Mortgage Advice & Insights

he part nobody mentions: penalties Cash-back offers often come from big banks, and big bank penalties for breaking a fixed mortgage early (the interest rate differential, or IRD) can sting. Life happens: moves, separations, refinances. Some lenders will also want part of that cash back returned if you break early. A $2,000 rebate disappears fast next to a five-figure penalty.

If you’re between 55 and 70, own your home, and have been told “no” by the bank, or “not enough” by a reverse mortgage, there’s a brand-new product coming that’s worth knowing about.

If you have been watching mortgage rates and hoping they will drop soon, the latest movement in the bond market may not be the news you wanted to hear. Bond yields have been climbing around the world, including here in Canada. That matters because Canadian fixed mortgage rates are closely connected to Government of Canada bond yields. When bond yields rise, lenders’ funding costs increase—and fixed mortgage rates usually follow. So, what is pushing yields higher? One major fa

The U.S. Federal Reserve held its key interest rate at 3.625% for the fifth meeting in a row. That may sound like good news, but longer-term U.S. bond yields moved higher after the announcement. Those longer-term yields are important because they can influence fixed mortgage rates here in Canada

Market balance also improved. The sales-to-new-listings ratio rose to 50.2%, moving above 50% for the first time this year. Seasonally adjusted home sales increased 0.5% to 38,014 transactions. While that gain was modest, it represented the third consecutive monthly increase and followed a much stronger 5.5% jump in May.

I’m Amanda Merrin, a mortgage broker serving clients across Nova Scotia and Ontario. My goal is simple: to help you feel confident, informed, and supported when making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. For many people, the mortgage process can feel overwhelming. There’s a lot of information out there, and not all of it is clear or easy to apply to your situation. That’s where I come in. I don’t just help you find a mortgage — I guide you through the entire