How to go about securing the best rate and plan for your credit card in Canada.
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Is it time for American Express to launch an Ultra Premium Marriott Bonvoy card in Canada? + MORE May 23rd
American Express currently offers two Marriott co-brand credit cards for Canadians, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card. Both cards are amazing in their own right, but when you look at other countries that have Marriott co-brand cards, ma.... More »
American Express Cobalt Card: 26 new confirmed multiplier locations Nov 25th
Here’s our next update to the American Express Cobalt Card Confirmed Multiplier Locations with 26 new locations being added today from Canada and the U.S.. Thanks to the RWRDS Canada community for providing details on thousands of locations where you can use the American Express Cobalt Card to e.... More »
Looking for a mortgage in B.C.? Don’t limit your options to the big banks + MORE May 28th
At last, interest rates are coming down again. For Canadians who are in the market for a new home, facing renewal of their mortgage in the foreseeable future, or feeling unsatisfied with their current home loan, this poses two choices: do you pounce now, or stay on the sidelines in the hope that rat.... More »
The best credits cards in Canada for 2024 + MORE Jan 5th
RWRDS Canada is pleased to reveal our annual top travel rewards and cash back credit card rankings for 2024! Canada’s longest running credit card ranking has entered its 16th year with some slight positional changes in the travel categories due to RBC’s takeover of HSBC while the cash back ranki.... More »
This Week in RWRDS April 4, 2025: The best credit card welcome bonuses for April + MORE Apr 5th
This week we look at the best credit card welcome bonus offers for this month, a 25% discount on reward flights from Montreal to Europe and beyond, Fiji Airways joining the oneworld alliance and much more in our weekly credit card and loyalty rewards newscast! Watch This Week in RWRDS here: Listen t.... More »
StayVancouver’s Gift Card offer returns – Earn up to a $250 Mastercard Gift Card for a two night stay
– RewardsCanada.ca
StayVancouverHotels has brought back their gift card offer for the fall. You may remember them as BeVancouver previously and that they also used to offer Amex gift cards and then it switched to Visa Gift Cards, then Mastercard gift cards and and the latter is what we have this time. Unlike previous promotions where you could earn a gift card with just a one night stay and then additional cards the more nights you stayed, this time they require a 2 night stay with a gift card being awarded for each night. The offer is available at 42 different hotels in the downtown Vancouver area.The total gift card value ranges from $100 to $250* depending on the hotel you select but any additional nights will earn $50 at all locations. The offer is good for stays October 1 to December 31, 2022 and allows you to cancel at no charge up to 48 hours prior to check-in.* “The 2-night stay qualifies for a total of $100, $150, $200 or $250 in Mastercard® gift cards depending upon the hotel booked…New Amex Offers for Lenovo and Parachute plus PC Optimum Points Days return this week
– RewardsCanada.ca
Here’s your Rewards Canada update! Your near daily dose of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more. Two new Amex Offers were revealed today from Lenovo and Parachute. for For a once I actually didn’t receive these on my Platinum Card rather this time I received them on my Cobalt Card. The offers are as follows:Spend at least $1,000 in qualifying purchases using your registered Card at lenovo.com/ca/en/pc/ by 24/10/2022 and earn a one-time $100 statement credit. Registration cap applies. Terms apply.Spend at least $300 in qualifying purchases using your registered Card at www.parachutehome.com/en-CA by 18/03/2023 and earn a one-time $60 statement credit. Terms apply.Simply log in to your Amex account or go onto the Amex app to see if these offers have been sent to you and to register for them. These offers are also open to Scotiabank issued American Express cards (Click here to register your Scotia card) You can find this and many more offers in our Guide to American Express Canada ‘Amex Offers’Image via American Express — PC Optimum Points Days returns this week! From September 22 to 28 members will be earn tons of extra points at over 4,500 stores across Canada…A look at the new RBC ION and ION+ Visa cards
– RewardsCanada.ca
RBC Royal Bank launched two new credit cards this past week, the RBC ION Visa and RBC ION+ Visa cards. These two cards will replace the Rewards+ and Signature Visa cards and feature changes to earn rates, redemption rates and benefits. The naming of these cards falls inline with RBC’s move of rebranding their RBC Rewards program to Avion Rewards.Earning PointsAt first glance these look like very competitive earn rates by offering up to 3 points per dollar spent but one must look not only at how a card earns points but how you can redeem those points and that plays a significant part for these cards. Here are the earn rates:RBC ION Visa1.5X Avion points on Grocery, Rideshare, Daily Transit, Gas & EV Charging plus Streaming, Digital Gaming & Subscriptions Earn 1 Avion point for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchasesRBC ION+ Visa Earn 3X Avion points on Grocery, Dining & Food Delivery, Rideshare, Daily Transit, Gas & EV Charging plus Streaming, Digital Gaming & SubscriptionsEarn 1 Avion point for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchasesBoth cards are launching with limited time welcome bonus offers as follows:RBC ION Visa Get 6,000 Avion points on approval with the RBC ION Visa…Is a vacation home a good investment?
– moneysense.ca
The benefits of owning a vacation property are obvious. A cottage, cabin, condo or trailer a short drive from your home can provide a quick weekend recharge. A property down south can serve as a regular vacation destination or a winter home for a snowbird.
Sometimes, emotions are the motivation for buying a vacation property. I like to evaluate a property purchase from a financial point of view—and here is how.
The costs of buying a vacation property
Say a property’s purchase price is $500,000. Whether you use cash, a mortgage/home equity line of credit, or a combination of the two, there are other costs to consider.
If you purchase with cash that you could otherwise invest for a 4.5% return (to use a conservative assumption), there is an opportunity cost of not investing that money or leaving it invested. If you borrow money, there may be an interest cost of 4.5%. So, to keep it simple, we will assume an opportunity or financing cost of 4.5%.
Property taxes, utilities, insurance, condo fees, and maintenance could easily add another 2% to 4% per year in costs…
