All About Real Estate, Finance & Mortgages

April 20 (Bloomberg) -- GE Money, General Electric Co.'s consumer-finance arm, is expanding in Canada in a bid to capture 10 percent of the country's C$10 billion ($8.8 billion) market for high-risk mortgages, said Stephen Motta, chief executive of the Canadian unit. The finance company plans to sell mortgages through independent brokers across Canada by year-end, and is trying to hit its market share target in three years, he said. GE Money started selling mortgages in Ontario last year, and has since become licensed in Alberta and British Columbia. ``We're on a pretty significant growth trajectory, but growing from zero,'' Motta, 43, said in a telephone interview. ``It is a longer-term vision we have for the Canadian market, rather than bursting on the scene, making some noise, and not being here three years from now.'' GE Money, a unit of the world's No. 2 company by market value, is competing with firms such as Toronto-based Xceed Mortgage Corp. Xcee

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Looking to Build your Investment Portfolio? A portfolio with the right mix of cash, fixed income and equity investments suited for your goals and risk level. Getting the right mix of mutual funds may generate higher potential returns while at the same time effectively manage risk. Enhanced returns while minimizing risk Selecting investments that tend to react differently to the economic climate helps to make it more likely that at least a portion of the investments will be performing well at any point in time. The highs and lows of any single investment should be partially offset by the performance of the other investments in the portfolio. Foreign investments will help to reduce risk and increase your potential returns. Automatic portfolio rebalancing to keep your portfolio on track with your objectives You get the freedom from monitoring your investments because your Strategic Portfolio will be reviewed on a quarterly basis and automatically rebalanced to your original asset mix. Get

House bought from her after signature forgedA serious problem in GTA, says title insurance officialApr. 13, 2006. 11:10 AMHAROLD LEVYSTAFF REPORTEREarlier this year, Susan Lawrence discovered that the 100-year-old Victorian home she had been living in for 30 years had been stolen by identity thieves.The North York widow had been blissfully unaware the thieves had used her forged signature to purchase the house from her and discharge a mortgage she had put on the property.They had then put a new mortgage on the property for almost $300,000, pocketed the money, defaulted on the mortgage, faded out of sight, and left her facing eviction.Lawrence soon learned she had become a victim of mortgage fraud — one of the growing number of people in the Greater Toronto Area who are being victimized by real estate savvy swindlers."I just could not believe it, and anybody I talked to couldn't believe it either," Lawrence said in an interview. "They all asked, `How could anybody sel

Apr. 12, 2006. 06:45 AM ELLEN ROSEMAN What do tax tips and spring flowers have in common? They pop up in April. I've gone through my garden of money-saving tax advice and picked some of the prettiest blooms for your inspection" Don't pay interest on top of interest. If you owe money, the government will charge daily compound interest on your debt. This means you pay interest not only on the original amount you owe, but also on the interest that starts adding up. "If you can't pay the amount that's due, talk to your financial institution about a loan or a line of credit that charges a lesser interest rate than the Canada Revenue Agency," says lawyer Stanley Kershman, author of Put Your Debt on a Diet (Wiley). Ottawa can also charge you a late-filing penalty — and interest on the penalty. So, you should file your return on time to avoid penalties, even if you can't pay the amount due. Work out your tax factor. This is important to know when you're m

"Want to buy a house in Vancouver? Hope you have lots of cash. The average price of a house in Lotus Land hit $490,004 in February. Think about it for a second. That's nearly half a million dollars--and 26.5% higher than a year ago. Put another way, it now takes a household income of $142,000 a year to comfortably purchase a place to live. Wasn't the real estate market supposed to slow down this year? Apparently not. And it's not just Vancouver that's experiencing double-digit price increases so far this year. Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) figures show the average home price from February 2005 to February 2006 rose 26% in Calgary and 15.5% in Edmonton, both economic boomtowns of late. But even relatively moribund Toronto saw an increase of nearly 6%, for an average price of almost $354,000. That's a lot of money to put on the line if you're thinking of investing in the real estate market--let alone looking for a place to live. No wonder people are

Created from a senior’s perspective, a CHIP Reverse Mortgage is a unique home equity borrowing opportunity for homeowners in Canada who are age 62 and older. Senior homeowners can access up to $500,000 tax-free with no payments required on the loan until the home is sold or owners move out. The amount available to the homeowners is based on the appraised value of the home, the age and gender of the homeowners, marital status, property type, and location. CHIP Reverse Mortgages are available in most areas across Canada, on most types of homes. Leaseholds, co-ops, manufactured homes and large rural acreages are not eligible. The proceeds from the reverse mortgage are received as a cash lump sum. Homeowners are initially approved for a maximum sum, but may choose to receive a lesser amount initially and then request subsequent advances on the remaining available proceeds. As part of a well-balanced financial plan, a CHIP Reverse Mortgage can add new flexibility to a senior’s finances and

