Home sales in Canada declined for a sixth straight month in August according to the latest report from the Canadian Real Estate Association.  Compared to July the number of properties changing hands dipped by a modest 1.0%, the smallest drop so far.  Year-over-year, sales are down 24.7%. Home prices also continue to slip.  The national […]

Today, the Bank of Canada increased its overnight benchmark interest rate 75 basis point to 3.25% from 2.50% in July. This is the fifth time this year that the Bank has tightened money supply to combat inflation. While the latest increase was comparatively smaller than the move made in July (100 basis points), it is […]

If you lost your job tomorrow, would there be a list in your head right away of things you could do to hang on or would you just be at a complete loss? Financial knowledge will allow you to better assess your options and create a plan without getting overwhelmed. However, even with the best […]

The worst financial mistake you can make is believing that a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is something to look into when you are a little older and more able to set some money aside. The fact is, you don’t use these accounts for saving at all, you use them […]

The current situation in the Canadian housing market has both buyers and sellers stepping to the sidelines.  But underneath all of the recent shuffling there still seems to be a firm, foundational desire to own a home. The annual affordability survey conducted by RE/MAX suggests rising interest rates have become a significant, growing concern for […]

Crystal-ball gazing to predict the economic future can be a murky business.  And some of the latest polling of Canadian economists shows just how opaque the view can be.  The Globe and Mail surveyed 15 prominent Canadian economists about what, they think, is going to happen. There is general agreement that a slowdown is coming.  […]

COVID variants.  Inflation.  Interest rates.  And now, recession.  It seems as though we are being exposed to a new crisis with every cycle of the moon.  No wonder consumer confidence is, at best, ambivalent. The latest round of chatter from the nation’s economists says Canada will likely see an economic downturn toward the end of […]

It’s an excellent time to be alive if you’re an early adopter of technology; it’s slightly less excellent if you’re a well-meaning-but-late-anyway adopter (like myself). The breakneck pace of technological innovation can easily leave you behind the curve, with new startups, apps, and devices appearing on an almost daily basis. Trying to catch up to […]

To maximize your enjoyment, we have some great tips for staying cool this summer AND saving money while you do: 1. Cook in the Great Outdoors Summer is all about enjoying the sunshine, spending time with your friends and family, and relaxing in your own personal backyard oasis. We suggest the grill masters take their […]

The outsized interest rate hike by the American central bank, last week, is sending ripples through Canada’s housing market. The U.S. Federal Reserve took the very rare step of boosting its trend-setting rate by 75 basis points at its June 15th setting.  Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell also set the stage for more, bigger-than-normal, increases […]