General Melanie Ward 3 May
If you’re thinking about helping your child purchase their first home, you’re not alone. More and more families are stepping in to support—especially here in BC, where affordability continues to be a challenge. Today, the average first-time home buyer in Canada is in their mid-30s—a noticeable shift from past generations who were often able […]
Read MoreGeneral Melanie Ward 1 Apr
There’s a lot of noise out there right now—rates, headlines, market predictions—and it can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to buy your first home. This is exactly where my role comes in. My job isn’t just to get you a mortgage—it’s to help you cut through the noise, understand your options, and feel confident […]
Read MoreGeneral Melanie Ward 1 Mar
The mortgage market has shifted significantly over the past few years — and with it, the questions clients are asking have shifted too. The conversations I’m having today aren’t just about rates. They’re about stability. Flexibility. Confidence. This series covers the most common — and most important — mortgage questions I’m hearing in 2026, along […]
Read MoreGeneral Melanie Ward 19 Nov
Instead of worrying about whether mortgage rates have increased or will increase, use this time to review your finances and to strategize. Your first order of business should be to speak with your mortgage broker, whose free professional advice will help you find the lowest rate available. You’re Not Alone… In fact, most Canadian home […]
Read MoreGeneral Melanie Ward 20 Feb
Rates have already risen since December 2021 and are continuing to rise. Market experts are predicting rates rising up to between 3.40% and 4% by the end of 2022. We all fear paying more interest, but if recent history is anything to go by, most Canadians with still come out ahead of their fixed and/or […]
Read MoreGeneral Melanie Ward 21 Dec
The holiday season is upon us! It’s a time for festivities and feasting and family – and financial stress (well, it can be if you’re not careful). This year, as you eat, drink, and make merry, be sure to include a modicum of financial planning so you can start the new year debt free. Be […]
Read MoreGeneral Melanie Ward 9 Apr
Renewing your mortgage can be a good decision, but do it wisely. Even if you have a good relationship with your current lender, shopping around might protect you from overpaying. Figures from the Bank of Canada in June of 1990 put bank rates on five-year fixed mortgages at an average of 14.25 per cent. They […]
Read MoreGeneral Melanie Ward 16 Dec
Are you the kind of person who starts panicking every year in the weeks leading up to Christmas because you haven’t started your Christmas shopping? Let me suggest a fantastic last-minute holiday gift that will hold enormous value – and even increase in value – over time. Which each passing year, the great Christmas shop […]
Read MoreGeneral Melanie Ward 11 Nov
Real estate in Canada has been hot over the past six months, with many people looking ahead to potentially unstable times and wondering if they should get out. But the thing is, real estate in Canada never had the same housing bubble the US did in 2008. Things here have been consistently more stable over […]
Read MoreGeneral Melanie Ward 2 Sep
Last month we wrote about the impacts of a poor credit score and how to improve it, but how do you even know where to begin? In this blog post I will address how to read and understand your credit report, so you can then address areas of improvement. What Credit Reports Should You Be […]
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