Student's killer on parole
Charges after investigation
Hostage was on captor 
Regulating power prices
Gen X is raking it in
LeBlanc laying groundwork
US vetoes UN resolution
$100M Nassar settlement
12 Trump jurors picked
Rates slow green economy
Vicinity hires president,
Record housing starts
Warriors ready for Round 2
Kalamalka Bowl cancelled
Rockets live to fight on
Rihanna's parenting ‘hack’
Tarantino scraps film
Munn talks cancer battle
The Mortgage Gal
Closing costs, then some
You’ve done your homework – saved your down payment, met with your mortgage broker and are pre-approved for a mortgage, connected with a reputable...
Lowest rate not always best
I take calls on a regular basis that start with the question “What’s your best rate?” My answer is never a quick one. Not all mortgage...
Buying new home is a race
Trying to buy a home in the Okanagan right now feels a bit like an episode of The Amazing Race. Ideally, when you're buying a home, you take your time...
New year, new mortgage
Happy New Year. With the start of each new year, it’s a great idea to spend a bit of time reviewing your financial situation. Set some financial goals...
The right mortgage team
f 2020 has taught me anything, it has taught me the value of relationships. This year has reinforced the importance of having the right people in my corner,...
Back to basics
Before you look at houses for sale, it’s a good idea to meet with your mortgage professional to determine how much you can borrow. This will help you...
The cost of owning a home
Two weeks ago, my tenant messaged me that there was water all over the floor in my suite. It took a few minutes to trace back the source of the leak. We ended...
Is it time to renovate?
During the past few months, I’ve noticed an increase in the number of clients looking to finance home improvements. A friend who is a general contractor...
Co-signing a mortgage
As mortgage qualification guidelines have tightened over the last few years, I have seen an increase in the number of people co-signing for family members, and...
How not to buy a home
There are a few dos and don’ts when you start down the road of buying a home. Over the last month and a half, I have been working with a great family...
Full-disclosure application
One thing I love about my work is that I learn something new every day. Some days, this is technical information about a specific mortgage product. Some...
Porting vs. new mortgage
Most people sign a five-year term when they buy a home. You have the option of choosing either a fixed or a variable rate for your mortgage. Many opt to take a...
Escalating penalties
One discussion I have with my clients upfront is whether they want to choose a fixed rate or a variable rate. Most of my clients opt for a fixed rate mortgage...
Stress Test dropping
This has been a busy week in the mortgage world. There were rumblings that the Stress Test was going to be reduced and Evan Siddall, head of Canada Mortgage and...
Time for a better rate?
Mortgage interest rates have continued to drop during the last few weeks. I’ve had many calls from clients wondering if it is worthwhile to break their...
Private sales can cost more
I work with clients who are trying to buy or sell a home privately. Sometimes this is because they feel it makes sense. For example, tenants are buying the home...
What's your best rate?
Often calls from new clients start with “I’m looking for help with a mortgage. What’s your best rate?” I’m pretty sure that I...
Mortgages as (almost) usual
When I wrote my last column, we had just learned that Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) had announced changes to their policies. In a nutshell, the...
Mortgage rules tightening
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has announced three significant changes to the way insured mortgage applications will be evaluated effective July...
Good time for pre-approval?
If you are laid off right now due to the virus, or maybe working from home with your life a bit upside down, looking into mortgage pre-approval might be the...
