19 Jan

All Things Being Equity!

General

Posted by: Brent Batten

Equity, we know it’s a good thing to have, but oftentimes people don’t know what they can do with it or how to access it. I’ll give an example…recent clients, highly educated with a doctorate, were sitting on a lot of high interest consumer debt, roughly $125,000, accumulated while in school. they were also sitting […]

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12 Jan

Fixed vs Variable Rates…the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

General

Posted by: Brent Batten

For as long as there have been fixed and variable rates, there have been disagreements over which is best for a borrower. Sadly, there is no right or wrong answer, they both have their strengths and weaknesses. So let’s dive in and talk about the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly. Let’s start […]

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4 Jan

Appraised Value vs Assessed Value

General

Posted by: Brent Batten

So you’ve heard the terms before and like a lot of people probably thought they meant the same thing. In a way they are both determining a value for your property, but that’s where the similarities end. So what do they really mean? Assessed Value is the value that the municipal or provincial government has […]

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2 Nov

Mortgage 101 – Terminology

General

Posted by: Brent Batten

I get it, the mortgage industry has its own language at times, and a lot of times, we don’t break it down for people in a way that’s clear and makes sense. So that’s why I’m taking things back to basics with this blog post. You’ll hear terms like contract rate, qualifying rate (stress test), […]

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4 Aug

Down Payments…The Ins and Outs

General

Posted by: Brent Batten

As we all know, saving up for a down payment is one of the most difficult aspects of buying a house. Let’s face it, the average person doesn’t generally have 10’s of thousands of dollars just sitting there waiting for a rainy day. So how on earth do you come up with enough and how […]

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26 Jan

What will the real estate industry look like in 2021?

General

Posted by: Brent Batten

What will the real estate industry look like in 2021?. If there is one word that defines life in 2021, that word is change. How much and for how long is uncertain. And while some changes may be temporary, many may be here to stay. How will all of this change impact the real estate […]

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5 Jan

5 Things to Know Before Buying a Rural Property.

General

Posted by: Brent Batten

As cities continuing to grow bigger and busier, a rural home beyond those limits can seem like a dream come true! However, before you dive into country living, there are a few things you should know! Especially, how different it can be to qualify for a mortgage. 1. CHECK THE ZONING When it comes to buying […]

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22 Dec

Getting a Mortgage When You’re New to Canada!

General

Posted by: Brent Batten

Getting a Mortgage When You’re New to Canada. Canada has seen a surge of international migration over the last few years. In 2019, we welcomed a total of 313,580 immigrants to the country! This is an increase of 40,000 individuals when compared to 2017 numbers. According to planned immigration levels, it is estimated that Canada […]

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15 Dec

Rate Holds Explained!

General

Posted by: Brent Batten

Rate Holds Explained. If you shopping for a home, or have worked with a mortgage professional in the past, you’ve most likely heard of rate holds before. If not, it is something that every potential homeowner should be aware of. This is especially true for the application process as it has some great benefits for […]

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6 Dec

It’s All About The Property

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Brent Batten

It’s All About The Property. When your mortgage application goes through the approval process, they are not only looking at you, but also the property in question. In fact, sometimes when an application is denied it has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with the property. To improve your chances of success […]

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