9 Jun

Your Gardening To-Do List

General

Posted by: John Panagakos

If you are looking to have a garden that is the envy of the neighborhood, May is a great time to get started on your gardening to-do list. I have put together some helpful tips and ideas for how to get started so your garden shines all summer long! 1. Plant Annuals and Perennials: This is a […]

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16 Nov

How to Enjoy a Debt-Free Holiday

General

Posted by: John Panagakos

The holidays are coming up! As much as these celebrations bring us joy and harmony, they can also bring us stress. This is particularly true when it comes to your finances! However, don’t lose hope that this will be another draining year on your pocketbook. In fact, with a little planning, there are a few […]

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23 Oct

Why Use a Mortgage Broker?

General

Posted by: John Panagakos

In a world with an abundance of options, it can be hard to know which way to turn to ensure that you make the best decision for your future. Fortunately, a mortgage broker can help! With access to over 200 lending institutions including big banks, credit unions and trust companies, mortgage professionals like myself are […]

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16 Oct

Canadian Home Sales and Prices Set Another Record High in September

General

Posted by: John Panagakos

Today’s release of September housing data by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) shows national home sales rose 0.9% on a month-over-month (m-o-m). This continues the rebound in housing that began five months ago amid record-tight market conditions. “Along with historic supply shortages in a number of regions, fierce competition among buyers has been putting […]

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29 Sep

Throne Speech: Canada’s Response to Covid-19

General

Posted by: John Panagakos

Prorogation on August 18, following the resignation of Finance Minister Morneau, a new session of Parliament, and a new speech from the throne was meant to allow the government to hit the reset button. And for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to try and move past the summer of controversy involving WE Charity and the Canada Student […]

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16 Jul

Bank of Canada Holds Target Rate Steady Until Inflation Sustainably Hits 2%

General

Posted by: John Panagakos

The Bank of Canada under the new governor, Tiff Macklem, wants to be “unusually clear” that interest rates will remain low for a very long time. To do that, they are using “forward guidance”–indicating that they will not raise rates until capacity is absorbed and inflation hits its 2% target on a sustainable basis, which […]

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10 Jul

What Your Banker Won’t Tell You!

General

Posted by: John Panagakos

Did you know the biggest difference between getting your mortgage from a bank vs. a mortgage broker is that the bank only has access to their products, while I, your mortgage broker, have access to hundreds of different lending institutions and mortgage products to fit your unique needs? Here are a few things to keep […]

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3 Jun

What to Know BEFORE You Start House-Hunting

Real Estate

Posted by: John Panagakos

As exciting as it is to start your journey towards home ownership (or even up- and down-sizing), there are a few things you should consider first.  Most importantly, you need to determine your purchase range. Having the proper budget for your future home is the best way to ensure future financial success! To create a proper […]

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19 May

Record Declines in Canadian Home Sales and Listings in April

Latest News

Posted by: John Panagakos

My previous post was an article on how the pandemic has affected the jobs market and has frozen the Canadian economy during this Covid-19 lockdown. Data recently released from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) showed national home sales fell to a record 56.8%, showing that the housing sector is no exception.  Among Canada’s largest markets, […]

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