So, you’ve saved for your deposit and you’ve found the perfect home – it’s an exciting time for many, but then reality starts to hit and you’re asking how much of your income should go to a mortgagel. Questions surrounding how much you can afford to borrow, mortgage costs, and what it all means can … Read more
According to the Government of Canada, a credit score is a 3-digit number that represents how likely a credit bureau thinks you are to pay your bills on time.1 It can be an important part of building your financial confidence and security.1 For example, building a good credit score could help you get approved for … Read more
Your credit score is a rating that has been calculated by credit bureaus, to give potential lenders an idea of your creditworthiness. Your credit score is important if you ever need to take out a loan, mortgage or credit card, as it will impact whether the loan is approved and the kind of interest rate … Read more
Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is an important factor that lenders use to evaluate your ability to take on additional debt. A higher DTI ratio indicates you are already devoting a large portion of your income to debt payments which makes lenders less likely to approve you for new credit. Fortunately there are steps you can … Read more
Owning a five-million-dollar home is a dream for many people. Even in the most expensive cities in the US, it’s a major accomplishment. But you also have to be confident that you can afford it. Even if you have enough income to be approved for a loan, there are other expenses you have to take … Read more
Credit Karma is a website that offers a free service that lets you check your credit scores and reports. In the UK, Credit Karma uses TransUnion’s scoring system, which ranges from 0 to 710. TransUnion’s range is different from other credit agencies like Experian and Equifax, which have their own scoring systems. This means that … Read more
If you’re interested in getting a loan, such as a mortgage, car loan, or line of credit, it’s important to know what your credit score is. After all, it’s your credit score that lenders use to determine who to loan their money to – and what rates to offer them. Generally speaking, the higher your … Read more
There are federal tax credits available which empower Americans to make homes and buildings more energy-efficient to help reduce energy costs and demand, as we transition to cleaner energy sources. The tax code saw some major changes in 2022 that will affect taxpayers when they file their returns in 2023 One of the most significant … Read more
Many taxpayers are surprised and frustrated when their tax refund turns out to be much lower than expected If you are only getting $200 back when you were expecting thousands, there are several potential reasons for this Your Income Increased If your income increased significantly from the prior year, you may have moved into a … Read more
Wanting to know what an authorized user on a credit card is? Click here to learn more about authorized credit card users and how it can affect your credit. [Duration – 2:30] It can be tricky to build credit when you have little to no experience using credit. One popular strategy to establish credit history … Read more