Canada has several major banks and many schedule II banks – but with rates and plans all over the map, it’s difficult to know where to bring your business. Our aim is to help you navigate Canada’s banking options to discover which one suits your needs best.
Latest News
Why banks are so slow to lower lending rates, but so quick to hike them + MORE Jul 15th
(iStock)
Canada’s biggest banks raised their prime interest rates one after another this week following the Bank of Canada increase of its policy rate to 0.75 per cent from 0.5 per cent. The base lending rate at the Big Six now is 2.95 per cent, compared with 2.7 per cent before the central bank.... More »
The Week of the Central Banks + MORE Jan 19th
This will be a busy week on the global economic calendar, including several meeting by central banks, which should give clearer signs of the growth expectations for the next year, amidst low oil prices and low inflation. Let’s start with a run down of what’s to come.
Central banks, qua.... More »
Outlook 2018, Part 3: The writing on the wall: Housing, mortgages and Canada’s banks Jan 3rd
‘It could well be that the banks are already beginning to tighten up the lending spigots’
.... More »
Who to name as executor when family members aren’t an option Feb 22nd
Ask MoneySense
We are told to have a will, but what do you do if you have no family, or if you do, they reside overseas?
To our surprise, we learned that the big Canadian banks offer executor and power of attorney (POA) services. It’s not well advertised on their websites.
We have interviewe.... More »
U.S. close to bringing criminal charges against big banks Apr 30th
Prosecutors seek guilty pleas from European giants Credit Suisse and BNP Paribas in signal to Wall Street that banks must be accountable to actions
.... More »
Get a mortgage without a salary
– moneysense.ca
Landing a mortgage is trickier for the self-employed than their salaried counterparts. Not only do self-employed people face higher interest rates and CMHC mortgage insurance premiums, they are also more likely to have their loan applications rejected outright. If you’re self-employed, you’re best off seeing a mortgage broker a few years prior to your purchase so you can make a plan.
It sounds counterintuitive, but you may want to keep tax deductions to a minimum for at least two years before applying for a mortgage. You’ll show more income on your tax return, which will make it easier to qualify. “It’s about foregoing some short-term tax savings in order to qualify for a future mortgage,” says Scott Plaskett, CEO at Ironshield Financial Planning. You want to show income stability, he says.
Keep in mind that the larger the down payment, the better your chances of getting a low-rate mortgage, as greater equity means less risk to your lender. While banks are fairly strict on their lending criteria, a mortgage broker can help you access other types of lenders that are more likely to approve your loan…
It sounds counterintuitive, but you may want to keep tax deductions to a minimum for at least two years before applying for a mortgage. You’ll show more income on your tax return, which will make it easier to qualify. “It’s about foregoing some short-term tax savings in order to qualify for a future mortgage,” says Scott Plaskett, CEO at Ironshield Financial Planning. You want to show income stability, he says.
Keep in mind that the larger the down payment, the better your chances of getting a low-rate mortgage, as greater equity means less risk to your lender. While banks are fairly strict on their lending criteria, a mortgage broker can help you access other types of lenders that are more likely to approve your loan…
