Category: General

Regulator eases burden on borrowers seeking to switch lenders

Switching your loan to another provider is never a simple task, but it will become easier thanks to a prospective policy change promised by our banking regulator, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). It has announced it will drop the requirement for a stress test when homeowners renew their mortgage as they…
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Loan demand defies claims of softer market

Industry data and commentary may suggest the post-Covid rebound in our national real estate market is losing steam, but home-loan data suggests otherwise. In the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the total value of new housing loans rose 3.9% month-on-month in July to $30.6 billion. Investors are leading the charge. Their…
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Eight buying tips as Canada waits for rebound

Industry data shows buyers are watching the property market carefully, unsure how the latest cut in interest rate will affect prices against a backdrop of economic challenges. Smart buyers are already on the move, convinced values will rebound as the cost of mortgages falls. It’s generally accepted that any central bank needs to cut rates…
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Mortgage giant predicts two interest rate cuts this year

Many “wannabe” buyers and sellers are attempting to read the tea leaves of the property market at the moment, trying to determine when mortgage costs will fall and how that event will impact the cost of homes. Predictions earlier this year that we could expect up to four rate cuts before the Holidays – a…
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Six ideas to brighten up your benchtops

Whether you’re selling your home, or feeling it needs some tender loving care, it’s likely your attention will focus on the kitchen because of its role as the household’s social centre. Over the years, a kitchen will become dated. Drawers might lose their ability to soft close, doors might get chipped and the plastic edging…
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Lopez stars in real estate dramas

Celebrities have been making real estate headlines with more high-profile luxury sales, and a luxury apartment featuring in a music video. Superstar singer and actor Jennifer Lopez has finally sold her New York penthouse for $23 million. She and her husband, the actor and producer/writer Ben Afleck, recently put their Beverly Hills mansion on the…
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Seven ideas to prolong the life of your carpet

Flooring is such an important element of your home, but it’s often overlooked when you’re preparing to put your home on the market. Focus inevitably falls on the living area, and the bathroom and kitchen.  Owners will spend thousands of dollars improving these areas but neglect what is right under their feet. Yet, when buyers…
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Curse of the Critters may be on your target purchase

Finding the perfect home is about more than having enough bedrooms, square footage, or falling in love with the property’s curb appeal. You also want to be sure about your neighbors, and I am not talking about the ones on the other side of the fence or across the street. These neighbors are more like…
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Big houses become a rent favourite as cost keep rising

Homes with the five bedrooms or more have seen average rental growth nearing 10%, according to the industry researcher, CoreLogic. Its finding indicates some renters are starting to pool their resources, or they’re willing to live in homes with total strangers. CoreLogic reports that rental growth for homes of five-bedrooms or more have risen 8.7%,…
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Six declutter tips now that summer’s gone

No doubt you’ve enjoyed the good summer vibes with the sun on your back and local traffic reduced because of neighbors being on vacation – and now all of a sudden it’s fall. When September comes, the mood changes so quickly. All of a sudden, folks are back to work and school starts with the…
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