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 […]

BRITISH COLUMBIA – The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 8,214 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in May 2022, a decrease of 35.1 per cent from May 2021. The average MLS residential price in BC was $1 million, a 9.3 per cent increase from […]

There is a growing sentiment among market watchers that the Bank of Canada’s current fight against inflation is putting home prices in the crosshairs. In the release of the Bank’s annual Financial System Review, Governor Tiff Macklem mentioned a desire for “moderation” in the housing market several times.  But he made the Bank’s priority clear. […]

A few simple steps to healthy credit… Just like you should have a physical every year to make sure you’re healthy, you should do the same for your credit report and score. Don’t wait until you go to buy something and you are turned down. And don’t worry… chequing your own credit does not affect […]

Did you know, approximately 60 percent of people break their mortgage before their mortgage term matures? While this is not necessarily avoidable, most homeowners are blissfully unaware of the penalties that can be incurred when you break your mortgage contract – and sometimes, these penalties can be painfully expensive. Below are some of the most […]