30 Apr

Why it’s just not about the rate: Part 2

General

Posted by: Aneta Zimnicki

In my previous blog , I discussed a number of reasons why simply looking at mortgage rate is not as important as one may think.  This is especially important for the real estate investor interested in building up a portfolio with multiple mortgages and properties.  Here are some other things to consider, beyond just looking at the […]

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11 Mar

What lenders think about grow-ops

General

Posted by: Aneta Zimnicki

March 11, 2013. Got quoted today in Mortgage Broker News, about registering former grow-ops with the regulatory authorities.  Not a good idea, in my opinion, it will narrow lender choice and hurt real estate investors and innocent home buyers.  A properly remediated property

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26 Feb

Should I refinance to get my rental portfolio started?

General

Posted by: Aneta Zimnicki

Is this you or someone you know? You are a new investor and have dreams of building a real estate portfolio. You have your primary residence and there is some locked-in equity, but gosh darn, your existing mortgage term is not expiring in the near future.

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16 Jan

The different types of lenders

General

Posted by: Aneta Zimnicki

Many consumers think that mortgages can only be obtained by walking into a ‘bricks and mortar’ retail bank. But the mortgage lending world goes far beyond that. There are so many mortgage options and lenders available,

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7 Dec

The mortgage approval process

General

Posted by: Aneta Zimnicki

Previously I discussed the mortgage pre-approval, which is the first step in the mortgage approval process. Here is a basic rundown of the rest of the process, from purchase offer acceptance to closing day.

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1 Nov

How does a HELOC work?

General

Posted by: Aneta Zimnicki

You may have heard the terms Home Equity Line of Credit, HELOC, readvanceable mortgage, ‘Smith Manoeuvre’ used by sophisticated investors. It is a popular strategy with sophisticated investors, but how does it actually work?

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23 Oct

The myth of the pre-approval

General

Posted by: Aneta Zimnicki

You hear the terminology ‘pre-approval’ often, but do you know exactly what it entails? One of the biggest misconceptions is that a pre-approval commitment from a lender is a guarantee of financing…it is simply just

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5 Sep

How is rental income calculated?

General

Posted by: Aneta Zimnicki

In a previous blog, I covered the basics on the GDS (gross debt service) and TDS (Total debt service) ratios.  Rental income is treated differently from your regular gross income earnings. How rental income is calculated

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