Javad Ahmadi Zabihi's blog

Canadian real estate has been a tough nut to crack for some homebuyers, and those with less than 20 percent as a down payment now face another challenge, with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.’s (CMHC) tighter qualification rules for borrowers of high-ratio mortgages. This move is in response to the global pandemic that has left many Canadians vulnerable.

Canadian real estate has been a tough nut to crack for some homebuyers, and those with less than 20 percent as a down payment now face another challenge, with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.’s (CMHC) tighter qualification rules for borrowers of high-ratio mortgages. This move is in response to the global pandemic that has left many Canadians vulnerable.

For many buyers, flooring is an unexpectedly key factor in the choice of a home. Flooring can unify a space and make it stand out or can draw unnecessary attention to itself and be a stumbling block to a sale. When preparing your next property for sale, flooring should be a focus, not an afterthought.

In-demand flooring styles are changing.

Light-coloured hardwood

Working from home is the new normal for many people. Here’s how to get your workspace functioning well and looking great.

With social distancing mandates in effect across much of the country, many people working in industries deemed “non-essential” are doing their work from home. And while the constant stream of COVID-19 news, in addition to caretaking or homeschooling responsibilities, can make it hard to stay focused on work, modifying your space can help. An organized and visually appealing work area can help you feel more productive and more relaxed.

Even when the weather warms up, most of us still spend up to 90% of our time inside. That’s never been more true than right now as we shelter in place to protect ourselves and our families from the COVID-19 pandemic and limit our time outside to short walks or trips to the grocery store. This all means, of course, that keeping our home environment and indoor air quality (IAQ) clean and comfortable is more important than ever.

What exactly is indoor air quality?

KN95 face masks of certified quality help insulate our healthcare heroes and other front-line workers from contracting COVID-19. With the sharp increase in demand, Chinese manufacturers are now churning out 200 million face masks daily, but the delta between supply and demand keeps growing. As a result, false replicas are infiltrating the market, often being sold at exorbitant prices.

Your credit score is now the most important factor in determining how much house you can buy, so if you are in the market for a new home, you need to understand how it affects you.

In order to make it easy for mortgage companies to determine the risk of lending to you, they are using a system called credit scoring.

When lenders look at your credit report, they can instantly see how much debt you have, how reliable you are with bill payments, and if you've had any bankruptcies within the last several years.

As cars sit in the driveway, and everyone puts a tighter hold on money, drivers may have a new way to save a few dollars on their car insurance policies.

The Ontario government is amending a regulation under the Insurance Act to allow auto insurers to give premium rebates to policyholders for up to 12 months following the end of the emergency declared due to the coronavirus pandemic.

I hope this note finds you and your family safe.

As we all continue to navigate these unique and evolving times, I want you to know that I am here for you. It’s during these times that we will witness the resilience and beauty of the human spirit. I hope that you’ll find reassurance, as I do, in knowing that We're All in This Together. 

As winter plods along, you may wish you could just hibernate until spring. But there is, indeed, a joy to be found in the quieter months of the year.

When it’s cold and rainy out, you might hear the siren song of your favourite TV streaming service. Aah, sweet, solitary binge-watching! But if you’d like a more satisfying way to spend a chilly evening, here are a few ideas to channel the Danes and make an intentionally delightful day out of drab weather.