Simon Gianini As we roll through the holidays and into winter, many would-be sellers will be holding off on listing their home, waiting for the spring “selling season” to put their home on the market. But if you’re ready to sell your home now, is waiting until spring the best strategy? Not according to the data, ...
Posted by Todd Fryer
on December 26, 2011
Interest rates low until 2013
He gave no indication, however, whether his next move might be to actually reduce the trendsetting overnight rate from the current one per cent, as at least two major economists have urged.
In a speech to a business audience in Montreal, the central banker made clear that he sees recent indicators that the Canadian economy rebounded strongly in the ...
Posted by Todd Fryer
on November 29, 2011
11 money-saving winterizing things to do now
Outdoor maintenance took a backseat to summer pleasure at my house. But with fall officially here, it’s time to clean up my act and the exterior of the house before winter sets in. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), fall can be the most gruelling season for your home, and I would add, the owners. Thousands ...
Posted by Todd Fryer
on November 13, 2011
Variable Rate vs. Fixed Rate: Which Way to Go? .
You can’t read a paper these days without crossing paths with dramatic headlines about economic distress, extreme volatility in the equity markets, and a general feeling of financial malaise brewing in various pockets of the globe.
Even the most casual observer can string together with some ease, the relationship between cause and effect, ...
Posted by Todd Fryer
on November 13, 2011
Where are Canadian interest rates heading?
Date Posted: October 3, 2011
Rob McLister, editor of Canadian Mortgage Trends
One could wax on about how grim the United States (US) economy is, but Mark Carney put it succinctly:
“The (U.S.) housing market remains a mess, the consumer is weak, and government actions can be expected to reduce growth…The U.S. economy is close to ...
Posted by Todd Fryer
on October 5, 2011