In a recent article, we looked at how the prices of residential construction have increased rapidly in the past few years. One difficulty that has been contributing to this increase is a lack of qualified workers to fill trade jobs in Canada. The fact is, building a home is no easy task, and though we all want to live in one, it seems too few people are actually interested in doing the ...

At times, the amount of detail required for staging when you sell houses can seem a bit much. Does it really make a difference what colours my walls are, or what music I may be playing? For people viewing the home? Well, actually yes.Human senses can be incredibly sensitive and can influence our decisions greatly, even if it doesn’t seem obvious on the surface. It's the same principle that m ...

If you are looking to get a mortgage loan, you may find that a poor credit score presents a major barrier in your search. A credit score is something that a lot of people don't fully understand and can cause a lot of frustration. There are also many subtle things that may damage your credit score that you may not be aware of and may not notice until you go to get a loan. By then, it’s t ...

Everyone dreams of owning their own home, but for many people, the financial requirements can seem insurmountable. While a home won't ever be cheap, it might not be as bad as you think.If you plan on buying a home in the near future, you will need to take a careful inventory of your financial condition. There are numerous factors that affect how mortgage lenders will feel about lending to you, and ...

Aging in place: How Baby Boomers are breaking Canada's real estate market… In one of the tightest real estate markets ever recorded in Canada, Boomers are not letting go of their homes   A new real estate report says Canada’s record-low supply of real estate is being compounded by an emerging trend: Baby Boomers who won’t let go of their homes.Traditionally, seniors sell ...

Whether you are buying your 1st home or the next one, it's imprtant to have a well thought out strategy. This will be extremely helpful when meeting with your Realtor, Mortgage Specialist, Lawyer or your Financial Advisor.  In this video, we review the 6 key questions to consider when developing your plan.  Click below to watch this informative video: If you found this help ...

Whether your first home or your next one... no one wants to overpay. In this video, we answer the most Frequestly Asked Questionsand update you on why home prices are continuing to rise.  Is this a good time to buy? Should I wait to see if prices go down? Should I listen to the Media or my Realtor?   Call Monika and Robert at 705-718-5800 with questio ...

When we were thirty, we thought we were ten feet tall and invincible. Our drive, energy, and enthusiasm for life was the fuel that drove us forward. Obstacles were those annoying things we swatted away like mosquitoes—we were wired to achieve our dreams. For many midlifers who prospered through the halcyon years of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, time was an expendable commodity ...

Decline of the Nuclear FamilyA nuclear family system is defined as a family structure that consists of a couple living with their children. This is quite different from an extended or intergenerational family system, in which the household may include other family members, such as grandparents, siblings with children, aunts, uncles, cousins, and so on. Over the past sixty years, career mobility ...

Some years ago, a Boy Scout leader we knew would give a copy of a book he’d found highly effective to the parents of his troop. The title of this book was How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. The simple message is that the words we use, our tone, and body language can have a profound effect on whether our message is really heard by ...

The word escape can be either a noun (i.e., a thing or place) or it can be a verb, which implies taking an action (e.g., running away from or toward something). The following is an excerpt from Robert Miller & Monika Lowry's newest book... THE NEXT CHAPTER - CHANGE THE MINDSET, CHANGE YOUR LIFE - and highlights how one couple's health challenge became the catalyst for an exciting lifestyle cha ...

Sound Mortgage Advice - understanding your optionsWhether you are looking to refinance, buy your first home, upsize or downsize... the advice of a qualified and experiened Mortgage Broker cannot be underestimated. While your Bank or other Financial Institutions also offer mortgages, the person you will be working with is an employee of that institution and is typically only able to offer financi ...

"All eyes were on The Bank of Canada last month as they cut interest rates by 25 basis points again during their July 24th meeting, thereby taking the overnight policy rate down to 4.5%.  We believe that owing to a sustained deceleration in inflation, the central bank will continue its monetary easing at the September and December meetings and well into next year.  The policy rate wi ...

Here we are in August... it’s hard to believe that summer is almost half over. With the heat of the summer and in spite of the recent cuts to interest rates by the Bank of Canada, the sale volume across Simcoe County was down 16% from July 2023 and 7.5% from last month.  Buyers are continuing to benefit from more choice with the number of active listings up 36% over last July and just ...

Spring 2024 Mortgage Update - There’s no argument it’s more challenging to purchase a home today, but it’s not unachievable. Whether you're looking to buy your first home or you know someone who is, this message is for you. Let's start with the basics. Set Realistic Expectations - Set realistic expectations when buying a home. Lower rates in the past made it possible for some fi ...

Understanding the ins and outs of mortgage refinancing is essential for homeowners looking to improve their financial situation or take advantage of new opportunities. Let’s explore the process, benefits, considerations, and eligibility criteria associated with mortgage refinancing in Canada. I.What is Mortgage Refinancing? Mortgage refinancing refers to the process of repl ...

Not all insurance products are created equal. It is important to understand all the different insurance products to ensure you have proper coverage. The following are the main insurance product options you will encounter with homeownership, and what they mean. Hi-Ratio Mortgage Insurance (eg. CMHC): This insurance is mandatory for homes where the buyer puts less than 20% d ...

It's crucial to be mindful of your finances and find ways to save money. Here are 12 tips to help you save during these challenging times:   Create a budget: Develop a comprehensive budget that outlines your income and expenses. This will help you understand where your money is going and identify areas where you can cut back Cut unnecessary expenses: Review your expenses and eliminate no ...

There is a connection between inflation and real estate, with some suggesting that the real estate industry serves as a hedge against inflation, particularly concerning rental income. Rental income growth and inflation are directly affected by factors such as market supply and demand, which determine a landlord's ability to raise rents. In times like these, investors should assess both income and ...

Your payment schedule is the frequency that you make mortgage payments and ranges from monthly to bi-monthly, bi-weekly, accelerated bi-weekly or even weekly payments.   The following is a quick overview of what each of these frequencies mean:   Monthly Payments: A monthly payment is simply a single large payment, paid once per month; this is the default that sets your amortization. ...