Elizabeth Blair's Page

Here is a question, I sometimes get asked…..how can I get a copy of my credit report?

If you are applying for a mortgage, a loan, a credit line, or are seeking to rent a property, your credit report will be accessed and reviewed by the person or the institution where you are applying. If you have purchased a home, you may also be asked to provide some proof of your credit status by any of the local utility companies who you need to utilize the services of.

For a mortgage application, the bank… Continue

If you are thinking of buying a house soon, here are some good tips to help you get started:

1. Begin saving cash for your downpayment. The larger your downpayment, the lower your mortgage payment obligation will be. You can also place saved funds into an RRSP, and then cash them out to use towards your downpayment. Remember that an RRSP will also give you some tax benefits each year, as you save. Seek out the assistance of a good financial planner to help you towards that goal.

2. All applica… Continue

If you have just received your mortgage renewal statement, you may be in shock when you notice the drastic increase in the mortgage rates being offered by lenders. The 5-year fixed mortgage rate has jumped to almost 6% and is higher with some lenders. Even though the Bank of Canada has recently lowered its prime rate, there is still a significant difference between the mortgage rates that you might have received 3 to 5 years ago compared with mortgage rates today. Even a variable rate mortgage,… Continue

Tired of navigating through countless websites to find the exact information that you need? I am too so I decided to put together a list of useful links that you can use yourself. The subject areas covered are, buying a home and mortgage loan insurance premiums, information on the Ontario land transfer tax and refund, enrolling in your city’s pre-authorized payment plan, a link to ordering your own personal credit report as well as a link to the government website listing grants available to hom… Continue

What is your credit rating score? If you don’t know, you are at risk of being refused credit, paying higher interest rates or being considered a high risk by banks, employers or others who have access to credit rating files.

If you have a credit card, a line of credit or a car loan, you have a credit history and it is being recorded in a credit report by credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Trans Union or Experian Canada Inc. These Credit Reporting Agencies collect information on your ongoing us… Continue