The details on the government’s much-hyped First-Time Home Buyer Incentive (FTHBI) continue to trickle out. The latest clues on its operation come from Evan Solomon’s interview with CMHC CEO Evan Siddall. In that interview, Siddall comments on some lingering FTHBI question marks, namely: The Maximum Home Price How the “Sharing” Part Works What if the Market Tanks? […]
General Information
Self Employed Using More Private Lenders
The self-employed are among the growing number of Canadians turning to private lenders in order to obtain a mortgage. While many prospective homeowners are driven to alternate lenders because of government-mandated stress tests and poor credit scores, the self-employed often have additional burdens to overcome in proving their income. “There’s more and more people seeking […]
7 Steps To Buying A Home
It’s important to understand the home buying process, so here’s a 7-step checklist. Step 1: Down PaymentThe hardest part to buying a home is saving the down payment (a gift from the Bank of Mom & Dad also works).• For purchases under $500,000 minimum down payment is 5%.• Buying between $501-999,000 you need 5% on […]
Canadian Economy Hits a Major Pothole in Q4
This morning, Stats Canada released disappointing figures showing that the economy barely grew in the final quarter of last year. Weakness in the oil sector was expected, but the downturn went well beyond the energy sector and bodes ill for a return to healthy growth this year. The country’s economy grew by just 0.1% in […]
Speculation Tax
It will be up to homeowners to apply for exemptions, with a deadline of March 31. VICTORIA — All homeowners in B.C.’s largest urban centres will need to apply for exemptions from the province’s new speculation tax or receive a bill, whether they are speculators or not, the government announced Tuesday. The Ministry of Finance […]