If you have been turned down for a loan or for a mortgage loan based on your Credit Report, don't continue to apply elsewhere. You need to know the reasons why and unfortunatley most of the time lenders will not advise you of any errors on your report or how to fix it. Each time you apply for credit, it lowers your beacon score. (Credit Score). Your Beacon Score is a significant factor in calculating your ability to repay, rates and terms for your loan. With a low Beacon Score you should expect to pay higher interest and the lenders may look at is as though you are too much of a risk and will not be able to repay your loan. The best way to save time is to find out what is stopping you from getting approved and if there are some problems, how to fix them. You can get your credit report from one of the following two credit bureaus in Canada Equifax or Tranunion You can pay for a copy of your credit report and see it immediately at the Equifax web site or you can fill out an appli

TORONTO, April 5 /CNW/ - Ten per cent more resale home transactions took place during the month of March than during the same month a year ago, Toronto Real Estate Board President John Meehan announced today. The March total of 8,707 sales was the second-highest ever, bringing the total for the first quarter of 2006 to 19,831 sales, a record first quarter result. "There is a lot to be positive about in this market," Mr. Meehan said. "The year has started very strongly and it shows no signs of slowing as the peak spring market approaches." According to Jason Mercer, Senior Market Analyst for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, strong economic fundamentals are helping to maintain consumer confidence. "Consumers remain upbeat about home ownership," he said. "Tight labour market conditions with low unemployment and rising real wages, along with very low borrowing costs have kept potential buyers confident in their ability to purchase and pay for

Please fill out our form and we will send you your choice of FREE mortgage reports and information: 7 Things You Must Know Before Applying for a Mortgage! Understanding Your Credit Report Repair & Build Your Credit Fast! Commercial & Income Properties Information 10 Questions You Must Ask When Applying for a Mortgage! How To Get The Best Price for your Home! Credit Card Secrets, that the credit card company doesn't want you to know! Divorce and Your Home How To Afford a Mortgage How To Escape the Debt Rat Race! Bi-Weekly Payments: Yes or No 10 Biggest Home Buying Blunders! CMHC - Home Buying - Step By Step

Most Canadians believe their mortgage rates are manageable, despite recent hikes, according to a recent report released by the Canadian Institute for Mortgage Brokers and Lenders. The information, gathered by Canadian public opinion firm Pollara in a phone survey in February, indicates 42 per cent of Canadian residential mortgage holders polled have not seen their overall standard of living significantly affected by recent mortgage rate increases. 'As the spring home buying season begins, interest rates remain at a historic low and mortgage holders continue to be satisfied with their rates,' said Ron Swift, president of the mortgage brokers institute. 'Our latest survey reveals that Canadians find their current mortgage rates manageable, despite increases over the past eight months. In addition, although mortgage holders anticipate further rises, the study suggests that a majority will be able to tolerate an increase of up to 1 per cent. That's great news for the market

Equity is the difference between your home's value and the balance on your mortgage loan. If your home is worth $100,000 and you owe $75,000 on the mortgage, then you have $25,000 of equity in your home. Borrowing against this equity is currently a very popular method of getting a big chunk of credit, primarily because of low interest rates. Add to that the fact that the interest on most home equity loans is tax deductible and they become an appealing option if you need to make a major purchase. Home equity loans are typically used for consolidating consumer debt or covering a large expense such as a big wedding, college tuition, or home renovations. However, because your home is collateral for the loan, you should be very careful about using home equity loans. The problem is that if you default on the loan, the bank will foreclose on your home. Types of Home Equity Loans There are two types of home equity loans. A traditional home equity loan is also called a second mortgage and i

"QUESTION: My husband and I are retired with a total annual income of $40,000. We owe $145,000 on our home, which is worth $475,000. We don't have any extra to play with. We would like to know whether you would advise us to consider a reverse mortgage. ANSWER: A reverse mortgage could pay off your existing mortgage and eliminate the monthly mortgage payments you are currently paying. This could free up some income for you to play with each month. Here's essentially how it would work. A reverse mortgage would pay off your existing mortgage balance of $145,000. Then, rather than having to make monthly interest and principal payments, the interest charged on the loan would simply add to the balance of the loan. Let's assume your home will appreciate by 4 percent in the coming years, and the reverse mortgage interest rate averages 6 percent. Ten years from now, your home is worth $703,000 and the balance on the reverse mortgage is $260,000. In 20 years, your home is worth

