Sam Micheal 
Dreaming of homeownership but daunted by the mortgage maze? As housing costs soar and rates fluctuate, understanding mortgages is your first step to unlocking that front door in 2025’s dynamic market. A mortgage is a loan specifically for purchasing property, secured by the home itself. You borrow from a lender—bank, credit union, or non-bank like … Read more
Just How Likely Is a 30-Year Mortgage Rate Below 6% by December 31, 2025? As of October 20, 2025, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate stands at approximately 6.23%, according to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) from October 17—down slightly from 6.28% the prior week but still hovering in the mid-6% range. … Read more
Renting out your property in today’s competitive Australian market can feel like a high-stakes game. With rental demand surging in cities like Sydney and Melbourne, and new tenancy reforms shaking up the rules, picking the wrong tenant could cost you thousands in lost rent or repairs. But fear not—this straightforward guide arms you with proven … Read more
The Mortgage Renewal Gold Rush Is a Mirage: Brokers’ Smarter Strategies for 2025 Success Picture this: Mortgage brokers across Canada gearing up for a tidal wave of renewals, only to watch most clients quietly re-up with their banks without a single call. That’s the harsh reality hitting the industry right now, as the much-hyped 2025 … Read more
How We Get to Sub-6% Mortgage Rates by the End of 2025 As of October 20, 2025, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate sits at around 6.18%-6.28%, per Freddie Mac and Zillow data—the lowest since early 2024 but still stubbornly above the 6% psychological barrier last breached in September 2022. That’s tantalizingly close: just 18-28 … Read more
Scotiabank Layoffs 2025: Job Cuts Sweep Canadian Banking Unit in Bold Efficiency Overhaul In a stark memo that rippled through Toronto’s financial towers, Scotiabank’s Canadian banking head revealed sweeping layoffs across the unit, signaling a ruthless pivot to sharpen the bank’s edge amid fierce competition. As Canada’s third-largest lender trims fat for faster growth, thousands … Read more
First National Financial Secures $800M Bond Offering as Private Equity Buyout Nears Completion In a pivotal move signaling the final stretch of its transformation, Toronto-based mortgage lender First National Financial Corporation has finalized an $800 million senior notes issuance, just days before its $2.9 billion takeover by private equity giants Birch Hill Equity Partners and … Read more
Macklem Flags ‘Soft’ Canada Labour Market Despite September Job Gains Amid Tariff Fears In the shadow of escalating U.S. tariffs and trade jitters, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem delivered a sobering assessment this week: Canada’s labour market remains “soft” despite a surprising 60,400 job additions in September. The rebound offers fleeting relief, but underlying … Read more
Community Trust Hits 50-Year Milestone: Golden Anniversary Celebrates Mortgage Broker Partnerships and Alternative Lending Success In the ever-shifting sands of Canada’s financial landscape, few institutions have stood as tall and steadfast as Community Trust Company. This October, the alternative lender marks its 50th anniversary, a golden jubilee forged not in isolation, but through unbreakable bonds … Read more
Nesto Group Takes Equity Stake in Maple Financial Through CMLS In a move poised to reshape alternative mortgage lending in Canada, Nesto Group announced on October 18, 2025, a strategic equity investment in Maple Financial via its subsidiary CMLS Financial. The deal, detailed in a GlobeNewswire release, unites Maple’s innovative Broker Relationship Management (BRM) underwriting … Read more