My Helpful Mortgage Blog (For Canadians)
- How to Use a Gifted Down Payment for Your Mortgage (Without Killing Your Deal)
Saving for a down payment is one of the biggest hurdles for Canadians trying to buy their first home. So when a parent or family member offers to help with … Read more - Canada’s 30-Year Amortization for Insured Mortgages: Who Actually Qualifies and Is It Worth It?
By Alex Lavender, Mortgage Broker (Halifax, NS) Since December 15, 2024, you can now get a 30-year amortization on an insured mortgage in Canada. Before this change, if you were … Read more - Can You Actually Avoid the Mortgage Stress Test in Canada?
If you’re buying a home in Canada, you’re going to face the mortgage stress test. Fixed rate, variable rate, open, closed, short term, long term. At federally regulated lenders, the … Read more - The Smith Maneuver in Canada: A Smart Mortgage Strategy or Too Risky?
The Smith Maneuver is a financial strategy that allows Canadian homeowners to convert their mortgage into a tax-deductible investment loan. While this concept sounds appealing, it comes with risks and … Read more - Renting vs Buying a Home in Halifax: Which is the Better Choice?
Deciding whether to rent or buy a home in Halifax is a major financial and lifestyle decision. With home prices, interest rates, and rental costs fluctuating, it’s important to understand … Read more - Understanding Mortgage Terms: A Simple Guide
Before diving into the home buying process, it’s essential to understand mortgage terms, like what a mortgage is and how it works. Put simply, a mortgage is a loan secured … Read more