The Spring Market Trends survey conducted by Leger found more than one in four Canadian homebuyers report feeling pinched by the stress test, which came into effect in January of this year. However, projections for the spring market show optimism with most markets expected to remain stable or improve. Despite all of the factors involved, the spring market across most of the country is forecasted to strengthen as we head into the warmer months. Supply is still low in many markets,... [read more]

Start Saving Canadians spend an average of 20 years in retirement. If you’re not saving, it’s time to start.   Estimate Your Retirement Needs Experts estimate that you will need about 70% of your preretirement income – for lower income earners, the figure is 90% or more – just to maintain your current standard of living when you stop working.   Participate in a Workplace Retirement Savings Plan If your employer... [read more]

  Canada’s Zoomers are in line to inherit a vast cumulative fortune in their retirement years. Here are a few helpful guidelines with spending and investing your inheritance.   Start with your children’s education Helping your children pursue post-secondary education is a costly proposition. Use the first big chunk of your inheritance here because it will help set them up for success, as well as provide you with a guaranteed 20% return. That is the... [read more]

The 5 Best Home Renovations That Will Bring You the Highest ROI Like most homeowners, you want to get the highest return on your investment when you decide to sell. While this will ultimately come down to a number of factors—location, proximity to public transport, market conditions—you can control how well your home shows, both inside and out. Doing some renovations can greatly increase your home’s value, especially if they haven’t been done... [read more]

      When you buy a home, your credit score plays an essential role: It can impact what loans you’re eligible for and the interest rate you get (which will affect your monthly payment costs).  But what determines your score? The exact elements depend on which scoring method you’re looking at, and lenders often use Equifax. Generally speaking, credit scores range from 300 to 850 and are influenced by the following five... [read more]