Enjoy hundreds of events and activities in Ontario this Thanksgiving weekend if you haven’t made a plan yet!
Thanksgiving is the last long weekend of the year and if you haven’t planned an event or get-together, you may just find something that engages your interests or passions and we have found a site that will deliver!
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to enjoy family time and Ontario’s out doors can provide amazing vistas and events. Indulge a passion for art or nature. Have a superb meals without having to do the dishes.
Many activities are free of cost, so everyone can enjoy the season.
Visit Ontario Travel and choose the area of Ontario that you want to explore!
With the chance of milder weather as we move into March, families everywhere want to get out to enjoy the Maple Syrup festivals.
Its also March Break!
The good news is the Maple Sap starts to run during March Break, so families have extra time to be together enjoying the outdoors, sampling the first Maple Syrup of the season and just being together.
Here are a few of the top Local Maple Syrup Festivals.
The moment the weather breaks, even if it’s just for a day or two, we start thinking about Spring.
At our house Spring means Renovation.
This year it’s time to paint the exterior surfaces of the house to keep it looking good and to preserve the wood siding.
Owning a home means there’ll always be something that needs updating or replacing choosing the projects that bring in the best rate of return is very important if you only have a set amount to spend.
Style At Home magazine published a great list of renovation paybacks. Kitchens and baths still top the list but there are many other improvements that not only increase enjoyment but add to over-all value increase.
Before you get started on your “Honey Do” list this Spring, We hope you’ll have a look at the return on investments and make a wise choice for your renovation dollars.
Here’s the list of returns on renovations from Style at Home.
If your renovation is a major one, talk to us about helping you with the financing. Many homeowners finance a renovation using credit cards and available balances on a line of credit. While this might seem like a great idea, it can actually destroy your credit rating and make it impossible to get a consolidation loan once the work is done.
Call us first for a Renovation loan. Rates as low as 3.5% are available today! Apply Now.
Let us help you find a way to finance your renovation or landscape project! We have a few awesome options to share with you. You can also take advantage of our unbelievable rate specials so it won’t cost the earth to update your home.
Your home is probably the single largest investment you’ll ever make. Understanding how to choose the right mortgage is paramount. Although we can’t say for sure what mortgage rates will do – or how the housing market will shift – we are sharing our top tips for the year ahead; sensible strategies for today’s home buyers and owners.
Variables are back.Several lenders are offering strong “prime minus” rates that could save you thousands in interest. And the Bank of Canada is still holding their key “overnight rate” very steady and very low… making variable-rate mortgages a sensible option right now. Fixed versus variable has always been a challenging mortgage decision. Let us help you decide which financing option best meets your needs.
Don’t sleepwalk through your mortgage renewal.Don’t miss out on an opportunity to save thousands on your mortgage. When your lender sends you a letter saying it’s time to renew… then it’s time to get an expert second opinion. We’re independent and we have access to over 50 lenders. If there’s a better deal, we’ll find it.
Pay your phone bill on time! Paying your bills on time has always been the most important credit habit. Equifax recently started to include phone companies on credit bureau reports – so your lender can see if you have any delinquencies with your phone bills. Look like a good borrower.
Keep other good credit habits. Don’t let your credit accounts exceed 30 per cent of your limit. Don’t cancel an old credit card without getting advice. And don’t sign up for store cards: they often have crazy interest rates, and the application triggers a credit inquiry (you don’t want a lot of those).
Mortgage versus total debt. Do you have high-interest debt outside your mortgage that you won’t be able to pay off in the next few months? Then think about rolling that debt into a new low-rate mortgage. This one, smart strategy could save you thousands… and boost your monthly cash flow. We can analyze your situation to see if you qualify.
What’s the prepayment penalty?Don’t let anyone tell you prepayment penalties are “all the same”. They’re not. If you ever need to get out of your mortgage early, the right mortgage could save you thousands. Not all lenders calculate penalties the same way, and the differences can be substantial. It helps to know which lenders have the most fair prepayment penalties. With access to dozens of lenders – we’ve got that information at our fingertips.
If one of you wants to keep the marital home.If you are going through a separation or divorce and one of you wants to keep the marital home, we’ve got some great mortgage options, including a mortgage to 95 per cent. Your home can be the asset that gives you both a fresh start!
A paydown will pay it forward. Take every opportunity to beat down your mortgage principal using any prepayment privileges! Use tax refunds, bonuses, whatever. Or switch to weekly or bi-weekly payments. Every dollar you pay down on principal means every future payment goes further.
Thinking renovation? We see what you see. Your reno will add value to your home. That’s why we have a special “Refinance Plus Improvements” mortgage that lets you refinance up to 80 per cent of the new, post-reno value of your home. Cool deal.
Come in for a checkup. Your mortgage needs an annual checkup. Really. Life doesn’t stand still, which means your needs may have changed. Even a minor tweak can pay big dividends.
Have a mortgage question? We’re here to answer it! Please use the form below to email us or call at: 866-452-1100
Retailers are already making the pitch for your Holiday shopping dollars with glittery store windows and even some sales, but beware, last year the average consumer spent $1600.00 on gifts travel and entertainment.
The problem is most use credit cards to fulfill the dreams of their kids and family members. Then come the payments. Not too many Canadians pay off their card balances monthly, so if you still have outstanding bills form last year, think twice about compounding it again this December.
Use Santa’s Method
Make a list and check it twice. Who are you buying for, how much are you spending. Can you make something that would cover the small gifts on your list? Homemade cookies for teachers, the babysitter and the paperboy are always welcome and cost little. Your kids would love the gift of your time, such as a family movie night once a month complete with home made popcorn and pizza! Give a few family-friendly videos, and a hot air popcorn maker as a gift to your kids.
Start Shopping Now and Save
What if you bough a gift or two each week and paid cash. Watch for items to go on sale and then buy then. Over the past few years retailers brought our some of their best items at reduced prices to compete for your dollars.
Shopping On-line Can Save Time and Money.
Shopping on–line offers you the chance to compare several retailers for an item, have it shipped to your home, often for free and that saves on gas that you would spend driving from store to store.
Try to remember that the Holidays are about Peace, Joy and Love.
Its a time to reconnect with family and loved ones. Its not meant to be a time to impress people with how much you spend.
Mortgage Intelligence 