Business News Network – April 13, 2011 The strength of the Canadian dollar is turning Canada’s economic performance into a boomerang, with the recent growth spurt giving way to a gradually slower pace that could persist for years as a currency well north of parity restrains exports. In its quarterly monetary policy report Wednesday, the […]

Financial Post – April 7, 2011 Canadians younger than 35 are most intent on buying a home over the next two years, according to a survey released Thursday. However, most of those in this age group, which included people 18 to 34, indicated in the Royal Bank of Canada’s annual home-ownership survey that it would […]

Vancouver Sun Upping the ante in the lower level Big screens and even bigger sound, designer chairs and smart lights that slowly dim as the movie starts rolling make basement home theatres more sought-after then ever. Photograph by: Jenelle Schneider, Vancouver Sun What’s hot in the home’s coolest area? Here’s what the pros consider the […]

To help raise money for those in Japan who’ve been affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami, a compilation CD with 38 tracks entitled Songs for Japan has been put together by four different record label companies, currently available on iTunes for only $9.99. All of the proceeds will go towards the Japanese Red Cross […]

Canada Mortgage Trends March 24, 2011 The much-unloved Interest rate differential (IRD) penalty is a mystery to most of the natural born population. People loathe it, largely because they don’t understand it. We continually come across folks who read their entire mortgage contract and are still confused by the IRD calculation. Fortunately, federal disclosure guidelines […]

Globe & Mail, March 25, 2011 Grocery shopping with children in mind can be complicated. It’s not just, “This looks tasty, let’s get it.” First, it’s the question of what they should eat – food groups, vitamins and all that. Then, it’s what they will eat, which for some children, can be quite a narrow […]

Mortgage Broker News, March 11, 2011 As part of its economic outlook for 2011, RBC projects that the Bank of Canada overnight rate will rise from one per cent to two per cent by year-end. The gradual pace of rate increases combined with anchored inflation expectations will result in less upward pressure on long-term interest […]

Vancouver Sun, March 9, 2011 Portobello West has undergone a dramatic face lift just in time for its spring launch. The monthly market of local artisans and designers has become a non-profit society, moved to Creekside Community Centre in the Olympic Village and hired a new coordinator from Montreal. It will open in the new […]

Vancouver Sun, March 14, 2011 Mainland Chinese buyers a major factor, but European, U.S. purchasers also attracted to city If you think Vancouver’s housing prices are overdue for a major price adjustment, tell that to the surging number of luxury home buyers. According to MLS statistics provided by Macdonald Realty, a record 375 homes -including […]

REW Week of Feb 25 – Mar 3, 2011 Canadian housing sales will gain traction in the second half of this year, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), which has released a more bullish outlook on the market than its earlier forecast at the end of 2010. CREA now estimates there will be […]

Friday, 25 February 2011 Two in three Canadian homeowners believe they will still be able to service their mortgage payments if interest rates go up, according to a survey by Bank of Montreal (BMO) Financial Group. While some were unsure, another 18% of Canadians said they would not be able to afford higher payments, although […]

Vancouver Sun February 25, 2011 1 HOME BUYERS’ PLAN Qualifying home buyers can withdraw up to $25,000 (couples can withdraw up to $50,000) from their RRSPs for a down payment. Home buyers who have repaid their RRSP may be eligible to use the program a second time. For more information: www.cra.gc.ca. Enter ‘Home Buyers’ Plan’ […]