AGENT LICENSE ID
135410
Marjan Watt
: Director of Mortgage Solutions
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Address:
227-5589 Byrne Road, Burnaby, British Columbia
Making sure that your mortgage is right for you, the lowest rate may not always be your best option.
Today's clients are sophisticated and knowledgeable but recognize their limitations of time and expertise. They consult their team of professionals such as accountants at tax time, realtors when it is time to make a real estate purchase and their mortgage broker when it comes to purchase or refinance and wouldn't you....our services are free and there are no costs built into the rate.*
It is easy to see why a mortgage broker will provide professional expertise, followed by objective opinions on current rates and products. We don't represent the bank... we represent you, the customer. Our business is built on referrals and repeat clientele and mortgages are what we specialize in.
BLOG / NEWS Updates
How To Be A Debt Ninja
These five proven, debt-destroying techniques can help you pay down your mortgage and clear your balance faster.1.Apply your windfalls.Expecting abonus? Selling off an asset? Rather thansplurge when you're flush with cash, putsome money down on your mortgage.Last year, nearly a million Canadianmortgage holders (975,000) made anaverage $10,000 lump-sum payment totheir balance, according to the CanadianAssociation of Accredited MortgageProfessionals (CAAMP), wiping out atotal of $10 billion in mortgage debt.2.Pay more than you have to.Mostlenders allow an increase of 10% to 20%above and beyond your regular pay-ments. Every extra dollar goes rightto your principal, in turn reducinginterest costs.According to CAAMP's Spring 2013Consumer Mindset survey, one in fourmortgage holders plan to increase theamount of their payments this year.3. No amount is too little.Even afew dollars a month helps chip awayat debt, and you'll hardly miss it.Two-thirds of mortgage holderssurveyed in a recent ScotiabankMortgage Landscape Study agreed it'spossible to pay off their mortgage fasterwithout changing their lifestyle. Mostrespondents (59%) said they believeadding $20 per month to their mortgagepayment would have no impact ontheir finances.4. Set a timeline on non-mortgagedebt.Don't ignore the outstandingbalance on a credit line or home equityloan. Calculate the monthly cost to payit off over 18 months, two years orwhatever timeline you set as a goal.Canadians lowered personal debts by2% in the first quarter of 2013, accordingto a report by TransUnion, the biggestdecline since 2004.5. Leave no expense unturned.Underused gym membership? Costlyphone plan? Track your monthly householdspending and aim to cut down on yourbiggest non-essential expenses.We can find ways to help you savemoney on your mortgage or determinewhether refinancing makes sense as partof your debt-repayment strategy.Looking for a Mortgage Broker you can trust? Contact Marjan Watt - 604.603.9119
LISTINGS FALL AGAIN TO END 2019, PUSHING PRICES HIGHER
Canadian Real Estate Association data show that national-level home sales fell 0.9% (sa m/m) in December 2019 after rising in the previous nine months. Limited availability looks to be increasingly weighing on sales activity. The month saw another broad-based decline in new listings18 of the 31 centres for which we have data witnessed fallsthat lifted the national sales-to-new listings ratio to 66.9%. It was the highest ratio since 2004 and a third straight month of supply- demand conditions tilted in favour of sellers (after data revisions). Fourteen cities reported sellers market conditions; the rest were balanced. The aggregate MLS Home Price Index (HPI) rose 3.4% (nsa y/y), its best gain since March 2018.
Montreal remained Canadas tightest local market, with rising sales and falling listings leading to yet another record-high sales-to-new listings ratio and the citys steepest y/y MLS HPI gains since 2005. Ottawas ratio also reached a new high as new listings plunged by more than 20% (sa m/m), driving a record 12.5% (nsa y/y) MLS HPI increase. Toronto also crept into sellers market territory for the first time since March 2017as in Montreal, home purchases rose and new listings felland its 7.3% (nsa y/y) HPI rise was the sharpest since 2017.
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Source: Scotiabank Economics
Story in 2018 and early 2019 was weak sales; story in 2020 will be lack of supply
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has updated its forecast for home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Systems of Canadian real estate boards and associations this year and for 2020.
Evidence suggests housing activity will continue to improve into 2020, with prices either continuing to rise or accelerating in many parts of Canada. Indeed, many housing market indicators continue to support this outlook.
Economic fundamentals underpinning housing activity remain strong outside of the Prairies together with Newfoundland and Labrador. The national resale housing market outlook continues to be supported by population and employment growth while consumer confidence is benefiting from low unemployment rates outside oil-producing provinces. Additionally, the Bank of Canada is widely expected to not raise interest rates in 2020.
Mortgage interest rates have declined, including the Bank of Canadas benchmark five-year rate used by Canadas largest banks to qualify applicants under the B-20 mortgage stress-test. Though the decline in the benchmark rate has been modest, it is helping to improve homebuyer access to home purchase financing.
