
Client is 55, single, and behind on retirement savings. A case-study in pre-retirement mortgage planning.
I have a client - let's call him Ted - who recently reached out to me to do some mortgage planning.
Posted by Chris Richards on May 5, 2022 11:16:57 AM
I have a client - let's call him Ted - who recently reached out to me to do some mortgage planning.
Posted by Chris Richards on Jun 12, 2021 12:23:21 PM
As you approach retirement, before relocating or downsizing, or otherwise before losing your regular predictable employment income, you may want to consider (it's smart financial planning in my opinion) to position yourself to retain access to your home equity and be aware of your lending options. Once you lose your regular employment income, your lending options are drastically reduced and your home equity may become trapped forcing you to sell or change your plans if there is an acute need for money. I always say, the best time to apply for credit is when you don't need it! Please enjoy the video (click the image) and the supplementary discussion below.
Posted by Chris Richards on Dec 11, 2020 9:36:18 AM
What do Bob & Kathy of Calgary and John & Betty from Ottawa both have in common? They both happened to contact my office this past week and they both were trying to figure out mortgage options to finance the purchase of a vacant parcel of land somewhere 3 or 4 hours west of their home cities. For now, the plan was to use the place as a weekend and summer getaway and God knows they could use a getaway in this crazy Covid-ridden world! Down the road, each couple will eventually build a retirement home or cottage.
Posted by Joel Richards on Nov 12, 2020 8:15:00 AM
"Interest rates are prices, and sometimes you get what you pay for."
One of the questions that I get asked all the time, which stumps me a little bit more than you might think it should, is "what is your best mortgage rate?". Typically when people ask this question they mean what is the lowest rate that I have access to, and while it should be easy enough to answer, the truth is that this question represents a common yet fundamental misunderstanding about mortgages and interest rates.
Posted by Joel Richards on Jun 18, 2020 4:17:19 PM
Before you can buy a house, you need to make sure you can afford it and that there will be financing options available to you. This is where a pre-approval comes in. As mortgage lending criteria has become more strict over the years, the pre-approval and the increased certainty and confidence that goes with it has become an essential first step for the would-be-home-buyer.
Posted by Joel Richards on May 25, 2020 1:37:05 PM
Real estate transactions are complex; there's no doubt about it. With the number of moving parts and the drawn out timeline, buying a house is one of the more complicated transactions the average person will undertake in a lifetime. Luckily, you don't have to go it alone. Throughout the home buying process, a team of real estate professionals will support and guide you along the way. Like Frodo on his quest to deliver Sauron's ring to the fires of Mount Doom, a dependable team of trusty sidekicks will get you where you need to be.
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Our Richards Mortgage Group blog is a wealth of information for anyone looking to apply for a mortgage to purchase or refinance a property. Browse through the articles and find the topics that are most useful to you in your home mortgage information search. Find out if You Can Get a Mortgage here.
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