A Mortgage Check Up

Get the Most from Your Financing with a Mortgage Check Up

Have you thought about your mortgage lately? Your financial picture can change significantly over time, and having the right mortgage strategy is an important part of making sure your financial needs and goals are met.

A personalized mortgage check up is an easy, no-obligation way to:

· ensure that your repayment approach suits you, for example with payments structured to maximize mortgage principal reduction,

· ensure any consumer debt you may have (such as credit card balances) is transferred to a lower interest rate,

· ensure you have access to the lowest-cost funds for renovations, education or other major expenditures.

Common reasons for a mortgage check up:

· You are planning to have children

· You want to explore your investment options

· You or your spouse have had a change in employment

· You are looking to start or buy a business

· You would like to renovate your home

· You would like the assurance of fixing your mortgage payments

· You are trying hard to manage your payments

· You can't remember the last time you assessed your home financing strategy

Smart Home Renovations

Why not do a home renovation project that allows you to live better now and make your home more saleable later? Think cost-effective improvements that enhance curb appeal or boost energy efficiency.

The Appraisal Institute of Canada compared typical costs for renovations versus the impact on a home's selling price to come up with a "payback range" for common projects.

Bathroom reno: 75% to 100%
Kitchen reno: 75% to 100%
Installing a deck: 25% to 75%
Exterior siding: 50% to 75%
Flooring upgrade: 50% to 75%
Basement reno: 50% to 75%

Talk to us today – we can introduce you to your renovation financing options, to get you started on making the most of your home.

Make most of your Home Buyers Plan

First time buyers: Make the most of the Home Buyers Plan

If you're a first time homebuyer, you can use the federal Home Buyers Plan (HBP) to take out funds from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) to use towards the purchase of a qualifying home.

The Plan allows first time buyers to withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSP (or, up to a maximum of $50,000 per couple) tax free, and have 15 years over which to pay the funds back into their RRSP.

While 44 percent of first-time homebuyers are using the HBP to make a down payment, 46 percent of recent first-time buyers have no RRSP savings to use toward a down payment, according to mortgage insurer Genworth Financial Canada. If you do not have RRSPs, we can show you how to establish an RRSP with borrowed funds, and use the resulting tax refund for a down payment or a lump-sum mortgage payment.

Call me for awesome mortgage brokers who can help!!!