Tips for a stress-free summer move
May 18, 2013 / 5:00 am
The majority of Canadians prefer to make their big move during the summer season. There are a variety of reasons for choosing this time of year: it is easier to transport boxes in non-icy conditions, no need to worry about your belongings freezing during transport, and children's...
Selecting the right mortgage planner
May 4, 2013 / 5:00 am
If you were investing the same amount of money you are considering borrowing right now, or have already borrowed, how would you choose your financial advisor? For...
Establishing credit history
Apr 20, 2013 / 5:00 am
In order to purchase a home, you must have an established credit history. Each time you pay a bill (for your credit card or for a monthly service such as your telephone or electricity); you are establishing a credit rating for yourself. A credit rating is a number or score that...
Is home ownership right for you?
Apr 6, 2013 / 5:00 am
Buying a home is one of the biggest emotional and financial decisions you’ll ever make, so prepare yourself to make a knowledgeable decision. Although buying a home almost always seems like a great idea, it is important to understand what home ownership involves. Of...
How to save with the way you pay
Mar 9, 2013 / 5:00 am
"How will you pay for this today?" Maybe it’s time to change the way you answer this common checkout question. With more payment options than ever, consumers can find easy ways to save money, simply by using a different payment method. Consider cash Some...
Lifetime approach to better fiscal fitness
Feb 23, 2013 / 5:00 am
To stay on the right track for each decade of your life, you need to stop moving your money problem around—raiding one pot to pay a debt in another pot. Start by stashing away your credit cards and live within your means every day of the month. In your 20s: Pay off your debt and...
Checking out your new neighbourhood
Feb 9, 2013 / 5:00 am
10 Things To Know About Your New Neighbourhood (Photo: Flickr user - stevenm_61) 1. What are the neighbours like? Take time to get a feel for the locals and how you might fit in. Does the area attract empty nesters and retirees, for example, or is...
Teach your children how to save
Jan 26, 2013 / 5:00 am
(Photo: Flickr user - teegardin) From making an imaginary cup of tea to shopping at a make-believe grocery store, children love to mimic their parents' lives through play. So when it comes time to teach your children how to manage their money and save, it's...
Time to make a move
Jan 12, 2013 / 5:00 am
Does the thought of changing your neighbourhood go through your mind more often than not? Here are some key indicators on when you really should consider making that move. 1. You Have Outgrown Your Neighbourhood Your uber-trendy, urban borough seemed just the thing five years ago. But...
Goal setting & resolutions
Dec 29, 2012 / 5:00 am
January is a popular time of year to set resolutions for physical fitness, personal finance or new career directions. But with the declaration of failed resolutions in February becoming as much of a ritual as the resolutions themselves, it’s worthwhile to take a look at how you approach...
High credit score for borrowing
Dec 15, 2012 / 5:00 am
Part of a Lender's decision to grant credit is an assessment of your past credit history which is why it's important to build credit once you arrive to Canada. Depending on your circumstances, some people already have a credit history while others may need to start fresh and build a new...
Managing your mortgage
Dec 1, 2012 / 5:00 am
What You Should Think About When Financing Your Home If you’re like most Canadians, your home is probably the most important investment you’ll ever make. Whether you’re buying a home or refinancing your existing home, making the right decision now can help save you money...
Building your financial muscle
Nov 17, 2012 / 5:00 am
Ballooning credit card debt? Expensive kids? Large mortgage? Feeling in over your head? Read below for five steps to help you build your financial muscle. Every day: Record purchases Keeping track of every dollar spent may seem like a hassle – every pack of gum? every trip to the...
House hunting: the right fit for you
Oct 20, 2012 / 5:00 am
Photo: Contributed With so many choices and variables, how do you find the perfect fit? Before you start your search, it’s a good idea to narrow down the playing field by looking at what would fit you best. Here’s where to look: Look Inside What do you...
Organize important home documents
Oct 6, 2012 / 5:00 am
As a homeowner, we begin to accumulate papers and documents the moment we choose to purchase a home. Offers to purchase, mortgage documents, home inspection reports, homeowners insurance, renovation receipts, and appliance warranties are just some of documents that you may need to refer to in...
What is your mortgage rate?
Sep 22, 2012 / 5:00 am
The first question I usually get when a potential client calls me is what is your mortgage rate for 5 years? It makes me wonder if that is the only thing that is important when you are shopping for a mortgage. I was speaking with one of my financial planner colleagues and he told me...
Cash back for buyers!
Sep 8, 2012 / 5:00 am
How would you feel if I told you that you’d be eligible to receive cash back when you purchase your next home? Yes, it is possible and all you have to do is allow us to help you bundle your real estate services. You will be introduced...
Turn your home into income property
Aug 25, 2012 / 5:00 am
For the past ten years, Scott McGillivray, a 30-year-old real estate entrepreneur, has made a living by transforming houses into income properties. Today, he manages 18 properties with over 100 tenants and here he shares his top tips for creating legal income suites that will help you offset...
The Renovation Contract
Aug 18, 2012 / 5:00 am
One of the major reasons for disputes over renovation work is the lack of a contract. The best way to avoid this is to draw up an agreement describing the work to be done and the cost of this work. This contract becomes a legal document, binding both parties once they have...
Lock out crime
Aug 11, 2012 / 5:00 am
Photo: Contributed Every three minutes, a home in Canada is burglarized. Many of those break-ins occur while the homeowners are away. But burglaries can also take place when you are at home, at any time of the night or day. To help lock...
The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet.
Castanet presents its columns "as is" and does not warrant the contents.
this page.(Click for RSS instructions.)
© 2010 Castanet.net