When applying for a mortgage, one of the factors lenders review is your credit score.  Many prospective property owners don’t pay much attention to this metric until they begin a mortgage pre-qualification discussion. However, your credit score is one of the most important aspects of a mortgage application when it comes to maximizing your […]

    The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.8% year-over-year in February, down from the 2.9% January pace and much slower than the 3.1% expected rate. Gasoline prices rose in Canada for the first time in five months, which led many analysts to forecast a rise in February inflation as seen in the US. However, […]

    Today’s StatsCanada Labour Force Survey for February was a mixed bag and shows the dramatic effect of surging immigration. Canadian employment rose by a much stronger-than-expected 41,000, dominated by a 71,000 rise in full-time jobs. The employment rate–the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who are employed–fell a tick to 61.5%. This […]

Today, the Bank of Canada held the overnight rate at 5% for the fifth consecutive meeting and pledged to continue normalizing the Bank’s balance sheet. Policymakers remain concerned about risks to the outlook for inflation. The latest data show that CPI inflation fell to 2.9% in January, but year-over-year and three-month measures of core inflation […]

  The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.9% year-over-year in January, down sharply from December’s 3.4% reading. The most significant contributor to the deceleration was a 4% decline in y/y gasoline prices, compared to a 1.4% rise the month before. Excluding gasoline, headline CPI slowed to 3.2% y/y, down from 3.5% in December. Headline inflation […]

  “New Year, new you” may be a cliché, but a new year really can get us thinking about where we are now and where we want to go. When it comes to your personal goals, a review of your finances and estate might be close to the top of your list. A little advance […]

    Given it’s a leap year, the deadline to contribute to your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) for 2023 is technically extended by one day as the deadline lands on February 29th, 2024.  For those who have both a mortgage and who contribute to Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RSPs), the two combined offer a […]

  The Bank of Canada held the overnight rate at 5% for the fourth consecutive meeting but provided an outlook suggesting that monetary easing will begin by mid-year. The Bank forecasts a soft landing for the Canadian economy, with inflation falling to 2.5% by the end of this year. While some economists predict a recession, […]

      Many Canadians consider downsizing during their retirement years. Once their children have left the nest, the choice seems obvious: relocate to a smaller residence or a more affordable town and capitalize on the price difference. For many retirees, the funds from the sale of their home can significantly impact their overall lifestyle […]

  We Canadians are no strangers to the chill of the winter season. Double-checking your list of home-winterizing to-do’s could help you save on bills, prevent future repair costs, and be more comfortable all winter long.  Here are eight items to keep on that cold-weather list to button up each winter: 1) Inspect Your Fireplace: […]