CategoryCase study

Stop Bleeding Cash: Why Your Mortgage is the Ultimate Financial Power Tool

Let’s have an honest conversation about the financial squeeze many Canadians are feeling right now.

Prices are up at the pump, at the grocery store, and certainly in utility bills. But for many homeowners, the real pressure isn’t just inflation; it’s the “silent killer” of accumulated consumer debt sitting on top of their mortgage.

I see it every day in my practice. Good people, with good incomes, who have managed to build significant equity in their homes, yet they are drowning in monthly payments because they are financing their lives using the wrong tools. They are using 19.99% credit cards and 11% lines of credit for expenses that should be financed at 4-5%.

It makes absolutely no financial sense.

Posted February 27, 20231 Comment Case study

Problem & Solution: I Bought A New Home, But Haven’t Sold My Old One

Higher interest rates are causing a lot of problems for homeowners. Not just in terms of being able to purchase a home – but also in terms of being able to sell the existing one. Unfortunately, this is a problem I’ve been getting far too many calls about these days. Finding a new home is really only half the battle. Selling your current home to complete the transaction is the real challenge, especially in this market.

It’s easy to feel stuck when you’re in this situation. Luckily, with the right people and the right guidance, there’s always a solution. Here’s an example of a client we were able to get out of a pretty tight corner.

Posted May 22, 20202 Comments Case study

How can we help?

As a follow-up to my previous post on Cash Flow, I wanted to dig deeper into how we can help, as well as the good and bad around some of the relief programs being offered.

First, How can we help? We are finding that many of our clients are able to save by refinancing their debts into one low payment.

Online shopping for Stocks, Vacations and Mortgages.

Posted November 7, 2019 Case study

Online shopping …. Stocks, Vacations and Mortgages. What’s the difference?

Is choosing a mortgage as easy as booking a trip or trading a stock? Let’s find out!

Sure, you can book a flight online or buy a stock through the web. But, can you really choose the right mortgage product on your own? Can you really find the absolutely lowest cost mortgage financing option? I’ll bet some consumers can. I’ll also bet the vast majority cannot. There’s a steady stream of horror stories, on this news site and others, that show just how costly and financially dangerous it is to be in the wrong mortgage product, with the wrong lender.

I’ve shared dozens of those experiences on this site. Consumers who were directed into the wrong mortgage by their Banker or by some web site claiming to offer ‘the lowest rate’. I empathize with these consumers as I believe they were just trying to save some money but instead ended up paying far more than they had to. Continue reading “Online shopping …. Stocks, Vacations and Mortgages. What’s the difference?”

Posted April 26, 20181 Comment Bank News

Mortgage Penalties: You could pay thousands to break your mortgage depending on your lender!

I originally posted a breakdown of how mortgage penalties are calculated by different lenders on January 4, 2011.

This remains relevant today and, since this has been my most popular article to date, it’s worth a repost!

WE TOOK THE MYSTERY OUT OF HOW PENALTIES ARE CALCULATED

We decided this needed a more detailed explanation… but a strange thing happened when we started to answer these questions. We made a startling discovery. We caution you – the results could get your blood boiling if you’ve had to pay a penalty!

We found that the banks have shrunk or reduced the spreads between their Posted and Discounted rates on shorter-term mortgages over the past few years… and this has had a huge impact on Interest Rate Differential (IRD) penalty calculations. Continue reading “Mortgage Penalties: You could pay thousands to break your mortgage depending on your lender!”