Buying rental property - A Hands-on Approach to Investing

Buying rental property might be a sound investment - provided you’ve carefully weighed the advantages, the disadvantages and the risks.

The financial markets are not short of investment options for those who want to build their wealth, and, the TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) will provide one more option to consider. So, why complicate things by buying rental property?

An asset category that should not be overlooked

La propriété à revenu : une approche active de l'investissement

L'achat d'une propriété à revenu peut être un investissement judicieux - après qu'on en ait soupesé les pour, les contre et les risques, évidemment.

Les marchés financiers ne manquent pas de solutions pour la personne qui désire faire croître son actif. Et avec le CELI (Compte d'épargne libre d'impôt) ou TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account), c'est une option de plus qui s'ajoutera au coffre à outils. Alors, pourquoi se compliquer la vie et acheter un immeuble à revenu ?

Une catégorie d'actif à ne pas négliger...

Can you go wrong with an RRSP?

An RRSP is a fantastic tool for building a retirement nest egg, but… 

Most people concentrate their wealth in three main assets:  house, pension fund (if they have one), and RRSP. That shows how important the RRSP has become to our financial security – and how serious the consequences of an RRSP management error can be. Watch out for the following “red flags”.

What happens when we die?

What happens when we die is a highly philosophical question but, for our heirs, it can become a very real headache.

For most people, the main reason for setting up a financial plan is to make sure they can retire comfortably. That’s quite normal. But there are other aspects to consider – and estate planning should also be high up on the list.


Because if you don’t plan for your estate, the taxman will do it for you.

Are we benefiting from the strong Canadian dollar?

Logic dictates that a stronger dollar should result in lower prices for Canadians. But what’s really happening?
When the Canadian dollar reached parity with its US counterpart last fall, many heaved a sigh of relief. After many lean years (we remember our dollar at 62 cents US), our imported goods were finally going to cost us the same as in the United States.

Retirement is also a state of mind

A growing number of studies show that you need a psychological plan for retirement as much as a financial plan. Will you be ready?

In Canada, the number of people 65 and older will double by the year 2028, and average life expectancy will be in the 80s. But if all those happy retired folks turn out to be not so happy, the country could find itself facing a public health issue with significant financial consequences.

The smart way to invest in your home

It’s RRSP time! But it’s also the time of year when many of us start thinking about home renovation projects for spring. Provided they don’t prevent you from making the maximum RRSP contribution, such projects could also be a good investment. It all depends on what you’re planning to do.

If you’re a homeowner, and especially if you have resold a home, you know this: residential real estate has paid fat dividends in the past 10 years. If you’re thinking about doing some home renovations, it could be a way of adding even more value to an investment that is already appreciating very nicely. The same thing applies, of course, if you took advantage of the tax benefit programs of two years ago to do work that you would have done anyway.

But really, which renovations give you the most bang for your buck when it’s time to sell your home?

Financing your next Home

When it comes time to pursue your next home, you’ll feel more comfortable with the lending process, and what you’ll be required to produce in the way of documentation. Perhaps most important of all, you’ll probably have accumulated some equity from your current home, which you can apply toward the down payment on your next property.

Valentine’s Day: Know the Language of Flowers

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and if you ever give or receive flowers, beware: that bouquet may mean more than you think. In the Victorian era, particular flowers in certain colours were chosen to express specific feelings. Using this language of flowers – called “floriography” – a bud, bouquet or even a boutonniere delivers more than colour and scent. Here’s what some familiar flowers may convey:

How to Save With the Way You Pay

How will you pay for this today? Maybe it’s time to change the way you answer this common checkout question.

With more payment options than ever, consumers can find easy ways to save money, simply by using a different payment method. 

New Mortgage Rules Introduced in 2011

On January 17, 2011, Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, announced prudent adjustments to the rules for government-backed insured mortgages to support the long-term stability of Canada’s housing market and support hard-working Canadian families saving through home ownership.