Blogs by Jessica
Welcome to Jessica’s Mortgage Blog, your go-to resource for navigating Canada’s mortgage landscape. Here, Jessica shares her expertise on everything from first-time home buying to refinancing strategies, helping readers make informed decisions at every stage of their mortgage journey.
Each post offers insights into market trends, tips for securing the best rates, and guidance on various loan options. Whether you’re buying your first home, renewing a mortgage, or planning long-term investments, Jessica’s blog provides practical advice to support your financial goals.
Jan 31, 2025
Owning a home in Canada is a significant achievement, but the journey to full homeownership involves managing a mortgage. This article is your guide to understanding and harnessing the potential of mortgage prepayment privileges, a smart strategy tha...
Jan 17, 2025
Market Outlook for 2025 - It’s a new year and as we gear up for the upcoming Spring season, it is a good idea to take a look at the market outlook and what we are expecting to see around housing sales, prices, interest rates, and how these current ...
Nov 8, 2024
Debt is a financial tool that allows individuals and businesses to borrow money to achieve their financial goals. However, not all debt is created equal. Some debt can be considered "good debt," while other debt is known as "bad debt." Understanding ...
Nov 8, 2024
Renegotiating your mortgage at renewal time is an excellent way to save money and ensure that you have the best mortgage product for your financial situation. “51% of Canadian homeowners don’t plan on changing lenders when their mortgage comes up...
Oct 22, 2024
With the current interest rates and economic scenarios, many Canadians may be looking for ways to bring in some extra cash. One option for this is to put your home equity to work and consider renovating your basement into a legal income suite!
Oct 22, 2024
When it comes to saving money, there are a lot of little things you can do that add up to make a big difference!Here are 10 of my favourite money-saving tips to help get you started today:
Oct 22, 2024
It has been just over a year since the Bank of Canada started hiking interest rates. While the economy has remained surprisingly resilient, the housing market has weakened sharply.The Bank has remained on the sidelines for the past two Governing ...
Oct 22, 2024
There are several reasons why a potential borrower may want to consider using a mortgage broker instead of their bank. Here are a few reasons:Access to a wider range of lenders: When a borrower goes directly to their bank for a mortgage, they are...
Oct 11, 2024
The Canadian housing market experienced an unprecedented boom in 2020, marked by record-breaking sales across the country. While this surge in real estate activity brought joy to homeowners and investors, it also set the stage for a potential payment...
Sep 27, 2024
It has become apparently harder for the younger generation to purchase their first home. With the interest rates and stress test, and lets not forget the price of homes, entering home ownership isn’t easy. However, there has been a trend over the p...
Sep 13, 2024
Buying a property can be overwhelming. Knowing who does what, where your money goes and all the ins and outs will provide you with some peace of mind when it comes to your deposit. Typically, when purchasing you are required to put a deposit down thr...
Aug 30, 2024
Getting pre-approved is a crucial first step when buying a home. It tells you how much you can spend on a home between your down payment and the approved loan amount. Sometimes, though, the pre-approval amount is lower than what you expect, throwing ...
Jun 14, 2024
As retirees or parents, we often strive for mortgage-free lives, but we also recognize the challenges our children face in entering today's competitive real estate market. However, fear not! There are three innovative solutions to ensure our children...
May 31, 2024
Are you tired of feeling like you're constantly playing catch-up with your finances? The struggle with debt can often feel like a prank that never ends. But fear not, because there's a strategic move you can make to turn the tables on your debt – d...
May 17, 2024
In today's real estate landscape, more people are turning to joint homeownership as a solution to rising prices and interest rates. This involves teaming up with friends or family members to buy a home together. While it sounds appealing, it's crucia...
May 3, 2024
Whether you’re looking to sell your home this year, or just want to make some updates, I have put together six small home improvements that can make a BIG impact on your space! From improving saleability to refreshing your home, here are some simpl...
Apr 19, 2024
The spring housing market is just around the corner! Whether you’re looking to sell, buy, or want to ensure your mortgage is in order, knowing what to expect can help. Here is the low down on what we are anticipating for various factors affect...
Apr 5, 2024
Protecting yourself and your mortgage from fraud is crucial to safeguard your financial well-being. Understanding some of the more common mortgage fraud scams and how to protect yourself can make all the difference!The most common type of mortgag...
Mar 22, 2024
Fall in love with your home and your workspace again with these tips to help you make your home office space more productive!Establish Boundaries: A key component of being more productive at home is to establish proper boundaries between work and...
Mar 8, 2024
Your mortgage amortization period is the number of years it will take you to pay off your mortgage. Depending on your choice of amortization period, it will affect how quickly you become mortgage-free as well as how much interest you pay over the lif...
