18 May

Lingering heat in the housing market

General

Posted by: Frank Fik

Canada’s housing market is cooling down but it is still hotter than the long-term average and will likely stay that way for the next couple of years. The latest Housing Market Outlook from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation looks ahead to 2024 and sees moderating price growth, sales and housing starts.  However, this moderation is […]

Read More
10 May

The Rate Debate

General

Posted by: Frank Fik

One of the first questions that potential buyers want answered is: “What is your interest rate?” It is easy to think that this is the most important question, but there is a lot more to your mortgage contract than just the rate. And so, the rate debate continues! The rate debate is a hot topic […]

Read More
4 May

Interest rates and a hot economy

General

Posted by: Frank Fik

With the Canadian economy showing strong signs of recovery the way is clear for another half-a-percentage point increase in the Bank of Canada rate. Statistics Canada figures for February show that gross domestic product (GDP) grew by another 1.1%, with just about all sectors of the economy showing improvement. Preliminary data for March indicate a […]

Read More
25 Apr

Process in the Paperwork

General

Posted by: Frank Fik

Documents Required to Qualify for a Mortgage Mortgages can sometimes feel like endless stacks of paperwork, but being prepared in advance can save you time and stress! Getting your mortgage pre-approved is part of this prep-process, and will make things easy in the long run. In order to get pre-approved, the lender must have taken […]

Read More
14 Apr

Bank of Canada Hikes Rates by 50 BPs

General

Posted by: Frank Fik

The Governing Council of the Bank of Canada raised the overnight policy rate by a full 50 basis points for the first time in 22 years. This was a widely telegraphed action that will be followed by the US Federal Reserve next month. While the BoC was the first G-7 central bank to take such […]

Read More
8 Apr

Labour Market Tightens Further

General

Posted by: Frank Fik

Statistics Canada released the March Labour Force Survey this morning, reporting a 72,500 jobs gain from the whopping 337,000 surge in February. Employment increased in both the goods- and services-producing sectors. Gains were concentrated in Ontario and Quebec. The unemployment rate fell to 5.3%, its lowest monthly rate since the data series was released in […]

Read More
4 Apr

How to protect yourself from real estate fraud and schemes

General

Posted by: Frank Fik

As online-based transactions become more prevalent, cybercriminals are finding new and creative ways to steal your money. So, what can you do to make sure you don’t fall prey to these malicious attacks? Here are the most common types of real estate fraud schemes and some ways that you can safeguard yourself. Wire fraud One […]

Read More
30 Mar

Understanding Your Mortgage Rate.

General

Posted by: Frank Fik

When it comes to mortgages, one of the most important influencers is interest rate but do you know how this rate is determined? It might surprise you to find out that there are 10 major factors that affect the interest you will pay on your home loan! Knowing these factors will not only prepare you […]

Read More
23 Mar

Investment Properties

General

Posted by: Frank Fik

So, you are looking to purchase a second property! Congratulations! This is a great opportunity for you to expand your financial portfolio and ensure stability for the future. However, before you launch into this purchase there are a few things you should know, depending on which type of second property you are looking to purchase. […]

Read More
11 Mar

Canada Reached Full-Employment in February

General

Posted by: Frank Fik

Statistics Canada released the February Labour Force Survey this morning, reporting a much more significant than expected 336,600 net new jobs, with the unemployment rate falling a full percentage point to 5.5%. This is the first time the unemployment rate fell below its pre-Covid level and reinforces the expectation for another Bank of Canada rate […]

Read More