It’s business as usual Minister Flaherty did not deliver yesterday any earth shattering news affecting the mortgage industry. Lenders and mortgage brokers were worrying that rumoured reduction of the maximum amortization from 30 to 25 years and an increase of…
Monthly Archives: March 2012
Mortgage rates: competition quietly disappeared
by Vasko DeLev • • 0 Comments
3.59% – the best rate? Mortgage watchers know the drill – if RBC or TD Canada Trust move their rate, the other lenders will follow. Smaller lenders may hold on for a few days to enjoy a competitive advantage, but…
What’s your builder’s profit margin?
by Vasko DeLev • • 0 Comments
Do higher home prices translate into higher profit for the construction companies? I’ve been always curious what does a builder make from selling a new home. There must be lots of variables here like location, the size of the home,…
Pulling your credit score
by Vasko DeLev • • 0 Comments
When you should worry about it and when not? Some home buyers have no idea what a credit score is. New immigrants coming from a country with no established credit scoring system are puzzled when asked if they know their…
Why your next new car is not likely to be electric
by Vasko DeLev • • 0 Comments
Good ideas often meet resistance Gas prices are high and people complain. Some bloggers have the nerve to suggest that gas will go to $8.0 per gallon. Since newspapers have an explanation for everything, they tell us “yes, it is…
Your home as an investment
by Vasko DeLev • • 0 Comments
Where is the error here? There is no error, would say everyone on the street these days. If it appreciates in value over time, as it did for so many years, it is a wonderful investment. Instead of buying stocks…
Housing: A global update
by Vasko DeLev • • 0 Comments
Buy an apartment with only three times your annual income Should we care about the state of housing abroad? Things are looking just fine here in Canada and newspapers say that the US housing is improving already. You don’t need…
Neighbourhoods: Barrhaven (Ottawa) 2
by Vasko DeLev • • 0 Comments
Increased listings activity Last month we took a snapshot at the real estate market in Barrhaven – a popular neighbourhood in Ottawa. This is our second look exactly a month later. What is new? At a first glance – no…
Your investments: Thinking against the grain
by Vasko DeLev • • 0 Comments
Are you optimistic about the future of the stock market? It is not fair. Just when things start to look good, someone will come along and try to spoil the party. The economy is doing okay, you know. The scary…
Home efficiency: White shingles can save you money
by Vasko DeLev • • 0 Comments
Black or White? Not a simple choice Without delving into the complexity of light absorption and temperature, we know from experience that dark color surfaces exposed to the sun become much hotter than the ones with lighter color. You can…