Mortgage Blog
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Category: First Time Home Buyers (50 posts)
Unlock the door to your new home
August 9, 2023 | Posted by: Angela Robinson
Alberta Mortgage Professionals can assist you if you're considering buying your first property. Whether you're tired of renting and have a down payment saved up or are in a different situation, we sim ...
read moreEight things to know when buying your first home
August 2, 2023 | Posted by: Angela Robinson
Thinking of buying your first home? Here are 8 crucial things to consider before taking the leap into homeownership! 1) Build Your Support Team: You'll need a reliable ...
read moreWill Canada’s new First Home Savings Account help you become a homeowner?
July 24, 2023 | Posted by: Angela Robinson
This year the government has introduced the First Home Savings Account (FHSA), a fantastic opportunity for prospective first-time home buyers! The FHSA, which began on Apr. 1, is a special sa ...
read moreMortgage Pre-approval
April 5, 2023 | Posted by: Angela Robinson
Attention Homebuyers! Ready to make your dream home a reality? Alberta Mortgage Professionals can help you find out how much you can afford for your home purchase. Our expert advisors can guide you th ...
read moreHow to Buy Your First Home Without Making These Mistakes
March 22, 2023 | Posted by: Angela Robinson
If you’re a first-time home buyer in Canada, there are several things you need to know before starting your search. Purchasing a home can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t ha ...
read moreShould You Move On From Renting?
August 8, 2022 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Mortgage rates and home prices aren't the only thing on the rise - median monthly rent continues to go up year after year. To escape rising rent, you may want to consider buying a home so you ...
read moreIs it Time to Stop Paying Someone Else's Mortgage?
July 25, 2022 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
If you're currently renting your home, you have probably wondered: is it better to rent or buy? Deciding on the best time to purchase your first home can be a difficult decision, but yo ...
read moreDo Your Homework: Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
June 27, 2022 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Alberta Mortgage Professional’s Marc Crossman contributed to a Calgary Herald article outlining some expert advice for first time home buyers. See the link below to read the article, or ...
read moreHow To Get The Most Out Of Your Home Inspection
February 21, 2022 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
There are a few things that homebuyers can do to ensure that their home inspection process goes as smoothly as possible. Here’s how to get the most out of the process. Find The Right In ...
read moreTips for First Time Home Buyers
September 6, 2021 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Buying a house can be a scary and overwhelming experience. Here are some tips if you are buying a home for the first time. Research your builder A good builder cares about your vision for yo ...
read moreStruggling to get a mortgage? Seven tips to help you improve your chances!
August 23, 2021 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
If you’re looking to take the first step onto the property ladder but finding it difficult to get accepted for a mortgage, you’re not alone. New research found only 1 in 5 first time buye ...
read moreBut First, Get Pre-Approved!
May 31, 2021 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
If you're considering buying a home, your very first step should be to get pre-approved! Pre-approval determines how much money you will be able to borrow to buy a h ...
read moreTHE FLEXIBLE DOWN PAYMENT PROGRAM
April 26, 2021 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
One of the toughest challenges for homebuyers is being able to save money at the rate of property price increases.We know many high-income renters would like to be homeowners, but they’r ...
read more4 SIGNS YOU’RE READY FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP
January 11, 2021 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
While most people know the main things they need to buy a home, such as stable employment and enough money for a down payment, there are a few other factors that may help you realize you&rsquo ...
read moreSIMPLE STEPS TO OWNING YOUR OWN HOME
December 7, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Often, the route to owning your own home can seem like a trip to the moon and back. Really though, it comes down to five key steps: 1 – Manage your credit wisely.If there is on ...
read moreWHICH LENDER IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
November 16, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
The following is a summary of the choices available for clients when looking at the four different types of lending groups. Which one is best will all depend on who you are as a borrower, what ...
read more10 FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER ERRORS
October 12, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
If you’re on the hunt for your first home and want to have a smooth and successful home purchasing experience avoid these common first-time homebuying mistakes. 1. Thinking you ...