Feb 23, 2024
Today, let's delve into a topic that might not be the most glamorous but is absolutely crucial when it comes to your mortgage in Canada – Fire Insurance. So, grab a seat and let's break down the why, how, and what to expect of this essential safegu...
Feb 9, 2024
Embarking on the journey to buy a home is undeniably thrilling! Yet, amidst the excitement, there's a crucial aspect you shouldn't overlook – a house check-up, professionally known as a home inspection. Let's delve into why this process is pivotal ...
Dec 29, 2023
Embarking on the pathway to homeownership has always been a significant life milestone, and for Canadians, navigating the twists and turns of the mortgage landscape is an integral part of this journey. Over the years, the rules and regulations govern...
Dec 17, 2023
The holidays are a wonderful time of year for the merriment, music, lights… and treats!You’ll need to throw out the scale for this list of scrumptious holiday dessert ideas.Gingerbread Cookies: Did you know? The oldest recorded gingerbre...
Nov 24, 2023
We Canadians are no strangers to the chill of the winter season!As we shift into the final few months of 2023, now is a great time to check your home before the cold front hits. Below I have included a few tips that could help you save on bills, ...
Nov 17, 2023
Is your mortgage coming up for renewal? Do you know about all the incredible options renewing your mortgage can afford you?If not, I have all the details here on how to make your mortgage renewal work for you as we start to think about 2024.G...
Nov 10, 2023
What does financial freedom mean to you? It's a question that might elicit a wide range of responses, and that's the beauty of it – financial freedom is a deeply personal concept. For some, it's the dream of retiring early, spending endless days on...
Nov 3, 2023
When it comes to purchasing a home, most offers include “conditions” (or “subjects” if you are in the provinces of British Columbia or Manitoba), which are requirements or criteria to be met before the sale can be finalized and the property i...
Oct 27, 2023
Navigating the complex world of mortgage applications can be an intimidating journey for anyone. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, renewing your mortgage, or exploring options for investments or refinancing, understanding how lenders assess and...
Oct 20, 2023
Even though Fall has already started, there are a few things you can do still to ensure your home is well-prepared for the season.Whatever your plans, a quick check of your home will ensure there are no surprises!
Oct 6, 2023
As we round the corner into October, now is a great time to touch base about what to expect in the marketplace this Fall!As you may have heard, The Bank of Canada opted to maintain its policy rate at 5% as of September. The recent rate hikes over...
Sep 22, 2023
Financial independence is a critical skill for future success that your children will not learn anywhere else.Not only does financial literacy help your children have more success in life, but it allows them to move out sooner and it avoids delay...
Sep 8, 2023
The Bank of Canada has a single mandate—to ensure that inflation returns to the 2% target. This means that the Bank will raise interest rates if inflation is too high and lower interest rates if inflation is too low.The U.S. Federal Reserve, in...
Aug 18, 2023
best summer bbq tipsIt’s the season of outdoor parties and a summer BBQ is the perfect way to enjoy time with friends and family! For some tips on how to make this year’s get-together your best one yet, check out my list below: Set the Mood: String...
Jul 21, 2023
appraisal tips for successBefore banks or lending institutions can consider loaning money for a property, they need to know the current market value of that property. The job of an appraiser is to check the general condition of your home and...
Jul 14, 2023
homeowner insurance 101Not all insurance products are created equal. It is important to understand all the different insurance products to ensure you have proper coverage. Below are the main insurance product options you will encounter with...
Jun 16, 2023
economic insights with Dr Sherry CooperOnce again, the Canadian economy is running hotter than expected by the Bank of Canada. The economy continues to exhibit excess demand conditions. In particular, labour markets are very tight, the unemployment...
Jun 6, 2023
The First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is specifically designed to help first-time homebuyers save for their down payment without having to pay taxes on the interest earned on their savings.This means that the interest earned on the savings in the...
Jun 2, 2023
Being nice to others is an important aspect of building strong relationships and creating a positive environment. Sometimes, small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone's day. Here are some easy ways to be nice to someone:
May 26, 2023
When it comes to homeownership, many of us dream of the day we will be mortgage-free.While most mortgages operate on a 25-year amortization schedule, there are some ways you can pay off your mortgage quicker!Review Your Payment Schedule: Taki...
May 19, 2023
If you are looking to have a garden that is the envy of the neighbourhood, May is a great time to get started on your gardening to-do list.I have put together some helpful tips and ideas for how to get started so your garden shines all summer lon...
May 5, 2023
As the sun starts coming back around, it is a great time to scrub those windows and deep clean your home!Here are some tips for a successful Spring clean:Create a Playlist: Everything is more fun with a great playlist! Not only is music great...
Apr 21, 2023
Your payment schedule is the frequency that you make mortgage payments and ranges from monthly to bi-monthly, bi-weekly, accelerated bi-weekly or even weekly payments.Below is a quick overview of what each of these payment frequencies mean:Mo...