Month: March 2012

2012 Federal Budget: Friendly towards mortgages

by Vasko DeLev • March 30, 2012 • 0 Comments

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… Read the rest

Mortgage rates: competition quietly disappeared

by Vasko DeLev • March 29, 2012 • 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… Read the rest

What’s your builder’s profit margin?

by Vasko DeLev • March 29, 2012 • 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,… Read the rest

Pulling your credit score

by Vasko DeLev • March 27, 2012 • 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… Read the rest

Why your next new car is not likely to be electric

by Vasko DeLev • March 25, 2012 • 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… Read the rest

Your home as an investment

by Vasko DeLev • March 22, 2012 • 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… Read the rest

Housing: A global update

by Vasko DeLev • March 20, 2012 • 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… Read the rest

Neighbourhoods: Barrhaven (Ottawa) 2

by Vasko DeLev • March 15, 2012 • 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… Read the rest

Your investments: Thinking against the grain

by Vasko DeLev • March 13, 2012 • 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… Read the rest

Home efficiency: White shingles can save you money

by Vasko DeLev • March 12, 2012 • 1 Comment

Black or White? Not a simple choice Without delving into the complexity of light absorption and temperature, we know from experience that dark color Typical Canadian roof surfaces exposed to the sun become much hotter than the ones with lighter… Read the rest

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