Category: Mortgage Tips & Advice (39 posts)
- August 4, 2022 @ 4:22 PM
- Posted by Tina Meraw
Budgeting For Inflation
Budgeting for inflation If you thought the end of the pandemic would bring a return to economic normalcy, 2022 has certainly been surprising. Summer has seen inflation return to the f
- January 4, 2017 @ 9:52 AM
- Posted by
Surviving and Thriving: Your Mortgage Blueprint for 2017
Canadians are definitely talking about the housing market – what do the new mortgage rules mean, is this the right time to buy, have mortgage rates bottomed out, is a lender’s re
- November 29, 2016 @ 8:20 PM
- Posted by
5 ways to improve mortgage qualifying success
5 ways to improve mortgage qualifying success Yes, new mortgage rules have made it harder to qualify for a mortgage, whether you are a first-time buyer or looking to renew or refinance your mortgage
- October 19, 2016 @ 11:35 AM
- Posted by Tina Meraw
The Five 'C's' of Credit
The Five “C's' of Credit Going to a lender to ask for a mortgage can be a nerve-wracking experience when you’re not sure what to expect. Before you go looking for credit, take a few min
- October 13, 2016 @ 5:12 PM
- Posted by Tina Meraw
Your Home's Fall Checklist
Your Home's Fall Checklist It’s time to start thinking about preparing your home for the colder weather; a few little things can make a big difference for your home and save you time
- September 28, 2016 @ 9:20 AM
- Posted by Tina Meraw
Which renovations go right to your bottom line?
Which renovations go right to your bottom line? Whether you are looking to buy a fixer upper or renovate your existing home to improve the quality of life for you and your family, it’s worthw
- September 15, 2016 @ 3:34 PM
- Posted by Tina Meraw
Can you tell good debt from bad? Try our quick quiz:
Can you tell good debt from bad? Try our quick quiz: No one really likes the idea of “debt”. It represents something that is owed: an obligation. But not all debt is actually “bad&r
- September 12, 2016 @ 12:26 PM
- Posted by Tina Meraw
5 ways to plug the money leaks!
5 ways to plug the money leaks! The brisk back-to-work attitude of September makes it a great time to review your finances and particularly your spending. Whether you are saving to buy a ho
- August 21, 2016 @ 12:15 PM
- Posted by Tina Meraw
Smooth move! Nine tips to survive the buy/sell
Smooth move! Nine tips to survive the buy/sell So there’s a move in your future. It can be a stressful juggling act: selling one home, buying another. We deal with this all the time and have so
- August 10, 2016 @ 9:33 AM
- Posted by Tina Meraw
6 Reasons To Get Unlimited Private Lessons With A Pro!
6 reasons to get unlimited private lessons with a pro! If that was a poster at the golf course with the word FREE, you’d be signing up, right? Well, this is better. When you work with us, you
- August 2, 2016 @ 7:33 PM
- Posted by Tina Meraw
Appraisal or Home Inspection. What Is the Difference?
Appraisal or Home Inspection… What’s the Difference? Often during the homebuying process, home inspections and appraisals are both common practices. So what’s the differe
- July 26, 2016 @ 7:34 AM
- Posted by
Self-Employed Mortgage Wall
Self-Employed Mortgage Wall - Mortgage Inteligence from Invis Mortgage Intelligence on Vimeo. If you’re self-employed, you may have already experienced “the wall”. T
- July 8, 2016 @ 10:14 AM
- Posted by
Ten Easy Ways to Stay on Budget this Summer
Ten Easy Ways to Stay on Budget this Summer The lazy days of summer are here and with them come plenty of ways to spend. Here’s some easy tips to keep your budget on track through the sunny sea
- June 27, 2016 @ 3:25 PM
- Posted by
Which mortgage features are the most important?
Which Mortgage Features Are The Most Important? It’s easy to look online for a mortgage rate. But rate is only one aspect of saving money on your mortgage over the long term. It’s essenti
- May 10, 2016 @ 9:15 AM
- Posted by
Give Yourself Some Credit
Give Yourself Some Credit When your mortgage application is being considered, your lender will look at your credit habits: do you pay your bills on time? Do you tend to get over-exten
- April 27, 2016 @ 10:57 AM
- Posted by
Anatomy of a Mortgage Intelligence Broker
For many Canadians, mortgage payments are their single biggest expense. Yet most don't comparison shop to ensure they're getting the best mortgage rate and terms available, which can cost tens of thou
- April 25, 2016 @ 7:50 AM
- Posted by
What is the Qualifying Rate?
What is the Qualifying Rate? In 2010, the Department of Finance introduced the Qualifying Rate as a new way to assess borrower eligibility and ensure borrowers can handle their payments should rates
- April 19, 2016 @ 9:50 AM
- Posted by
Home Buying Preparedness: Understand your closing costs and ongoing expenses
Home Buying Preparedness Understand your closing costs and ongoing expenses According to a TD Canada Trust First-Time Home Buyers Report, one of the biggest lessons learned by 60 per
- April 12, 2016 @ 6:05 PM
- Posted by
Build It! Two Mortgages To Help You Build Your Dream Home
Build It! Two mortgages to help you build your dream home Thinking about building your dream home? It’ll be one of the most exciting adventures of your life! Whether you’re
- March 22, 2016 @ 12:38 PM
- Posted by
When Bad Things Happen to Good People: 10 Tips on Obtaining a Mortgage After Bankruptcy
When Bad Things Happen to Good People: 10 Tips on Obtaining a Mortgage After Bankruptcy Many Canadians find themselves bogged down with a bad credit rating for the wrong reason – illness, losin
- March 18, 2016 @ 11:47 AM
- Posted by
Spring cleaning your debt could save you thousands!