Canadians spent a higher portion of their income on housing in the fourth quarter, as high home prices and utility costs pushed affordability to its worst level in a decade, said a report by the Royal Bank of Canada. That deterioration is coming at the end of ten years of generally 'excellent' affordability conditions, the report by the bank's economics department noted. And, while affordability will likely continue to slide in the first half of this year, rising incomes and steady interest rates and house prices should stop the declines in 2007, economists said. RBC Financial Group's (TSX: RY) latest housing affordability index, measures the proportion of pre-tax household income needed to service the costs of owning a home. Such surveys are a popular promotional tool for Canada's banks and mutual fund companies. Many use public opinion polls to gauge demand for financial products and services, promote specific brand names and learn more about the public's fina

Canadian Institute of Mortgage Brokers and Lenders releases report on mortgage choices and perceptions in a changing market TORONTO, March 28 /CNW/ - A majority of Canadians believe their current mortgage interest rates are manageable, despite recent hikes, according to a report released today by the Canadian Institute for Mortgage Brokers and Lenders (CIMBL). The information, gathered by Pollara in a phone survey in February and analyzed in conjunction with Canadian housing analyst and CIMBL economist Will Dunning, indicates that 42 per cent of Canadian residential mortgage holders polled have not seen their overall standard of living significantly affected by the recent mortgage rate increases. 'As the spring home buying season begins, interest rates remain at a historic low and mortgage holders continue to be satisfied with their rates,' said Ron Swift, President of the Canadian Institute for Mortgage Brokers and Lenders. 'Our latest survey reveals that Canadians find th

Many consumers assume that “mortgage companies” are banks that lend their own money. In fact, a company that you deal with may be either a mortgage banker or a mortgage broker. A mortgage banker is a direct lender; it lends you its own money, although it often sells the loan to the secondary market. Mortgage bankers (also known as “direct lenders”) sometimes retain servicing rights as well. A mortgage broker is a middleman; he does the loan shopping and analysis for the borrower and puts the lender and borrower together. Many of the lenders through which the broker finds loans do not deal directly with the public (hence the expression, “wholesale lender”). Using a mortgage banker can save the fees of a middleman and can make the loan process easier. A mortgage banker can give you direct loan approval, whereas a broker gives you information second-hand. However, many mortgage banks are limited in what they can offer, which is essentially their own product. In addition, if you present yo

Controlling debt... : "Mar 24, 2006 Mike Lacey - More from this author Managing personal finances is among the biggest challenges facing Canadian households. Personal debt continues to climb as people seem either unable, or unwilling, to effectively manage their money. This time of year is when the giving of the Christmas season comes home to roost, says Steve Wesley, manager of the credit counselling program at the Community Counselling and Resource Centre. He explains many of those unable to meet the credit card bills that pile up after the holiday season are facing collection agencies. Many people don't know where to turn as they're swallowed up by debt. Mr. Wesley and others with his organization provide free credit counselling services to those in need, helping to set up personal budgets and provide tips on ways to get rid of debt. He says there are some simple, common sense steps people can make to ensure they don't end up in financial trouble. 'The first thi

The Rediff Interview/David Wyss, chief economist, S&P 'The real threat is global imbalance'Sunil Jain March 24, 2006 Standard & Poor's Chief Economist David Wyss predicts that 2007 will be a reasonably good year as well (4 per cent global growth as compared to 4.5 this year), but sees increasing global imbalances as the problem area. Excerpts from a conversation with Business Standard: Despite the risks associated with the twin US deficits, you're projecting pretty robust growth in not just this year, but also in 2007. We're looking at 4.5 per cent this year and 4 per cent in 2007. The Eurozone is looking better and the good thing about Japan's growth (this is the third year it's over two per cent) is that it is now driven by domestic demand and not exports as in the past. Asia and Latin America continue to do well and account for half the world's growth. The twin deficit is not just a US problem. France, Germany and the UK have sizeable fiscal

