- Maximize Your Rental Property Investment By Knowing Your Breakeven Point - Understanding your breakeven point as a landlord is key to making smart decisions about your rental property investment, and for securing a mortgage. Knowing this number helps you assess whether a property is a good investment and gives mortgage lenders confidence in your ability to cover expenses as well. In this article I’ve outlined a ...
- Dreaming About A Vacation Property For Your Retirement? A Reverse Mortgage Can Help - Embarking on the golden years of retirement often comes with dreams of basking in leisure, and for many older individuals, that dream involves escaping to a vacation home. However, turning that dream into reality can pose a financial challenge, especially when savings are limited or tied up in your primary residence. The key to unlocking ...
- Exploring Cottage Insurance for Your Home Away from Home - In the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, the demand for cottages has skyrocketed, causing recreational property prices to reach new heights. While many were purchased by city dwellers looking for a weekend escape or as a work-from-home solution, others were bought as a lucrative recreational property investment, largely for vacation home rental. Whether you embrace ...
- Is An Income Property A Good Investment? - Maybe you’ve come into an inheritance or received a substantial bonus at work. Or perhaps you’re looking for a way to invest your money that is lower risk and provides you with a retirement income. Either way, investing in a rental, or income property could be a good investment for your future. Although there are ...
- How The International Home Buying Restrictions Are Helping Canadians Buy Homes - Purchasing a home in Canada has become increasingly difficult with changing mortgage rules, the tightening of the stress test, and the impact of inflation over the last few years. In months past we have seen incredible competition for homes and bidding wars were commonplace which drove prices up. However, with all the changes made to ...
- The Pros & Cons of Owning Multiple Investment Properties - Think it’s hard managing one property? What about several? With the right tools and plan in place owning multiple investment properties you rent out, turning into an Airbnb, or flipping to sell can be a smart strategy. Regardless, it’s always a gamble when buying a property. The real estate market can fluctuate, or the property ...
- Tips For Paying For Your Home’s Summer Renovations - Whether you’re paying for a new roof, backyard revamps, or a kitchen upgrade, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to pay for this large expense. Having a new shed, deck, or fence will not only make your backyard look amazing, but will also increase your home’s value. As a financial advisor, I ...
- What You Need To Qualify For A Mortgage On An Investment Property - Have you decided to purchase an additional property as an investment? Do you have the capital or are you looking for a mortgage? If this is your first journey into the real estate investment world, working with a mortgage broker is your best bet to help you get started in this potentially lucrative world. These ...
- Bracing Yourself For The Spring Real Estate Market - The grass is greener, the flowers are popping up, the sunshine is beaming down on your back deck, and the birds are happily chirping away. It’s finally Spring! No more snow to shovel, just raking, gardening, and grass cutting ahead. However, if you plan on selling your home, you may want to add a few ...
- Tips & Advice For Opening The Cottage - It’s that special time of the year – the first weekend in the new year where you pack up your car, grab the best snacks, and head up to open the cottage! The kids are in the back, kicking the front seat with joy. You’re also excited but, in the back of your mind, you ...
- Things To Consider BEFORE Buying A Vacation Property - These cold winter months in Barrie have us all dreaming about warmer weather on the beach. Wouldn’t it be nice to have your own place in a vacation paradise? We all want that excitement of hopping on a plane or planning a road trip to spend the winter months somewhere warm. Whether you are looking ...
- Should you consider Airbnb as an investment strategy? - Do you own an additional space or property that you’re not using? Have you ever stayed at an Airbnb and heard of the lucrative possibilities of owning an investment property? Hosting an Airbnb does present major opportunities for real estate investors. However, hosting an Airbnb does come with some challenges too. This is my shortlist ...
- What you should know before purchasing an investment property - There are so many great benefits of owning an investment property. Real estate is an excellent avenue to invest your money, receive a passive income, take advantage of income property tax reductions, and so much more. If you’re considering buying an investment property, now is a great time to do so. However, there is a ...
- Financial planning and RRSPs - You’re ready to start financially planning your future, but where should you start? Navigating different savings plans and ways to invest your money can be overwhelming.. I’m here to help simplify your journey. One of the many savings accounts you can choose from to start investing your money in is an RRSP. But, what is ...
- A Home Renovation For Christmas & How To Finance It - Who doesn’t love getting gifts? I know I do. The holidays are here! But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, maybe your Christmas shopping list is looking a little shorter this year. It’s bittersweet, but with the money you’re saving, why not treat yourself to a nice little (or big) gift? It’s time to stop putting ...
- 5 Tips to Improve Your Credit Score - Your credit score can make or break your real estate dreams as a first time home buyer. Especially with the stress test looming overhead while you’re scrambling to get your savings together for a down payment. Mortgage lenders always will review your credit score before pre-approving you for a mortgage for a few reasons. So ...
- What are the penalties if I break my mortgage? - The Bank of Canada has announced many dips in interest rates over the past few months, so I thought it timely that we talk about the penalties of breaking a mortgage as I’ve had clients asking me recently if it makes sense for them to break their mortgage to take advantage of lower interest rates. ...
- Dealing with Debt, your mortgage & COVID-19: for the self-employed - Looking back at February in 2020, many self-employed individuals and business owners had no idea their world would change come March 15 onward. COVID-19 has had a vast impact on business owners and support from the government has been tough to navigate on many levels from an HR perspective, an operating standing point and cash ...
- The Bank of Canada Just Lowered Interest Rates Again – What You Need to Know - On March 13, 2020, the Bank of Canada made a pretty big cut to interest rates. In their press release, they mention that: “this unscheduled rate decision is a proactive measure taken in light of the negative shocks to Canada’s economy arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent sharp drop in oil prices”. The ...
- New Year’s Resolutions – Don’t Put off that Home Renovation - It feels like we just began 2019, and now we’re saying goodbye to another year and another decade. It’s a great time to start fresh and tackle something important, like a home renovation or much-needed repair. The problem for many people is…how exactly will you pay for such a project, particularly if your savings aren’t ...
- What You Need to Know Before Buying an Investment Property - Buying an investment property can be a great long-term investment, with the added bonus of enjoying the income from regular rental payments. It also a great opportunity for first-time buyers to break into the housing market, as they can rent it out (or a portion of it) until they’re ready to take it over or ...