The House Team Of Mortgage Intellingence

Once the kids have grown and moved out, it often makes less sense to hold onto a big home. Ongoing maintenance costs and taxes may be difficult to justify when only one or two people are occupying the home.

For many people, mortgage payments are their single largest expense. Yet, when financing a home, most Canadians don’t comparison shop to ensure they’re getting the best mortgage rate and terms available. This mistake can cost homeowners tens of thousands of dollars over the course of their mortgage.

The lure of a stunning gourmet kitchen or sparkling spa-style bathroom may have you chomping at the bit to begin a home renovation. But if you heed the advice of experienced renovators, pre-planning and advanced preparation are the secrets to renovation success. Here’s a helpful checklist to get your renovation started on the right track

Whether it's called a cottage, a chalet or a country house, the lure of a recreation property far from the hustle of the city is too much for many of us to resist.

The resale housing market is expected to remain at near record sales levels in 2008, according to The Canadian Real Estate Association.

Local mortgage broker Peter House also named to national awards shortlist for Canada’s Broker of the Year

Okay, that may have been an easy one if you read the headline of this column. For most Canadians, their home is their biggest investment - and their most powerful financial tool.

"Wow!" you say to your spouse as you hit the brakes on the car. "Did you see the mortgage rate those guys are advertising?" Your worries are over, you're thinking. Just lock in a rate like that for the next ten years, and you've got it made.

It can reach the point where you don't want to pick up the mail. There isn't much to look forward to; after all, who writes letters any more? The daily mail invariably consists of a few pieces of colourful junk mail and yet another pesky bill to pay.

"Lower than prime," you heard someone say. Like most Canadians, you were probably first skeptical and then confused. We tend to think of the prime lending rate as the invisible "floor" of lending rates. The very best customers can get very close to that floor. It is theoretically possible, we reason, to actually be ON the floor, but not possible to be below it.