What is a blended mortgage?

As a homeowner, you might decide to refinance your mortgage for various reasons, but this often comes with some stiff fees. The good news is, there is a way to avoid these fees. Enter the blended mortgage.

Caitlin McCormack

March 2, 2023

6-minute read

This article has been updated from a previous version.

As a homeowner, you might decide to refinance your mortgage for various reasons, but this often comes with some stiff fees.

About the author

Caitlin McCormack is a writer based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in MSN, Food Network, HuffPost, What to Expect, Today's Parent, and Mashable, among others. When she isn't writing, she's busy chasing after her two sons, testing out new recipes, and working on her century-old fixer-upper.

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Government of Canada programs to support homebuyers in 2023

In a high-interest market, prospective buyers can use all the help they can get. Luckily, the Government of Canada offers a number of assistance programs that can make the financial pain of that big purchase a little easier to handle.

H.G. Watson

February 23, 2023

10-minute read

This article has been updated from a previous version.

It’s no secret that Canada’s housing market is feeling the effects of high inflation and Bank of Canada’s eight successive interest rate hikes.

About the author

H.G. Watson is a writer based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in Chatelaine, Vice, Flare, Maisonneuve, The Walrus and more. You can find her at @hg_watson on Twitter.

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How to negotiate a better rate at your mortgage renewal

With inflation still well above the Bank of Canada’s target, it’s only normal for mortgage holders to have some questions and concerns about their renewal. For many, the first question is: how can I get a better interest rate?

What kind of auto insurance do you need if you drive for Uber or Lyft?

While Lyft and Uber provide commercial insurance that covers you while you’re providing the service, you’re still required to have your own insurance when using your vehicle for personal reasons.

Renee Sylvestre-Williams

February 14, 2023

8-minute read

This article has been updated from a previous version.

About the author

Renee Sylvestre-Williams is a finance and business reporter. In her more than 10 years of journalism, her work has been published in the Globe and Mail, Flare, Canadian Living, Canadian Business, the Toronto Star and Forbes. She also publishes a biweekly newsletter, The Budgette, where she provides financial education for single earners.

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What does it mean to be house poor?

This article has been updated from a previous version.

Home insurance isn't mandatory but here's why we highly recommend it

Unlike auto insurance, home insurance is an optional product. But it could save you from liability.

How do insurance providers treat couples who are living apart together?

10 questions to ask when getting a mortgage

This article has been updated from a previous version.

How to get a better rate when you renew your mortgage

Before accepting your current mortgage lender's offer to renew your loan, shop around. You might be able to negotiate a better rate or conditions. Here's everything you need to know.

Robb Engen

January 26, 2023

7-minute read

This article has been updated from a previous version.

When it's time to renew your mortgage, do you blindly accept the first offer from your existing mortgage lender? Banks know that most homeowners won’t bother negotiating or switching lenders because they don’t want to risk not qualifying for the stress test again. As a result, you likely won’t see a discounted rate when your mortgage comes up for renewal.

About the author

Robb Engen balances a full-time job with a host of side-projects and a busy young family. He co-founded the personal finance blog Boomer & Echo in 2010, and started Rewards Cards Canada in 2011. He is also a freelance writer for the Toronto Star. Robb is currently on the path to CFP certification and last year launched his own independent fee-only financial planning service.