read moreMORTGAGES AND PAPERWORK
August 24, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Paperwork-it’s a fact of life. You need it and we as mortgage professionals also need it. Below is a list of must have documentation BEFORE you start going through the mortgage approval ...
read moreDOCUMENTS YOU NEED TO QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE
August 10, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Being fully pre-approved means that the lender has agreed to have you as a client (you have a pre-approval certificate) and the lender has reviewed, approved ALL your income and down p ...
read more10 THINGS NOT TO DO WHEN APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE – BUYING A HOME OR REFINANCING
August 3, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Have you been approved for a mortgage and waiting for the completion date to come? Well, it is not smooth sailing until AFTER the solicitor has registered the new mortgage. Be sure to avoid th ...
read moreMORTGAGE BASICS – TYPES OF INSURANCE
May 25, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
In part one of this two-part series, we will look at the types of insurances you will hear about during the mortgage process. Sometimes it is a good idea to r ...
read moreMORTGAGE FACTS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY THIS SPRING
March 30, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Buying a home can be a really exciting time, so the last thing we want is for you to be hit by any surprises. Let’s take a look at five things to keep in mind before you write an ...
read moreA CONVERSATION ABOUT MORTGAGE PRE-APPROVALS
March 9, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Thinking of buying a property, but don’t know where to start? Well… that’s where a mortgage pre-approval comes in. Start here. Just like you wouldn’t go into a restaurant with ...
read moreTHE ROLE OF A MORTGAGE BROKER
March 2, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Buying a home is a big step – a big, very exciting, potentially stressful step! How can you take the hassle out of the equation and keep your buying experience super positive? Easy… Surro ...
read more10 FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER MISTAKES
January 20, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
If you’re on the hunt for your first home and want to have a smooth and successful home purchasing experience avoid these common first-time homebuying mistakes. 1. Thinking you ...
read moreRRSP FOR YOUR DOWN PAYMENT - HOME BUYER PLAN
January 13, 2020 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Are you a first time home buyer and looking to use your RRSP’s as a down payment? Here’s a few things you need to know: 1. To use this program you must have not owned a home in th ...
read moreNOW IS THE TIME TO GET PRE-APPROVED FOR YOUR MORTGAGE!
December 23, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
So 2016 was an exciting year in the mortgage world! The problem is that we mortgage professionals really hate it when things get exciting in our world. Between the economy and the federally mandated m ...
read moreHOME FINANCING SOLUTIONS – PURCHASE PLUS IMPROVEMENTS
December 9, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Are you on the hunt for a new home but can’t find exactly what you are looking for? You’re not alone. House hunters experience this scenario every day. With real estate prices increasing y ...
read more5 COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN SHOPPING FOR A MORTGAGE
December 2, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Avoid these 5 common mistakes, and you will have no problem getting your mortgage faster, more efficiently, and with a clear understanding of the process: 1. Thinking banks are the first and ...
read moreTOP 5 REASONS PEOPLE DON’T QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE
November 18, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
I receive calls every month from people who want to know how to qualify for a mortgage because they were declined by their bank. In many cases I can help them and in some cases they have to wait &ndas ...
read morePRACTICE YOUR NEW MORTGAGE
August 19, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Practice your mortgage… What exactly do I mean by that? Well, if you’re a first-time buyer and just beginning to explore the housing market, chances are you’re curr ...
read more10 QUESTIONS FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS
July 29, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
As a first time home buyer, the process of purchasing a home can seem very daunting. From a financing standpoint, here are 10 common questions I hear from first time home buyers. ...
read morePOSSIBLE REAL ESTATE SLOWDOWN PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME BUYERS
July 15, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
A slowdown in real estate sales offers an opportunity for potential home buyers to take a breather in what has been an emotionally charged market, according to Dominion Lending Centres Chief Economist ...
read moreA COOL CAR, OR A HOME OF YOUR OWN?
