Should parents help kids buy a home?
Emma’s ex-husband gave their two twenty-something sons a $30,000 down payment. She thinks that was a big mistake. Four years ago, at the age of 24, Jonas Knight decided to buy his first house. Prices had been shooting up in his home town of Maple Ridge, a suburb of Vancouver, and he felt that if he didn’t get in the market soon, he never would. Problem was, like many young Canadians, he couldn’t afford even a basic starter home. To help ease the burden, his brother Derek, 21, agreed to go halfers (we’ve changed their names to ...
Canada’s best return policies
Some stores make it a chore to return unwanted items, while others roll out the red carpet. These retailers make returns and exchanges a breeze. Chapters/Indigo: Bought a book you don’t like? If it’s a novel designated by Indigo CEO Heather Reisman as a “guaranteed read,” you can return your purchase in any condition with a receipt for a full refund. Costco: Technically, this big box retailer’s policy says you have 30 days to bring back your purchase, but Costco members know that you won’t be hassled if you bring your items back up to a ...
The ETF Evolution
When exchange-traded funds were first introduced more than a decade ago, they were designed to simply track the major stock indexes. Fast-forward 10 years and the ETF landscape is decidedly different. These days investors are no longer confined to using broad-market index funds. Now you can employ a variety of short- and long-term strategies using a huge array of ETFs covering everything from plain vanilla index trackers to specialized niche funds. While all of these new ETFs can make the investment process seem overwhelming, they also offer investors the ability to fully customize ...
Top 10 mistakes when buying a new build home
When Karen Somerville and her husband Alan Greenberg showed up for the pre-delivery inspection of their brand new luxury home in Ottawa they were horrified. Electricians, drywallers, plumbers and a variety of other tradespeople were still busy constructing their home and, despite assurances from the builder, the couple seriously doubted their $443,000 new build would be ready for possession in 14 days. Electrical wires hung from ceilings and stuck out from unfinished walls, appliances and cabinets were stacked in the kitchen, and only a portion of the hardwood floors had been installed. ...
Should parents help kids buy a home?
// Jan 6th, 2012
Canada’s best return policies
// Dec 6th, 2011
The ETF Evolution
// Nov 28th, 2011
Top 10 mistakes when buying a new build home
// Nov 23rd, 2011
About RK
Romana King is a Toronto-based writer, editor and blogger for business and lifestyle publications and a licensed realtor with Century21. Romana currently writes a regular column and blog for MoneySense magazine that focuses on home owner and real estate issues. She has regularly contributed to Business Edge, CI Top Broker, Advisor.ca, Advisor's Edge, Check UP!, CBC.ca, Toronto Sun and the Toronto Star.