Mortgage Blog

Category: First Time Home Buyers (31 posts)

Why you should consider opening a First Home Savings Account before December 31!

February 21, 2024 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

What is a FHSA and why you should open an account before the end of this year! First Home Savings Account (FHSA): It is a new savings account launched by the federal government to help firs ...

Is it a Good Time to Become a First-Time Home Buyer?

July 7, 2021 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

We are facing a challenging time as we work together to combat COVID-19 in our country and even our own neighborhoods. With so much uncertainty in the air, is it a good time to think about buying a ho ...

5 First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes To Avoid

June 30, 2021 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Buying your first home is a scary and exciting process because it’s a HUGE commitment. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of home shopping and mistakes can leave you with buyer&rs ...

Real Estate 101: Essential Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

May 19, 2021 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Buying a home is always a big decision, but when you're a first-time buyer it's even more important to get it right. Without home-buying experience to draw on, it's easy to make mistakes you could reg ...

10 Essential Tips for Taking Out Your First Mortgage

May 12, 2021 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Taking out your first mortgage presents a major financial commitment, possibly the biggest one you'll ever make, so it's crucial that you get the best deal available. Getting a mortgage is often not a ...

First Time Home Buyers Guide: What Happens after Sending an Offer to Purchase

February 17, 2021 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

After sending the offer to purchase to the seller, there's nothing left to do but cross some fingers and hope for the best. Or is there? What happens now and when will the keys finally change hands? T ...

First Time Home Buyers Guide: What about Pre-Qualification, Pre-Approval, and Mortgage Commitment Letters?

February 10, 2021 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Securing pre-qualification, pre-approval, and mortgage commitment letters can simplify the mortgage application process. These steps can also help home buyers avoid disaster. They don't need all three ...

Three Mistakes to Avoid as a First Time Homebuyer

February 3, 2021 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Purchasing your first home is always an exciting life milestone. However, if you want to make a smooth and easy transition into home ownership, there are a few mistakes you should try to avoid along ...

Mortgage Mistakes - How to Avoid Getting in Over Your Head When Buying Your First Home

January 27, 2021 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

If you are tired of renting and ready to buy the home of your dreams, you need to plan carefully. The dream of home ownership is a wonderful thing, but without careful planning and a proactive approac ...

Mortgage Questions for First-Time Buyers

January 13, 2021 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

While purchasing a home qualifies as the largest acquisition in many peoples' lives, it doesn't have to invoke anxiety. As long as you know what to expect, you'll be set to become a successful homeo ...

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Your First House

December 9, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Buying a first home is a big step, both financially and personally. In the long run, home ownership can lead to many other investment and and financial opportunities. Of course, owning a home also g ...

Buying Your First Home: When Are You REALLY Ready?

November 18, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Purchasing your first home is the dream of a lifetime and a massive investment toward your future. The process is full of hopes and aspirations but is also a huge commitment to take on. For those who ...

Real Estate: Four Features of Profitable Rental Property

October 28, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Investing in real estate can be a frightening task for a first-time buyer. While the rewards can be huge, there are also a number of risks that you will need to consider. However, if you know what to ...

Five Surefire Ways to Ensure You are ready to Buy a Home as a Recent College Graduate

October 21, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

If you are a recent college graduate, you might think that buying a home is still many years off, but that's not necessarily the case. If you dream of homeownership, even as a young adult, there may b ...

How to Know If You Should Buy a Home or Continue Renting

August 19, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

While owning a home and a plot of land was once part of the 'American Dream' for many people, the times have shifted. The global financial crisis which resulted in a massive shift in the housing marke ...

Five Things to Consider Before Flipping a House

July 29, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

House flipping can be a tempting way to make fast money, but not every fixer-upper has the potential to be profitable. Here's five things to consider before buying a property to flip. 1. Time Tele ...

Thinking of Buying a Home? Ask Yourself These Questions First

July 22, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Many people simply assume that buying a home is always better than renting, but that is not always the case. Owning a home makes sense in certain circumstances, just as renting is a smart move in othe ...

What to Look for When Buying Your First Home

June 10, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Buying a first home is an exciting time in an individual's life. You may already have a family that needs more than simply being a good structure to protect against them against the elements. In addit ...

Buying Your First Home? Be Prepared for These 5 Startup Expenses

May 20, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

If you are in the market for your first home, you’ve probably saved a substantial amount of money for the down payment. You researched closing costs, sought out the best deal on a mortgage, and ...

10 Mistakes First-Time Homebuyers Make

April 22, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Buying your first house can be an exciting and stressful time. There are so many things to consider that you can find yourself getting overwhelmed. Here are some common mistakes first-time homebuyers ...

Five Things First Time Home Buyers Should Do Before They Go Shopping

April 8, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Shopping for your first home is exciting, and it is only natural to want to get right to it. The idea of trading in that monthly rent check for a mortgage payment that builds equity and wealth for the ...

Timing Your Home Sale

January 15, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Timing the sale of your home is easier said than done. There are all sorts of factors to consider, from seasonal advantages to the economic climate of a particular region. And that's in addition to po ...

Should You Borrow Money to Invest in Real Estate?

January 1, 2020 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

There's no disputing that real estate investment is one of the best business models for those looking to achieve long-term financial success. The one problem most would-be investors have, however, is ...

Going Away for the Holidays? Protect Your Home against Burglars!

December 25, 2019 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Burglars look for opportune moments to enter homes in search of valuables, and they don't take breaks for the holidays. In fact, many burglaries take place during the holidays, especially when people ...

Curb Appeal on a Budget

December 11, 2019 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

If you're like most people looking to sell your home quickly, you already know the importance of curb appeal. While more and more homebuyers are looking online for homes for sale, a majority still do ...

5 Tips for Buying Your First Rental Property

December 4, 2019 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Investing in a rental property is a great step toward earning passive income and building wealth. Unfortunately, becoming a landlord for the first time can also be challenging and lead to a financial ...

7 Tips for Buying a Condominium

November 20, 2019 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

There are many advantages to living in a condominium. You aren't required to mow the grass or shovel the snow (if any). You have access to amenities such as pools and fitness centers. And you probably ...

5 Simple Ways to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

November 6, 2019 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

If you are working up to selling your home, there are a few quick updates that you can do to get it in better shape for the market. Minimal time upfront getting your property ready to sell can make al ...

Tips to Ease the Moving Process

October 30, 2019 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Moving can be a stressful process, no matter how far you are traveling. Planning your move minimizes the stress associated with this task while also simplifying the process. Here are several tips that ...

Before You Hire a Realtor Ask These 5 Questions

September 25, 2019 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

Selling a home is a big decision. An equally big decision is choosing a Realtor. On a basic level, your Realtor is responsible for finding the best buyer for your home at the price you're asking. Howe ...

Rent or Buy? 3 Tips to Help You Decide

September 18, 2019 | Posted by: Jeremy Schaffner

The decision to buy or rent a home in is one that should not be taken lightly. After all, the choice you make is going to affect you for at least a year and probably much longer than that. While this ...

Canada's Mortgage Expert