TheStar.com - Man finds house was secretly sold : "Man finds house was secretly sold Owner discovers new family living in house Police say estranged wife made own deal Mar. 22, 2006. 10:15 AM STAN JOSEY STAFF REPORTER A Toronto man got a shock when he tried to return his children to his estranged wife at their matrimonial home in Ajax after a weekend visit and found another family living there, police say. Durham Region police allege that the man's wife sold the home on Delaney Dr. without his knowledge and bought a larger home in Ajax with the $200,000 proceeds from the sale � a situation known as title fraud. 'I've never heard of a case quite like it,' said Det. Jack Haze. Since their separation, the man usually returned the children to his wife at a specified location. However, on one day in January 2005, the man missed the appointment with his wife and decided to take the children back to what he thought was their home in Ajax. 'He got the shock of his life

TORONTO — About 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners say their homes will be their primary source of retirement income, according to a survey released Wednesday. The survey, by RBC Royal Bank, also found that 32 per cent of respondents 55 and over hold a mortgage, and suggested that Canadians are increasingly comfortable with housing debt following the rise in house prices over the last few years. ‘‘There’s definitely a trend among aging baby boomers that they are very comfortable in holding debt later in their lives, and so I think that a reverse-mortgage, or at least leveraging the equity in their homes, is something they’re comfortable with,’’ Catherine Adams, RBC’s vice president of home equity financing, said in an interview. Another recent study by the bank found that 48 per cent of Canadians do not believe it’s necessary to retire debt free. Wednesday’s 13th annual Homeownership Survey also found that 60 per cent of Canadian homeowners currently hold a mortgage, up from 56 per cen

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Years ago you had to go to the bank on the corner to apply for your mortgage. Basically beg the banker for a house. If you didn't fit the bank's criteria you didn't get approved. Sorry about your luck. NO! And there really wasn't anywhere else to go. Until now... These days there are more lenders, more banks and more mortgage options. One product we specialize in is the Non-Conforming Mortgage Loan. Specifically those mortgages for clients that have past credit issues (including bankruptcy) or are buying a unique property that doesn't fit into portfolio of the major banks or CMHC. Our Non Conforming Mortgage Loan program helps people who... Need a sub prime mortgage Have less than perfect or bad credit Have no established credit Have tarnished credit Have a previous bankruptcy Are in consumer proposal Are in credit counselling Are recent landed or non-landed immigrants to Canada Are recently self employed and can't verify their income Are foreigners investing in

The following describes mortgage options that may be available to you, individually or in combination. Low Interest Rate Mortgage Generally the best way to find the lowest rate is to shop around. But every time you go to a bank they pull your credit bureau and applying too many times can lower your beacon score. Going to a mortgage broker is the best way to find your best rate and terms. They pull your credit bureau once and will shop a wide variety of banks for you, determining the best rate and terms. A broker may also know of smaller lending institutions which offer much more competitive rates than a large bank or finance company. Adjustable Rate Mortgage With an adjustable rate mortgage (sometimes called ARM) your payments will change over time to reflect any current interest rate fluctuations. The interest’s rates are adjusted semi-annually or on an annual basis. If the rate goes down your mortgage payments will go down and if the rate goes up so do your payments. The initial adju

The Bankruptcy Nightmare and How to Re-establish your Credit The Bankruptcy Nightmare Maybe you lost your job due to downsizing, or a maybe you’ve gone through a recent divorce or split that made it impossible to pay back the debt you owe? Someone in your family might have got ill and you didn’t have insurance to cover the lost income. Even if you have lost a loved one and didn’t adequately plan for it, what ever your circumstance may be this can be the beginning of a long tiresome journey and will require some hard work to recover on your part. Creditors on Your Back There are many situations in which we find ourselves falling behind on our payments, not being able to even pay the minimum payment amount each month. We get so far behind that there is no way to catch up. It’s not a good feeling. Then the creditors start calling demanding their money when you just don’t have it, especially when they don’t seem to care or don’t even try to understand your situation, they just want their m

We will help you Consolidate debts & lower your payments Buy a new home, a second home or a vacation home Achieve your financial goals so you can retire early Take control of your largest asset. Your home! We have a wide variety of mortgages from over 50 of Canada’s top lenders. Banks, trust companies, private lenders and more. Your mortgage approval is just a phone call away! 1-877-590-1961 Even if you have been turned down by the bank before do not hesitate to call. We are experts at creative finance! Our non-conforming mortgage program can help if you have bad credit , a prior bankruptcy or other difficult situation. Fill out our short questionnaire to see if you qualify for a mortgage today.

