http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:36:07 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Governor Mark Carney hiked the Bank of Canada Overnight Rate by 25 basis points to .75% this morning but said the growth outlook is weaker than originally forecast. The debt crisis in Europe and slow recovery in the US will both affect Canadian economic growth for the balance of the ... http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news/bank-of-canada-increases-overnight-rate-target-to-34-per-cent/   After years of paying down your mortgage, you’ve built up a significant amount of equity in your home. Instead of using costly credit cards or high-interest bank lines of credit, you can use that equity to your advantage with a home equity loan or line of credit. And, you’ll save ... http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news/use-your-home-equity-to-your-advantage/                                                                                                                       Home buying 101   What eager first-timers need to know before the house hunt   You’ve saved for your down payment, you’ve crunched the numbers and you’ve decided on the neighbourhood where you want to live – but are you really ready to start shopping around?   “Buying your first home is one of ... http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news/home-buying-101-what-eager-first-timers-need-to-know-before-the-house-hunt/ When you signed your mortgage a few years back, you were thrilled with the rate you had negotiated: possibly the lowest in your home-owning memory. That was then. Who would have believed that mortgage rates would have continued that marvelous downward trend?  Today, mortgage shoppers are looking at some of the ... http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news/some-homeowners-with-%e2%80%9crate-envy%e2%80%9d-are-refinancing/ In the world of real estate, curb appeal is everything. Whether you're selling your home, getting ready for some special entertaining or just sprucing things up for spring... you need to make an impact in a flash. The place doesn't look good from the street, but it's gorgeous inside? It ... http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news/the-%e2%80%9cwow-factor%e2%80%9d-first-impressions-count-in-real-estate/   For many people, mortgage payments are their single largest expense. Yet, when financing a home, most Canadians don’t comparison shop to ensure they’re getting the best mortgage rate and terms available. This mistake can cost homeowners tens of thousands of dollars over the course of their mortgage. Here are six ... http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news/six-reasons-to-use-a-mortgage-broker/ This is an important semi-annual task that can help keep your family safe. But why not also take the opportunity to do a home safety inspection? Get the whole family involved: review your emergency plan and offer age-appropriate explanations and directions to your children.  •The Big Three: Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, ... http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news/is-your-house-safe-a-spring-checklist-for-homeowners/ The upcoming changes to underwriting in  the mortgage industry will make it very difficult to refinance if you own rental properties. Currently we are able to use 80% of the rent as a direct offset against mortgage payments. After April 19, we will only be able to 50% of the rent ... http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news/considering-refinancing-you-own-rental-properties-better-do-it-before-april-19/ IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION REGARDING MORTGAGES Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced three new rule changes connected to government-backed insured mortgages Tuesday morning, saying the government is "taking proactive, prudent and cautious steps" to prevent a housing bubble.   The biggest change is the requirement that all borrowers be qualified at a five-year fixed ... http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news/financing-a-rental-property-in-canada-is-about-to-change/ Bank of Canada keeps rates the same...again Once again, the Bank of Canada announced it would keep the key interest rate at a record-low 0.25 per cent to achieve its inflation target of two per cent. While the Bank said economic growth in Canada resumed in the third quarter of 2009 and ... http://www.mbnmortgage.com/news/bank-of-canada-not-raising-rates/