July 8, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Thinking of purchasing or leasing a new car? Some quick math for you. A $400.00 payment will reduce your total mortgage qualification by $100,000.00 Ouch. I will confess that I thi ...
read moreFROM PRE-APPROVAL TO GETTING THE KEYS YOUR STEP BY STEP GUIDE
June 17, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
After diligently saving your pennies and carefully managing your credit to be as strong as possible you are finally ready to start house hunting for that perfect dream ...
read moreUSE OF RRSPS FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT ON A PROPERTY
June 10, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
It is well known that when you are a First Time Home Buyer you can use up to $25,000 from your RRSP without paying any personal taxes. However, you will have to repay any amount withdrawn from you ...
read moreWhat Is Mortgage Default Insurance?
May 20, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
One cost that can be overlooked by home buyers is mortgage default insurance. So, what exactly is mortgage default insurance and why do you need it? If you’re buying an ...
read moreHousing still within reach for first-time buyers
March 18, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Despite headline-grabbing stories about million-dollar houses pushing home ownership out of reach in Canada’s large cities, there’s still plenty of opportunity for first-ti ...
read moreTHE BENEFITS OF A MORTGAGE BROKER
March 4, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
The next time you’re looking for a mortgage for that new house or you’re up for renewal on your existing mortgage, think about using a mortgage broker – their services are free and t ...
read moreIMPROVE YOUR CHANCES AND REDUCE YOUR STRESS IN A MULTIPLE OFFER SITUATION
February 11, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Whether you are a first time buyer, looking at buying a bigger house or downsizing, if you are looking at buying an investment property it is important to be prepared. This spring a sellers’ mar ...
read moreDO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS TAX CREDIT?
January 28, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Buying your first home is often the largest financial commitment you will have made and just coming up with the down payment is a difficult task for many! Then there are the legal fees, property trans ...
read moreOBSTACLES FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS
January 14, 2019 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
With mortgage interest rates at historical lows, it is a wonderful time for first time home buyers to take the leap into the market. But there are some considerations and preparations to be made befor ...
read moreNew to Canada and Establishing Credit
December 17, 2018 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
When you are new to Canada and establishing credit, deciding on the best way to create a good credit history can be difficult. You need a good credit rating in Canada if you are plann ...
read moreSingle Ladies Buying Homes
December 3, 2018 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
It’s becoming increasingly apparent that a greater number of women are now taking the reigns when it comes to home purchases. There’s a growing trend among single women – and, more p ...
read moreHow to Choose the Right Mortgage Term
November 26, 2018 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Understanding the terms of the mortgage are paramount in choosing the mortgage product that is right for your particular and unique situation. What is the difference between term and amortization? Are ...
read moreBuying vs Renting
November 5, 2018 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
At some point in their lives, most Canadians have probably asked themselves whether it is better to buy or rent a home. Purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions most people ever make ...
read moreAPPRAISAL - 5 TIPS FOR SUCCESS
October 29, 2018 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what kind of story are the pictures in your client’s property appraisal telling the lender? In the world of broker-driven lending, lenders seldom if ...
read moreTITLE INSURANCE CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND WHEN PURCHASING REAL ESTATE
August 27, 2018 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Nearly everyone will buy a home and, in fact, most people will buy several, moving up from one to another more desirable home. Each time they buy a home, the buyer‘s realtor will requ ...
read moreA PRE-APPROVAL IS NOT REALLY A PRE-APPROVAL
June 18, 2018 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
There is a misconception out there that once you’re pre-approved, you’re good to go. A pre-approval simply means that based on your CURRENT income, expenses, down payment and credit you SH ...
read moreFirst Time Buyer Plan
May 14, 2018 | Posted by: Marc Crossman
Navigating the world of Canadian home buying Step 1: Figure out how much you can afford. Falling in love with a house you can’t afford can be heartbreaking. Avoid disappointment ...
read more