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... 

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... 

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... 

Most of us know what calculator to use for that basic mortgage calculation—the amount you pay each month in relation to the home price, your amortization period and term and the prevailing interest rate. But what about those more complex calculations, such as the cost to break your mortgage or the ability to compare three mortgage options while determining your effective interest rate (that’s the...