A home is one of the biggest purchases – if not the biggest purchase – most of us make in our lifetimes. So when it comes to seeking financing for a home, we all want to get it right. 

When Tom Hanks and Shelley Long took ownership of a fixer-upper in the 1986 comedy The Money Pit, they were the typical upwardly mobile young couple with aspirations of turning a rickety property into the home of their dreams. Spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen the movie, but things don’t exactly go that way.

Whether you’re planning to move to a smaller space, or just want to get rid of years’ worth of clutter to reorganize and brighten your home, downsizing may be something you’re contemplating. 

You might think that winterizing your home is only something you need to do if it is vacant. It is true that if you have a vacant home you should prepare it for the harsh conditions of winter, however the same is said for the home you live in as well.

As we get older, there are a lot of great reasons to consider selling a large family home in favor of an easy-to-manage apartment or condo. After all, going smaller offers advantages that range from saving money to lessening household chores. 

Many people dream of building a new home that’s customized to suit their tastes and lifestyle, but very few can do it without being financed by a mortgage lender. If you already have a mortgage on an existing house, securing a new loan can be more difficult. But not to worry; it is definitely not impossible! The key is to work with a mortgage broker who has knowledge and experience with the process. 

So you’ve decided to make your dream home a reality. Congratulations! You’ve done the research to find the perfect piece of land, hired a builder you can trust and work with, settled on plans that suit your needs and taste, and of course, determined a budget you can live with.

Are you planning on buying a brand new home? A successful project starts with getting money matters in order. Establishing a budget that you can then share with your builder will give you peace of mind and make the path towards new home ownership more pleasant. Here are some steps to consider:

Buying a home is one of the biggest investment decisions you’ll ever make. Although many of us have an image of our perfect home, when the time comes to buy, most people opt for an existing one. According to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, newly-built homes only account for about 25 per cent of all homes bought each year.

Buying a house is likely to be the most expensive purchase you’ll make in your entire life, so it’s important to thoroughly research the best ways of financing it. When you’re looking for a mortgage, you have the choice between dealing directly with your bank or going to a mortgage broker. Exploring the pros and cons of both choices will give you the information you need to make the best decision for your situation.

Are you in the market for a new house, or thinking of buying one in the future? One of the first steps would be to start saving for the down payment. To qualify for a mortgage in Canada, banks require 5% minimum of the sale price as a down payment. Depending on the price of the house you want to buy that can be a substantial amount of money. 

Building a new home can be both exciting and daunting. While it’s easy to imagine magazine-worthy images of your perfect dream home, you have probably heard more than one negative story from well-meaning friends and family about the time, work, and cost involved.

A few decades ago, it was not uncommon for elderly parents to continue to live, and even die, in the same homes where they raised their children. As the adult children of these ailing parents can attest to, this is no walk in the park. Weekly visits to mow lawns and clear snow made more than one of these folks wish their parents had thought to move into a smaller abode while they were still healthy.