Spring cleaning your debt could save you thousands! Wouldn’t spring cleaning be so much more gratifying if – somewhere under dusty barbecue parts and outgrown hockey skates – you fo
- March 3, 2016 @ 6:37 AM
- Posted by
Show me the money! What you need to know about your downpayment
Show me the money! What you need to know about your downpayment You’ve got your downpayment and you’re ready to go. Congratulations! Soon you’ll need to verify that do
- February 22, 2016 @ 9:10 AM
- Posted by
The Mortgage Kit: Start with proof of your income
The Mortgage Kit: Start with proof of your income We’ve all heard the scout motto “Be prepared”. It’s great advice if you need a mortgage. Assembling eve
- February 15, 2016 @ 7:16 PM
- Posted by
A peek behind deeply discounted 5-year rates.
A peek behind deeply discounted 5-year rates. When considering a deeply discounted 5-year rate, keep in mind that cheapest isn’t always best. Strangely, we know that’s true when we’
- January 25, 2016 @ 11:00 AM
- Posted by
Seven signs you may need a mortgage tune-up
Did you know... ... that just like your car or your home, your mortgage can benefit from a seasonal inspection! Your car gets taken in for regular servicing to keep it running for the long t
- December 29, 2015 @ 10:17 AM
- Posted by
I RESOLVE to clear these holiday bills and start building wealth
I RESOLVE… to clear these holiday bills and start building wealth! Most Canadians suffer with their highest personal debt load in January, when the “holiday hit
- December 14, 2015 @ 9:16 AM
- Posted by
What's on your bucket list?
What’s on your bucket list? Your bucket list includes all the goals you want to achieve, and the life experiences and dreams you want to fulfill. It’s often viewed as a &ldqu
- December 1, 2015 @ 9:08 AM
- Posted by
Home maintenance tips for the most grueling season - Winter
Home maintenance tips for the most grueling season - winter Your house is an important investment that you want to keep in tip top shape, especially if you are planning to be there for the foreseea
- November 16, 2015 @ 11:00 AM
- Posted by
Mortgage Closing Tips
Mortgage Closing Tips What you should and shouldn’t do right before your mortgage funds. While you may have a pre-approved or approved mortgage, it doesn’t fund until the day you
- November 9, 2015 @ 10:49 AM
- Posted by
Six Ways To Boost Your Credit Score
Six ways to boost your credit score Your credit score is essentially your passport to financial opportunities. With a possible range of 300 to 900, your number tells l
- November 4, 2015 @ 10:39 AM
- Posted by
Financial comfort and joy
Financial comfort and joy It’s tempting to overspend at this time of the year so take a quick assessment of your financial situation before you get started on your holiday shopping.&n
- October 26, 2015 @ 8:52 AM
- Posted by
People don't fit in boxes!
People don’t fit in boxes! If you need a mortgage, you can try and fit into the neat little boxes at the bank, or you can come to us first.We don’t have boxes, we have solutions!
- October 22, 2015 @ 9:04 AM
- Posted by
Knowing Your Prepayment Penalty
All things being equal, choose your mortgage with the best prepayment penalty It’s impossible to plan on many of the things that will happen in our lives, like a job loss, illness, di
- October 13, 2015 @ 1:53 PM
- Posted by
Watch out for the collarteral charge mortgage!
Watch out for the collateral charge mortgage. It sounds like a good idea… and sometimes it is. A “collateral charge mortgage” is offered by several Canadian banks
- October 6, 2015 @ 8:43 AM
- Posted by
Five Reasons Why You Should Let Renters Help Pay Your Mortgage
Five Reasons Why You Should Let Renters Help Pay Your Mortgage Are you a savvy homebuyer? Then let renters help pay your mortgage. Recently Canada Mortgage and House Corporation (CMHC) anno
- August 10, 2015 @ 3:13 PM
- Posted by
Your mortgage could be a goldmine of potential savings
Your mortgage could be a goldmine of potential savings A penny saved is a penny earned! By making the right decisions, your mortgage could be a goldmine of potential savings. With access to a broad
- April 8, 2015 @ 7:29 PM
- Posted by
4 Strategies That Can Help You Get PreApproved
So, you've decided to take the big step and look into getting what will likely be the biggest loan of your entire life: a mortgage. Applying for a mortgage can be a bit of a nerve-wracking process, es
- February 23, 2015 @ 12:54 PM
- Posted by
5 easy ways to be mortgage free sooner!
We all know that paying off a mortgage as early as possible makes good financial sense. You’ll save significant interest costs and free up money for RRSPs and other investments, and changing l
- September 30, 2014 @ 7:10 PM
- Posted by
2 Out of 3 Do Not shop at Renewal
Every now and then we see a mortgage stat that’s a jaw-dropper. This finding from Manulife Bank is one of them. It suggests there are a lot more people with money to burn than one might expec
Tina Meraw
Mortgage Broker
