Buying your first home can be an overwhelming venture. If you are not financially-savvy, then terms such as ‘amortization period’ and ‘variable-rate mortgage’ may have you scratching your head in confusion. To help ease some of your worries, our expert team of brokers at Capital...
The beginning of every new year presents a blank page -- a fresh start which offers you the chance to begin the year on the best foot. If you hope to become more financially savvy in 2019, then take a look at these top financial...
It’s that time of year again! The holiday season is upon us. No doubt you have a long list of gifts to buy for all the important people in your life. If some of those people are new homeowners, they will likely be looking forward...
Searching for a home can be an exciting but overwhelming task. To make things go as smoothly as possible when hunting for your dream home, consider getting pre-approved for a mortgage first. Mortgage pre-approval can save you time and hassle when you finally find the...
Ottawa is truly beautiful in the fall. The leaves on the trees turn from green to breathtaking shades of russet, ochre and crimson, while the crisp fall air provides a refreshing change from the humidity of summer. Fall is a time of transition, and this...
As we look forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend in the beautiful city of Ottawa, we decided to put together a list of all the reasons we are thankful to be living in our Nation’s Capital. Ranked the best place to live in Canada by...
Last week a series of tornadoes touched down in the Ottawa/Gatineau region leaving destruction in their wake. Many residents suffered days without power, while others were left completely without shelter as the tornadoes caused irreparable damage to their homes. Our thoughts go out to those...
For many first-time homebuyers, purchasing a house can come with a range of complex emotions. It is not a decision to be taken lightly, least of all because it is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. One of the best things...
There are a number of energy-saving methods and behaviours that can easily be implemented within your home environment. The benefits of these are twofold: they will save you money on utilities and will help to protect the environment. Whatever drives your decision to start reducing...
Your relationship with your partner will experience many exciting milestones: your first kiss, moving in together, getting engaged, having children… But one of the most important steps in your relationship will be buying a home together and getting your first mortgage. A home will likely...
If this is your first time getting a loan or mortgage, the process can seem overwhelming. To make it simpler, we've broken the process down into five easy-and important-steps: Determine a borrowing budget You'll want to be realistic about what amount you can borrow based on your...
Are you downsizing to a smaller home this year? Perhaps your children have flown the nest, or maybe you’re finding it difficult to maintain such a large home -- either physically or financially. Whatever the reason, there are a few things you should take into...
Are you a newcomer to Ottawa? Welcome! We love this city, and are pretty certain you will love it too. Whether you enjoy adventuring outdoors or prefer to stay within city limits, Ottawa has something fun to offer everyone. If you haven’t visited our fair...
Is the interest rate a major factor in any mortgage-making decision? Absolutely. Is the interest rate the only thing that matters when choosing a mortgage? I don’t believe so. The (un)importance of rates Just as the ‘price’ of your next major purchase – say a car – is...
Congratulations on your beautiful new home! Now, you face the less-than-fun part: Packing all of your many belongings so they can safely arrive at your new place. This is easier said than done, but here are a few tips to ensure your move is streamlined...
After a long cold winter, we are finally slowly emerging into the sunshine like butterflies from a chrysalis. The past few days of warm weather and sunshine may have you looking out into your backyard with a critical eye. How did your deck manage through...
This month we're continuing our exciting new online series in order to help you get to know our team of brokers! By hearing stories from our brokers in their own words, we hope to give you an insight into the real people behind our dedicated...
Whether they have just moved into a new property and it requires some TLC or you they are looking to make some updates to their current family home, the majority of homeowners will usually undertake some kind of renovation on their property while they live...
You can easily find gorgeous home décor and useful storage solutions (i.e., storage bins), but it’s harder to find a combination of the two. Areas where home organization solutions are needed are often areas that will also be on full display to guests so, ideally,...
They say a person’s home is their castle and that being healthy is being wealthy. There’s a natural fit between health and home — and the importance of both in our quality of life — which is why a new, unique partnership between HealthPartners and Capital...
Over years of owning a home and making mortgage payments, you’ve built a nicely-sized nest egg of home equity. However, that portion of your net worth is essentially untouchable until you choose to move or sell your home. A reverse mortgage allows you to borrow...
Do you know the difference between fixed-rate mortgages or variable (sometimes called adjustable-rate) mortgages? Each mortgage type is affected by different market conditions and each offers its own advantages or disadvantages. One of the most important steps in financing your home is choosing which type...
If you own a home in Canada, are currently house-hunting, or are looking to buy sometime in the near future, you’ve no doubt been following the news closely for the past few months. As soon as word hit that the Office of the Superintendent of...
Finding and purchasing your first home can be both thrilling and frightening all at once—thrilling because you’re taking a major step toward independence, and frightening because of the added responsibility that step means. Buying a home is easily one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll...
Did you know you can easily finance purchases related to home ownership (i.e., renovations or home repairs) by using your home as a borrowing tool? A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) is a loan secured against the equity of your home. Because you’re using...
If you are buying your first home, congratulations! This is an exciting milestone in your life, but it can also be a stressful one. Buying a home will likely be the most expensive purchase you will ever make and securing financing to make the transaction...
The best home inspector is likely to have acquired considerable knowledge of common home repairs and their costs. He may have great value for his clients as a source of general information - as one who can help them make sense of conditions the inspection...
You've done all that you can to lower your debt to income ratio. Now, you're finally ready to purchase a new home by putting down a 20% down payment. Following are seven mistakes millennials make when purchasing real estate along with a few tips that you...
Re-locating might be one of the hardest things to do. Finding a great place to buy a home and live can be a difficult decision. Several factors must be put into consideration before one can buy a home in a new town. You will require...
Now's the time to renew your mortgage! With the Bank of Canada possibly ready to cut rates again in March, and banks cutting fixed and variable mortgage rates, along with the fact that there is a shrinking pool of borrowers, it is the prime time...