For many Canadians, buying a first home feels like a daunting task—especially with rising real estate prices and the complexities of mortgage financing. However, with the right knowledge and preparation, homeownership is within reach. Whether you’re just starting your home search or already considering financing options, understanding the available programs can make all the difference. […]

In business school and doing individual research I always came across the same piece of advice “fixed rates are better when interest rates are on the rise and variable rates are better when interest rates are on the decline”. A good-enough piece of advice for a 19-year-old business student who just ate leftover Mac and […]

I’ve heard a familiar story since I started as a mortgage agent and it goes a little something like this, “My parents/ grandparents/uncle that I only see at thanksgiving bought a house decades ago for $3 and a shoelace and now it’s worth millions. Obviously this is an exaggeration but the message rings true. That’s […]

Gillis Mortgages is getting political! Well not really! I won’t bore you with my political views but I will let you know how this federal election might affect the housing market.  A lot goes into the platforms of our political parties so I went through them and focused on what is important (please see the […]

Ok so picture this: You just got a great pre-approval with a low rate hold from your unbelievably hard working, intelligent Dominion Lending Centre mortgage agent. Let’s call this hypothetical mortgage agent…Griffin Gillis (self-brag I know but after-all, it is my blog). After this pre-approval you’ll know your purchase price range and the amount of […]

I would like to start this blog off by saying that the housing market, like any market can change rapidly and isn’t 100% predictable. It’s important to understand that this post isn’t meant to sway anyone’s opinion about the housing market; it’s simply to give readers a better idea of what’s going on. Everything you […]

If you have been keeping up with your real estate and mortgage news, I can only assume that you’re a mortgage nerd like myself!  The biggest headline is “Banking Regulators Planning to Increase Stress Test to 5.25% June 1st”. This increase isn’t a guarantee but it’s good to know how this might affect the housing […]

I have been employed with Dominion Lending Centres for over half a year now and after months of promoting what I can do for my clients, I was asked by a friend the other day, “What do you actually do”? I was surprised by that, but it’s a really good question. It occurred to me […]

“What’s my credit score?” or “How is my credit score calculated?” are some of the questions that I often hear as a mortgage agent. Credit score also goes by “beacon score” and “FICO” score depending on the agency that calculates the score. There is a certain cloud of mystery when it comes to credit score […]

I was going to title this blog “insured, insurable and uninsured mortgages” but the title “blah, blah and blah mortgages” may have been equally enticing to a reader. My interest in mortgages isn’t always met with the same enthusiasm; however, whether mortgages excite you or not these blogs can help you gain an understanding of […]