Are you sick and tired of paying too much in investments fees? You’re not alone. Canadian pay among the highest fees in the developed world. On the typical equity mutual fund, you’ll pay fees of 2.35%. And no, that’s not 2.35% of your gains, that’s 2.35% of your initial investment. Over your lifetime, you could […]

Millennials have been called the renter generation, but a new report by Ryerson University  dispels that myth. Today’s younger generation wants to own their home, not rent it. An overwhelming majority (90 percent) of millennials say homeownership is important to them, yet the lack of affordable home options in big cities means that the dream […]

One of the key selling points when I bought my house back in August 2012 is that almost everything inside and outside was brand-new. It had newer windows, new appliances, newly-renovated kitchen and bathroom and a new roof. Before making an offer on the property, I did what most homebuyers do and hired a certified […]

Does your hydro bill seem high these days? If you live in Toronto, you have a right to complain. Ontario residents pay the highest rates in Canada for hydro. Residential hydro rates in Ontario increased a whopping 71 percent between 2008 to 2016, compared to 34 percent in the rest of Canada, according to a […]

I’m super excited to be sharing the story of Jelani Smith of Bay Street Blog. Not only is Jelani a first-time homebuyer, he’s one in Toronto, Canada’s second most expensive housing market. Jelani is living proof that that dream of homeownership is still alive and well for millennials. His post walks you through the thought […]

“Ah, the joys of homeownership!” It’s a familiar phrase homeowners utter during moments of frustration. When you buy a home, you’re buying all the good and the bad that comes along with it. Home repairs and renovations are often overlooked by new homeowner, but I can tell you first firsthand that’s a big mistake. They […]

Should the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) be expanded and modernized? That’s what the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is proposing. CREA has put forward a number of proposals, the biggest of which is “intergenerational RRSP loans” to help first-time homebuyers. At first glance this seems like a good idea. Home prices are rising fast […]

Canada’s banking regulator OSFI (short for Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) has become quite the water cooler conversation topic these days. “How ‘bout them Blue Jays?” has been replaced with “did you hear about the latest mortgage rule changes?” Although these were perhaps the most anticipated mortgage rule changes in history, there’s still […]

You may have heard of the saying, “hard work pays off.” Growing up our parents teach us that if we work hard early on, we’ll be rewarded later in life. We study hard in school in hopes of one day landing an entry-level position and working our way up the corporate ladder. Despite advancements in […]

Author: Stephen Weyman Credit cards and homeownership are an unlikely pairing … how can these two things possibly be related? More than you might think actually. Credit cards are a powerful financial tool that not only will help solidify your credit score before you need that mortgage, but they can also assist you with your […]