Category: Mortgage Tips & Advice (33 posts)
Summer House Maintenance Checklist
July 11, 2022 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
As the summer days are beginning, we all are ready to enjoy the warmer weather. During the summer, though, there are many house maintenance tasks that you can do. This will help keep your home both sa ... [read more]
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
April 8, 2022 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
As we are heading into the spring season, you may be getting ready to have your spring clean. During this time, it is great to also complete some maintenance around your property to assess any potenti ... [read more]
The Mortgage Process
March 31, 2022 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
If you have never had a mortgage before, you may not be familiar with the process. There are many different steps involved in the entirety of your mortgage. Of course, every mortgage will be different ... [read more]
Common Appraisal Questions
March 16, 2022 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
You may need to get an appraisal done during your mortgage process. This is a condition that the lender will require. If you are in the mortgage process and need an appraisal done, you may have some q ... [read more]
7 Home-Staging Tips
November 3, 2021 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
If you are selling your home, the first thing you want to do is list your house. Within time, several interested buyers will want to come to see your home. Of course, depending on how you present the ... [read more]
Getting Your Home Ready For The Fall
September 20, 2021 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
With the fall season beginning, there are a variety of different tasks that you should do around your property. These few things will eliminate the possibility of damage to your home or needing new re ... [read more]
Renting With Roommates: What You Need to Know
September 14, 2021 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Whether you are new to renting or you have been renting by yourself for some time, renting with roommates can be a big adjustment to make. Having roommates can be a great experience if you put various ... [read more]
How a Reverse Mortgage Can Allow You to Retire
June 28, 2021 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Reverse mortgages have been a topic of conversation for some time now. Many debate whether a reverse mortgage can help some even to retire. With just a few points, you can be assured that a reverse mo ... [read more]
Pre-Qualification vs Pre-Approval
May 6, 2021 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
As a buyer, you surely will hear these terms during your mortgage process. Knowing what these two different stages are and understanding what they mean is undoubtedly vital. It is also essential to de ... [read more]
Advantages of Using a Mortgage Broker
April 22, 2021 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
When getting a mortgage, many wonder if they should use a broker. In addition, they may question if they can go through the mortgage process as quickly without one. Having a broker, though, to assist ... [read more]
How Long Should I Amortize My Mortgage For?
April 14, 2021 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
An essential factor to consider when getting a mortgage loan is how long you want your amortization to be. Depending on your situation, a shorter or longer mortgage may work best for you. Deciding on ... [read more]
6 reasons why taking a 2nd mortgage could makes sense
December 8, 2020 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
There are many reasons to consider a 2nd mortgage. First, it is a matter of debt consolidation and better cash flow for most people's monthly budgets. Second, a 2nd mortgage goes behind your current ... [read more]
Why a Cash Back mortgage may be the best option for you! Part 3 of 3 Use Cashback To Get Your Down Payment Saved.
March 13, 2020 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
We have already explored how the Cash Back mortgage can help with improvements, pay off debt and give you a boost to the amount you can be approved for. Yet maybe the biggest perk of the cashback mort ... [read more]
Why a Cash Back mortgage may be the best option for you! Part 2 of 3: Increase Your Mortgage Approval…by A LOT with cash back mortgages!
March 10, 2020 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
We have previously discussed how taking the cashback option could give you more funds to improve your savings and help with your consumer debts. Yet what if the cashback enabled you to get a higher pu ... [read more]
Why a Cash Back mortgage may be the best option for you! Part 1 of 3: Use Cash Back to Better your Budget and Make Improvements
March 5, 2020 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Cashback mortgages allow you to increase your purchase price, lower your monthly debts or give you the funds you need to make improvements after you move in…all while saving you money! How is t ... [read more]
Property Taxes - Should you pay for it or your lender?
February 21, 2020 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Property tax – everyone must pay them (unless you rent, etc.), but who should pay them? You or your lender? Property taxes are typically paid to your municipality on a quarterly, semi-annual, o ... [read more]
Why Do Mortgage Lenders Need To See Separation Agreements?