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Mortgages are tough to qualify for when you are self-employed or commissioned. Even with a good credit history, getting a mortgage from a major bank is sometimes frustrating. Over 20% of Canadian income earners are self employed, business for self or are 100% commissioned. With this large of a segment of the population working for themselves you would think the mortgage banks in Canada would be a little more accommodating. Well they have! Finally. Most people in business write off expenses before declaring their income. That's the advantage of being in business for yourself. You pay income tax on a lesser amount but when you need to prove income for a mortgage approval, your tax returns make it look like your income is low and you can't afford the mortgage you deserve. Qualifying for a Low Documentation Mortgage is easier than you think. You can purchase a new property or re-finance your existing home up to 90% of its appraised value. The lender bases their mortgage approval on

What is a Mortgage Broker? A mortgage broker is an independent professional who works as the liaison between the borrower and the lender to negotiate mortgage loans. We are mortgage loan specialists. Whether you are purchasing a new home, switching your mortgage, or refinancing you existing mortgage, many factors must be considered. Its our job to analyze specific needs and find the best mortgage product that satisfies your budget and goals. Why use a Mortgage Broker? We have access to numerous lending institutions and investors. We will make sure to get the best loan possible: the best interest rate, conditions, and prepayment privileges. You won't have to deal with any financial institution yourself. We deal with the same lenders you're used to dealing with. Including the 'Big Banks' and Trust Companies. We deal in great volume of mortgages and pass on the savings to you. We also deal with some innovative broker-only lenders who can offer even more attractive rates an

Build or re-build your credit in Canada, even if you've had credit difficulties in the past, or have never had a credit card before! An excellent opportunity to establish your credit rating. Virtually all Canadians are approved. Find out more here...

Our Mortgage Payment Calculator will show you how different rates and payment frequencies can affect your mortgage. How much can you afford? What payments can you expect to be making on your mortgage? Simply fill in the form and click the "Compute Payment & Balance Summary" Button.

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The Adjustable Rate Mortgage is quickly becoming one of the most popular options for consumers. There is a tremendous spread between the prime interest rate and a fixed long term mortgage. This spread can be as much as 3% and with the average mortgage in Canada approaching $130,000, this difference in interest rates can be tremendous. How does an adjustable rate mortgage work? The adjustable rate mortgage is quite different than traditional mortgages in that long-term mortgages are priced according to Bond market, while the adjustable rate mortgage is priced in accordance with the prime interest rate. The longer the term, the higher the interest rate. This is not always true but generally speaking it does hold true. By selecting a longer term mortgage you are agreeing to pay a higher interest rate for the term. It is similar to paying an insurance premium to guarantee the interest rate but the insurance premium is the higher rate. An adjustable rate mortgage gives you total control.

Your credit score is an important indicator of your creditworthiness. The higher your score the better chance you have at getting credit extended you. While many lenders use bureau scores to help them make lending decisions, they also take other aspects into consideration. Lenders will use your credit score to determine if you are likely to pay your bills and also help them place you with the appropriate repayment plan. For example if you have claimed bankruptcy in the past they might place you at a significantly higher interest rate. The following is used to calculate your beacon score: Payment history- This indicates if you have made your payments on time Amount owed - Comparison of what you owe to your credit limits with various lenders Length of time - This indicates how long you have had credit accounts New Credit - Shows how often you are looking for new credit Type of credit - Considers the type of loans you have - car loans, lines of credit, credit card balances I can't str

Many people dont even consider buying a home because they believe they cant afford it. In fact most people continue to rent and pay for someone elses mortgage. Homeownership is more affordable than people think in fact in most situations it is more affordable. Some factors to consider would be that rent increases over time but a fixed term mortgage does not, mortgage payments remain more stable over time. So lets think about it, by owning instead of renting your wealth will increase as you gain more home equity. It makes more sense to stop renting and start buying. Now dont get me wrong, buying a house is a big committment. The house must be kept in good condition, renovations, repairs and insurance expenses all add up. But if we think of it as an investment into increasing our net worth we see the value of owning over renting. Another reason people are stuck renting is that the banks have turned them down. How can I qualify for a mortgage when my bank has turned me down? The answer is

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Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit continue to grow in popularity. According to the Consumer Bankers Association, during 2003 combined home equity line and loan portfolios grew 29%, following a torrid 31% growth rate in 2002. With so many people deciding to cash in on their home's equity value, it seems sensible to review the factors that should be weighed in choosing between out a home equity loan (HEL) or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). In this article we outline three principal factors to weigh to make the decision as objective and rational as possible. But first, definitions: A home equity loan (HEL) is very similar to a regular residential mortgage except that it typically has a shorter term and is in a second (or junior) position behind the first mortgage on the property - if there is a first mortgage. With a HEL, you receive a lump sum of money at closing and agree to repay it according to a fixed amortization schedule (usually 5, 10 or 15 years). Much l