Banker suggests two year term for first time buyer

In recent weeks I have written lots of posts in answer to reader questions about the home buying and mortgage qualification processes. Some of these questions were from first time buyers, but not all. I believe there is something for everyone in these questions. One or two prior purchases under your belt hardly qualifies you …

Dear Ross, my husband and I are planning to sell our home in the spring, but we have a major disagreement about what the listing price should be. Late last year, a similar home on our street sold for $433,000. Its basement was fully developed, ours is partially finished. We have sought the opinion of …

Just released last month, Ellen’s new book Fight Back – 81 ways to help you save money is flying off bookstore shelves. Lots of practical advice to save money and win those battles we always seem to find ourselves in with banks, telecoms, airlines etc. I was very pleased when Ellen asked me to contribute …

There’s nothing more sickening than being approved for a 29% car loan, or only qualifying for an 8% private mortgage. I cannot stress enough the importance of rebuilding your credit history after a major event like bankruptcy or consumer proposal.  It’s just as true if you have recently paid off your bad debts some other …

Dear Ross, I am confused. I have heard about debt consolidation, consumer proposals,  debt-settlement plans, and recently I heard about a debt management plan. They all sound the same to me. But some are recommended, and some are apparently very sketchy. Who do I trust? A consolidation loan is simply putting all your debts into …

I’m seeing more and more clients select a ten year mortgage term these days. The traditional five year mortgage is no longer the automatic selection of the majority of people. Yes, you can get five years today at an incredible 3.04%, but you can also get ten years for only 3.89%. (late February update – …

Last week ‘Boomer and Echo’ wrote a post entitled “Why declaring bankruptcy should be your last option”. Being an aspect of personal finance I understand quite well, I read the article with great interest. But I came away disappointed, since the article essentially said that bankruptcy is a bad thing and should be avoided at …

Much has been written over the past few years about the USA market being ripe for the picking by enterprising snowbirds and savvy investors. Particularly in the Sunbelt. The talk has really taken off this year, as values in sun states have finally turned the corner; foreclosures are coming down, and sales are picking up. …

The stress and worry from not being able to make ends meet can be toxic and sometimes even causes physical and mental illness. A few stick their head in the sand and hope the phone won’t ring, and the collectors will disappear. Eventually most  people over their heads in debt do decide to take affirmative …

Our focus is on two things – helping people get out of debt, and helping people get a mortgage – regardless of their circumstances. Here you can read stories of real people, and how we helped them beat debt and bad credit. Our first meeting to assess any aspect of your personal finances is FREE.

Dear Ross, I make really good money running my own business, but the recession hit us hard, and we cannot seem to dig our way out of the debt we accumulated from 2008 to 2010. I owe Revenue Canada over $60,000 in back taxes, and we have over $120,000 in unsecured debt. Good thing is …