Mortgages are very dynamic transactions. There are areas of the mortgage approval that don’t warrant any kind of special consideration but if for whatever reason the lender’s guidelines cannot be satisfied one can compromise the successful funding of a mortgage. Proof of down payment is one of those areas.
Generally speaking proof of down payment is [...]

If you are applying for a mortgage or any other type of credit, a lender will always want to see your credit score. Having a strong credit score is so important to a mortgage application. When I sit down with clients and it comes to checking credit, there is often a sense of uneasiness because [...]

One of the keys to successfully qualifying for a mortgage or any other type of credit is learning how to use your credit card. Credit cards can be a very useful tool when used properly but unfortunately credit cards don’t come with instructions.
When I work with first time home buyers the most common blunder that [...]

I have observed recently that both first time home buyers and seasoned owners alike struggle to understand CMHC insurance.  From a borrower’s perspective the insurance premium paid up front for the benefit of a mortgage lender seems heavy handed and unfair. However, without CMHC you wouldn’t be able to buy or refinance your homes unless [...]

There is no such thing as a silly question. Especially when it comes to your mortgage and money! As a mortgage broker I sit down and work with a lot of borrowers, some have a very high level of financial literacy and others never had the opportunity or need to learn.  Arranging a mortgage on [...]

Not sure what the difference between a mutual fund and a exchange traded fund (ETF) are? The Investor Education Fund has developed an excellent new website GetSmartAboutMoney.ca which develops and promotes financial literacy which is especially directed for young people.  Even though I grew up surrounded by money concepts, I really feel like there was [...]