By Trevor Gloyn, Calgary Herald Purchasing a home involves making many decisions. How many bedrooms do you need? What neighbourhood do you want to live in? Should it be previously owned, brand new or custom-built? Here's one more thing to consider: is the home a "green" home? That is, does it have features that will [...]
When you formally make an offer on a home you want to buy, you'll fill out a lot of paperwork specifying the terms of your offer. Aside from such obvious things as the address and purchase price of the property on which you're making an offer, there are some items you should be sure to [...]
By Julie Fortier, Financial Post August 18, 2010 Be the first to post a comment After raising interest rates twice this summer from record-low levels, CIBC's chief economist says weakness in the U.S. economy may force the Bank of Canada to put future hikes on hold after September. After raising interest rates twice this summer [...]
While mortgage brokers have long advocated the notion of paying off one's mortgage, this age of low interest rates has created yet another advantage to the concept. In a recent article in the Toronto Star, Moshe Milevsky, a professor at York University's Schulich School of Business, argues that in today's volatile stock market, money is [...]
Posted Aug 12, 2010 By Robert Pugh EMC Business - Selecting a real estate representative to assist in the largest financial transaction a person will likely ever make is a critical part of the home selling process. In a challenging economic environment where competition among real estate companies is on the rise, choosing the agent [...]
Garry Marr, Financial Post · Tuesday, Jul. 27, 2010 Not that there are a lot of people buying houses these days, but the answer to the age-old question of whether to go long or short on your mortgage is unclear yet again. The Bank of Canada’s second quarter-of-a-point rate increase in the past two months [...]
1 Go green, underfoot. If you’re thinking of installing a hardwood floor, consider reclaimed materials or look for new wood products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Canada. You also use more readily renewable materials such as cork, bamboo, or carpets made from natural fibres. 2 Lower your water flow. Target your [...]
1 Conduct an energy audit. If you’re serious about improving your home’s efficiency, start with an energy audit by an NRCancertified energy advisor — you can search for an advisor in your area at www.nrcan.gc.ca. You’ll get a list of recommended upgrades to help you plan, and you may qualify to receive up to $5,000 [...]
1 Determine how much you can afford.Get pre-approved. Based on your down payment, income, existing debt, regular expenditures, and other key financial information, we can help you determine how much you can afford to pay every month and the price range that works within your budget. 2 Team up with a real estate agent. Finding [...]
1 Homeownership on your terms. With the right preparation and resources, you can buy a home that best suits your lifestyle. Mortgage insurance provides you with innovative options to help get you into homeownership. 2 Be eligible for a better interest rate. Mortgage insurance provides a lender with the flexibility to offer you the same [...]