14 Feb

Remediated Grow-Op: A Good Investment?

General

Posted by: Tim Hill, MBA

It is forever in discussion in the Lower Mainland – is a former grow-op home a good investment? Prices are often much lower than similar properties so at first glance it seems so. But the stigma will follow the property in perpetuity, unless it’s razed to the studs and rebuilt. If it’s been remediated that […]

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7 Feb

Things To Consider When Buying A Foreclosure

General

Posted by: Tim Hill, MBA

When bad things happen to good people sometimes the reality is they just can’t keep up with their mortgage payments. While Canadian mortgage defaults are amongst the lowest in the world at just 0.31%, foreclosure still happens. In BC, if a lender forecloses on a homeowner they are required to give the borrower a 6-month […]

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3 Feb

What Does It Actually Mean To Co-Sign For A Mortgage?

General

Posted by: Tim Hill, MBA

There seems to be some confusion about what it actually means to co-sign on a mortgage and you know that where there is confusion, your trusted mortgage professional seeks to offer clarity. Let’s take a quick look at why you may be asked to co-sign and what you need to know before, during, and after […]

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30 Jan

A Conversation About Mortgage Pre-Approvals

General

Posted by: Tim Hill, MBA

Thinking of buying a property, but don’t know where to start? Well… that’s where a mortgage pre-approval comes in. Start here. Just like you wouldn’t go into a restaurant without having enough money to buy your meal, so you shouldn’t start shopping for a home without an understanding of how much you can afford. So let’s […]

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27 Jan

Upgrading Your Home: Refinancing Plus Improvements Mortgage Option

General

Posted by: Tim Hill, MBA

When it comes to mortgages and renovations it is important that you have your financing in place before you take the sledge hammer out of the garage! Lenders do not like coming into play half way through a renovation. Planning is essential to ensure you will have enough funds to cover the renovation costs. Did […]

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23 Jan

Summary of the New Mortgage Market

General

Posted by: Tim Hill, MBA

There have been a lot of changes in the mortgage market over the past few months so many Canadian’s plans regarding homeownership may have shifted quite a bit from last year. First, new qualification rules came to pass in October where even though actual contract rates are sitting at about 2.79% all Canadians have to […]

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17 Jan

Why So Many Mortgage Documents?

General

Posted by: Tim Hill, MBA

Documents, documents and more documents. Yes that’s right you will need to provide your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage broker with as many documents that we request upfront as possible. Why? Because the more supporting documentation you have available will help us as brokers to find you your best mortgage options. If you don’t have everything […]

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19 Dec

Top Five Home Renovations That Increase Property Value

General

Posted by: Tim Hill, MBA

Looking to increase your homes property value? Here are five of the best renovations you can do to your home to increase property value. These five renovations can sometimes have a return on investment 5-6x what they cost. # 5 Flooring Flooring is one of the most important aspects of your house. You will see […]

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15 Dec

BC Introduces Innovative New Program To Help First-Time Homebuyers

General

Posted by: Tim Hill, MBA

In a move to help BC citizens and residents buy their first home, the BC government announced today that it is launching a new program to augment down payments for first-time buyers. The B.C. Home Owner Mortgage and Equity Partnership program contributes to the amount first-time homebuyers have already saved for their down payment, providing […]

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24 Nov

Beware of Mortgage and Title Fraud

General

Posted by: Tim Hill, MBA

Now a days with the amount of information that is shared on the Internet and social media, identity theft and Ponzi schemes are happening regularly. Homeowners are taking the necessary steps to protect one of their largest investments which is their home. However, the last thing you want to worry about is yet another way […]

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