Nothing quite says summer more than the splashing and swimming in a backyard pool. Or lazily relaxing on an inflatable raft, without a care in the world. So, here’s the big question… is it worth it? Living in beautiful Ontario, we don’t get much time to enjoy such an expensive luxury each year, but can you really put a price on a backyard oasis? A place where your stress melts ...Read More

Moving into a new home is an exciting time. But before you get into the fun stuff like décor, new furniture and paint schemes, there are some basics that should be covered first.  Change the locks. Just do this. Even if you’re promised that new locks have been installed in your home, you can never be too careful. I used to be a dog walker, and I still have keys to homes where m...Read More

How many other people look around their home and make that mental list of things to be done? Whether it’s a fantasy list (for me: an inground pool), or an actual “this needs to be done” list (backyard landscaping), I think we all have ‘em. But what are your reasons behind your renovation list? Is it just for your own personal needs or wants? Or is it to increase the value ...Read More

Con artists are everywhere, and the Real Estate industry is certainly not immune. Whether it’s contractors who take your money and run or rental scams on online classified sites like Kijiji, everyone needs to arm themselves with knowledge on how to steer clear of such frauds. So how can you protect yourself? Well let’s take a look at some of the different types of scam that are out th...Read More

On Oct 17th, Canada’s banking regulator (OSFI) announced a new mortgage stress test that will come into effect January 1st, 2018. This regulation will affect new mortgages that are currently not subject to mandatory mortgage insurance, meaning buyers who have 20% or more as a down payment.   By law, borrowers with a down payment of less than 20% for a home must purchase mortgage ...Read More

By Jason Kay President and Broker, My Mortgage Master 1. Interest rates are going up and down. Fixed rates initially went down but then increased due to the lack of liquidity in the market and perceived risk. Variable rates went down(1.50%) with the Bank of Canada announcements.  Lenders then decreased the normal discount(for example, Prime-.60% is now Prime +.20%) for anyone getting a variab...Read More