FROM FINANCIAL MESS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM Dan had by all appearances made it. He had a big income as an executive earning in excess of $120K per year and his wife earns $34K as a bookkeeper. They also had over $200K in RRSP’s. But at the end of the day after paying all his credit […]

      If you have ever bought and sold a house and closed both on the same day you will understand why it makes a lot of sense to bridge your mortgage.  You are packing up the same day, your buyer is waiting to move in.  Getting a bridge means less stress for sure. […]

 It has been over 30 years since (the early 80’s out of control inflation) mortgage rates were the highest in history at 20 plus per cent. Monetary policy at the time was to wrestle inflation by increasing interest rates. The idea was to restrict consumption with high interest and tight credit. There was no such […]

CELL PHONES & MORTGAGES, NOW ‘CONNECTED’ Historically credit reports never reported cell phone, rent, and utilities repayment history. Recently a new client of ours came to us after being declined by their bank as they were told that they had unsatisfactory credit. No further explanation was given. This is what the banks do. They leave […]

                                              Bank business practices are coming under scrutiny like never before. Mortgage penalties, collateral mortgages, high interest credit cards and lack of disclosure have become constant issues according to experts that have taken bank business practices to a whole new level; a ‘low’ level that is. A proliferation of articles give example after example of how […]

Imagine your home is not your castle, you can’t invite people over and it’s absolutely depressing. Lee-Ann and Darin from Cambridge came to us after their lawyer put a halt to a private mortgage they had arranged. The client’s house was under construction with major renovations so when their bank turned them down for a […]

  Most people know it is wise to get preapproved before buying a home. Then you are good to go, right? What could go wrong? A preapproval means you find out in advance the maximum amount a lender will give you at a guaranteed rate based on your income. However, the lender can change their […]

  We know it as the quintessential Canadian dream. It represents our very own private domain;  a place where we feel safe, we feel pride of ownership, a place where we live and love, laugh and cry, and raise our families. It is all of these things and more.  The ‘more’ is of course the […]

  Last Saturday’s official opening of our new HomeSMART booth at the Fergus Walmart was a big success.  The weather was perfect, many people enjoyed a lift in the RE/MAX hot air balloon, received gifts and prizes, and generously contributed to the Heart & Stroke Charitable Foundation.  Comments on the impressive presentation new listings get […]

  A former client walked  into our ‘Don Cherry House’ the other day after seeing our advertised 2.99% . 5 year fixed rate and asked if it made sense to refinance again. “But I ain’t paying any big penalty again, said Bill.  Bill had been with a major bank and had a mortgage and a […]