LATEST BLOGS

🏡 Trade Up Home Buyer – Market Pull Back is Good News Its counter intuitive to welcome a drop in your house value, but if you are trading up, the bigger drop the better. For many homeowners, the goal on the property ladder is moving from their smaller house to a larger, better-appointed family residence as their family needs and income grows. In Calgary's current market, this strategic move is more advantageous now than it was during the peak of the recent boom. The key bene

Refinancing Sweet Spot: Calculate If Your Penalty Is Worth Paying If you renewed your mortgage between mid 2022 and late 2024 at a high fixed rate, you are experiencing "Rate Regret" as market rates fall by up to $2% to 3% . Don't feel trapped—this is a massive financial opportunity. History Repeats: Why We Are in a "Sweet Spot". We've seen this play out recently, and the results were dramatic: The 2020/2021 COVID Refinancing Boom:  This occurred when the Bank of Canada (BoC)

As a parent, you watch your adult children navigating a housing market that looks very different from the one you bought into. Rents are rising, and the hurdle of a down payment can feel insurmountable. You might be asking yourself: Is now the right time to step in? The answer—based on current market conditions and tax incentives—might be yes . But helping your child doesn't have to mean writing a blank check. It can be a structured partnership where you both win. Here is t

For many Canadians, bridging the gap between renting and owning feels impossible. The high cost of entry—the down payment, the closing costs—is often the biggest hurdle. But there is a smart, powerful strategy that makes homeownership a reality for thousands of buyers: buying a home with a legal, secondary rental suite. How a legal suite can drastically improve your housing affordability and accelerate your financial goals 1. Lowering the Barrier to Entry: Qualifying for a Bi

Many homeowners love their current home and neighborhood but are feeling the pinch of monthly expenses. You might think the only way to lower your costs is to downsize or sell. But there is a "hidden" strategy that allows you to keep your home, upgrade its value, and significantly reduce  your monthly housing expense: Refinancing to build a legal rental suite. Thanks to new government mortgage rules coming into effect January 15, 2025 , and lower interest rates, accessing the

If you're a first-time home buyer, the FHSA  (First Home Savings Account) is the single most powerful tool the government has introduced to help you save. But don't let a simple deadline mistake cost you thousands. Here ’s the critical rule that trips up almost everyone: The FHSA tax deadline and carry over rules are NOT the same as your RRSP . ⏰ The December 31st Deadline To get the tax deduction for the current year (which means a bigger refund in the spring!), you must  c

. Renewal Shock is Real: The New Reality for Homeowners An unprecedented number of mortgages are up for renewal between now and the end of 2026. If your mortgage was originated during the low-rate pandemic era (2020-2021), you might be facing a jump from historically low interest rates (some below 2%) to a 5-year fixed rate hovering today around 4%. With the consensus of economic forecasts predicting the Bank of Canada Overnight Rate is likely near its bottom (2.25%) and expe

If you're following the news, you're likely hearing talk about the US Federal Reserve's changes to interest rates. While US decisions often influence Canada, in this case, we are already ahead of the curve. Dec 10/25 announcements of both Canadian and US Central Banks confirm the divergence and provide a clear signal for Canadian borrowers. The Bank of Canada Has Found the Floor. The Bank of Canada (BoC) announced its final policy decision of the year December 10, 2025: Curre