The reason I don’t talk about fixed or variable interest rates at the beginning of a mortgage conversation is that ‘the best rate' depends.

Why am I not worried about rates? Rates are cyclical. Rates go up and rates go down. But, let's look at this as an opportunity.

There are two primary ways to access the equity in your home: refinancing with a standard mortgage or setting up a HELOC.

The features and fine print that affect your total cost of borrowing. TL;DR: there are many factors besides the interest rate that will...

Just do it. TL;DR: If you're looking for a shortcut on reading this article then you should definitely read this article! It is easy to...

Break, or port? Port and blend? Blend and extend? All explained here. TL;DR: you can pay to break the mortgage and take a new one, or...

Besides the mortgage payment, there are other costs you will encounter that should be considered. TL;DR: besides your mortgage payment,...

If you own property, you pay property taxes. TL;DR: property taxes are a guaranteed part of property ownership. The annual levy is based...

Your monthly contribution to maintaining and insuring shared property TL;DR: Home buyers who opt for a condo will have to pay a monthly...

A necessary transaction cost which protects against title issues TL;DR: Title insurance is a type of insurance policy which protects...

TL;DR: When you buy a home you will need to hire a real estate lawyer. Your lawyer will ensure the paperwork is done correctly, your...

There is a value determination on every single mortgage transaction always TL;DR: As the title suggests, an appraisal is a determination...

Default insurance is expensive but useful (and often required!) TL;DR: you need this if you have less than a 20% down payment. You...

An explanation of the magical numbers that guide mortgage qualification TL;DR: debt service ratio is the percentage of your income before...

The down payment is the amount of money that you put forward when you buy a home. Mortgage Down Payment The down payment is the amount of...

Home buyers need to understand the maximum mortgage they qualify for and how that impacts the price they are able to pay for a home...

A general overview of buying a home and what gets looked at to qualify. TL;DR: if you were going to lend hundreds of thousands of dollars...

Thinking of buying a property, but don’t know where to start? Well… that’s where a mortgage pre-approval comes in. Start here. TL;DR: a...

Responsible home ownership includes knowing what you can comfortably afford, setting a budget, and buying within it. If you have been...

TL;DR: if you're a first time home buyer, you get free money on your tax return from the government - take it! If you are a first time...