Articles About Buying a Home

Buying a House in 2020

Buying a House in 2020: Things You Need to Know and Prepare

Homeownership is something many Canadians dream of. A place to call your own. With high housing prices, this goal may seem unattainable but there are some steps you can take to help you get there. If buying a house in 2020 is on your bucket list, here are the steps to prepare you.

How to Build Your Team Before You Buy a House

In a perfect world, you find a house you love, you buy it, and live happily ever after! If only house hunting was as fast and easy as a transaction at the mall. Buying a property is a process that requires time, money, energy, and a qualified team to help you navigate the journey. To help you build your team and prepare for a house purchase, here is what you need to know!

House Buying Tips - How to Buy a House with Your Partner

How to Buy a House with Your Partner

Buying a house is a big step. It’s expensive, time-consuming and stressful. But when everything is said and done, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. Having a partner to navigate this experience with you can be a blessing with the proper planning and communication. Here are 4 things to discuss with your partner before buying a house together.

Canadian Mortgage Stress Test FAQs

On January 1, 2018 the Canadian government applied new guidelines to the Mortgage Stress Test (MST). Basic requirements were already in place for borrowers who put less than a 20% down payment on their home mortgage loan. With the new test guidelines, all conventional mortgage loan borrowers became subject to the new revisions regardless of the down payment amount. The changes included a number of other stringent rules for federally governed lenders to approve mortgages.

How to Avoid CMHC Insurance Fees

Ways to Avoid CMHC Insurance Fees

For a large of number of Canadian homeowners, a portion of their monthly mortgage payment goes toward a mandatory CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) fee. It is automatically added to the payment to cover mortgage default insurance. The result is an increase in the amount due every month. But there are creative ways to lower or avoid CMHC insurance for those who are required to have it in place.

Buying a home in Canada - Guide for Newcomers

How do you Buy a Home as a Newcomer to Canada?

If Canada is a place you want to call home over the long-term, buying a home here makes a lot of sense. Here are the three most important factors lenders consider when considering whether to lend to someone who’s new to Canada to buy a home.

Buying a House as a Single Lady at Age 24

If you’re in the market for a house and don’t know where to start, here are 5 lessons that Liz Enriquez shares about how she bought her first home as a newly-single person in 2016 at age 24.

The Pros and Cons of Putting Down 20% on a House

Should you put 20% down on your down payment? At the end of the day, there are pros and cons to everything, and Liz Enriquez, who bought her first house at age 24, shares the tips she used toward homeownership in order for you to make the most informed decision for yourself.

How to Buy a Home Guide

Buying a home is a fun and exciting time. For most Canadians it’s the single biggest financial transaction of their lifetime. As such, it’s important to do your homework and come prepared. In this guide, we’ll help you do just that by walking you through the steps of buying a home in Canada.

mortgages in Canada

Qualifying for a Mortgage in Canada and the U.S.

Buying a home is a major expense; for most consumers it is the largest financial investment they will make in a lifetime. People that paid for their homes with cash make up the minority of homeowners. Simply put, having ready money to purchase a home is an ideal situation but is out of reach for most people. The path to owning a home more commonly involves qualifying for a mortgage.