November 19, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Divorce can take years. It isn’t something that can be done overnight, and it shouldn’t be either. So many things need to be considered when separating, things you might not even know to t ... [read more]
5 Tips to help stop stressing about money
November 13, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Money equals anxiety for many people, but it doesn’t always need to be that way. Here are some tips to help you master your finances. Tip 1: Get a budget in place! If you are like most people, ... [read more]
10 Top Mortgage Myths Debunked
October 21, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
While it is essential to understand the mortgage process, it’s also important to be aware of myths floating around. Unfortunately, dozens of mortgage myths exist, and it’s essential to kno ... [read more]
The Broker's Guide to Divorce - I'm in CMP Magazine!
October 9, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
I am the featured Broker in this month's copy of CMP Magazine! It is an industry magazine that focuses on education, government regulations, and inspiration. So honoured to be chosen to have an articl ... [read more]
What You Need to Know About If You Co-Sign
September 11, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
There are times when a borrower either doesn’t have a good credit history or cannot afford to get a mortgage because of their debt-to-income ratio. Sometimes, it’s not because of defaulted ... [read more]
Mortgage Renewals - Don't go into it with your eyes closed
September 2, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
For many Canadians, their mortgage is their most significant expense, so when it comes time to renew at the end of the term, there are many things you need to consider. Something that you may not even ... [read more]
When Closing a Mortgage, Don’t:
August 27, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
So, we have found a great lender for you that meets your current mortgage goals and lifestyle, the lender is satisfied with all the supporting documents, and we are broker complete. The only thi ... [read more]
RRSP/RESP/Mutual Funds vs. Real Estate
August 20, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
I understand that investing in RRSP/Mutual Funds, TFSA, etc., makes sense for some people. However, you are missing out on a massive opportunity since you aren’t leveraging someone else’s ... [read more]
Mortgage Interest Rates vs. APRs: What's the Difference?
July 19, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Mortgage commitments can be complicated with all the terms and conditions, like any other legal document. Still, it can make no sense when you see a different rate for an interest rate vs. an annual p ... [read more]
Do You Know These Common Mortgage Terms?
June 24, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
When you apply for a mortgage or a mortgage pre-approval, there are several terms that you will hear. The following is an explanation of some standard mortgage terms: Fixed-Rate A fixed interest rat ... [read more]
Car Payment vs Mortgage Payment
May 24, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Before you drive, think about your future buy! A common roadblock we hit with our clients is that their car payment hinders their purchasing power when they want to buy a home. Unfortunately, we have ... [read more]
Questions about Title Insurance
February 6, 2019 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Title insurance is something you will most likely read in your mortgage commitment as a requirement and have to purchase at the lawyer’s office. The average cost of title insurance in Ontario ... [read more]
When Can a Second Mortgage be a Smart Move
April 19, 2018 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Every month, you put money against your mortgage. Over the years, thanks to all those payments (and a healthy increase in home values), you’ve built up some equity. Way to go! Sometimes, we want ... [read more]
Home Buying 101 - Why the Relationship with Your Whitby and Durham, ON Broker Should Be a Positive Partnership
May 3, 2017 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Whether you are looking for your first Whitby and Durham, ON home or moving up to the home of your dreams, having an experienced real estate broker or agent in your corner is a must. Real es ... [read more]
Why Remortgage Your Whitby Home? 4 Excellent Reasons to Consider Refinancing Your Home
March 7, 2017 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Your Whitby, Ontario home is probably the most significant purchase you'll ever make. Yet, it's surprising how many people continue paying their mortgage every month without overthinking about it.&n ... [read more]
Do you know when to Consolidate?
September 24, 2015 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
A common question I get is that it is time for our renewal. Should I consolidate? Here is a sample to help decided if it will increase your household cash flow and help your family: CURRENT: ... [read more]
2 Out of 3 Do Not shop at Renewal
September 30, 2014 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
Now and then, we see a mortgage stat that is a jaw-dropper. This finding from Manulife Bank is one of them. It suggests there are a lot more people with money to burn than one might expect. Manulif ... [read more]
