Global Economic Uncertainty Will Keep Canada’s Growth Moderate in 2012: RBC Economics

Central banks expected to keep interest rates low and maintain liquidity Canada’s net debt to GDP ratio the lowest among the G-7 Scope of European economic crisis widens – Europe expected to slip into recession TORONTO, December 6, 2011— After a turbulent year, Canada’s economy is set to grow by 2.5 per cent in 2012, […]

Canadians slowing down on borrowing amid economic uncertainty

David Paddon The Canadian Press TORONTO — There are signs that Canadian consumers have slowed down their borrowing this year, after peaking in the fourth quarter of 2010. A TransUnion analysis released Thursday found that average consumer debt, excluding mortgages, was $25,594 in the third quarter. That’s about where it has been throughout 2011, although […]

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of Canadians with a mortgage hope to be mortgage-free by the time they reach age 65,

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of Canadians with a mortgage hope to be mortgage-free by the time they reach age 65, but one-third (33%) of older Canadians (those over the age of 55) have 16 or more years left on their mortgage term, according to the latest RBC Housing Snapshot poll.

Buying a condo: New or resale?

When it comes to buying a condo, what’s a better investment? Buying one that’s already built and is being resold, or buying on the hype of a new building that’s yet to be constructed? Jana Masiewich considered both a resale and pre-construction condo before deciding that buying a condo prior to it being built presented […]

Planning Your Retirement- There is no Substitute

One of the best risk-adjusted investments you can make requires no commissions, no buying and selling, and no management fees. According to a new study from the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, the boring old mortgage prepayment performs better than most common retirement savings vehicles, including RRSPs. “Single individuals and couples with no dependents […]

Searching for a home

By: Wayne Karl   November 4, 2011 – Ever notice how many developers boast their new community is “just minutes from shopping, schools and all the amenities!”? And that “Everything you need is right at your doorstep”? This is not just marketing gimmickry at work. These factors really matter, as such attractions are critical in determining a […]

Effective Time Management: Nine Tips

Do you ever wonder why top producers are top producers?  Are they gifted? Do they have connections that the average person can only dream of? Are they lucky? Perhaps. But chances are the one thing that top producers have in common with each other, is an innate sense of how to translate every hour in […]

Less Broker in Your Broker

“There are lenders that are taking the brokering out of brokering” — IMBAPresident Albert Collu, via CMP That line is symbolic of what’s happening in our business. The face of mortgage brokering is changing. Lender policies meant to drive efficiencies are impairing brokers from doing their jobs. This is no more evident than with volume minimums. More […]

Bid your mortgage goodbye

With today’s low mortgage rates, now is a good time to look at ways to pay off your mortgage more quickly. Fixed versus variable savings, at a glance With a base scenario of a $300,000, 25-year amortization, five-year fixed-rate mortgage at 3.45 per cent and a monthly payment of $1,496.23, if you: – Pay $100 […]

Customers flee uncivil behaviour

By Lesley Ciarula Taylor | Wed Sep 28 2011 Customers will dump a business and tell their friends to do the same even if they just overhear an employee being rude, two business professors have found. “There is a moral argument against employees being uncivil,”Georgetown University’s Christine Porath said. “But you stand a much stronger chance of getting that […]

« Previous Page — Next Page »