Lindsey Howarth - RBC Mortgage Specialist

08/14/2025

A great way to save for a down payment: the First Home Savings Account (FHSA). Learn how to take advantage of this tool and how it gets you one step closer to home ownership.

This article was originally published on RBC My Money Matters and has been republished here with permission. If you’re one of the more than 300,000 people who opened a First Home Savings Account (FHSA) over the last year, cut yourself a slice of cake to celebrate its first

07/10/2025

On December 15, 2024, several major mortgage reforms took effect. Get up to speed on the changes to understand how they may affect your home search going forward.

New mortgage rule changes unlock opportunities for first-time buyers struggling to break into the market. While spurring activity in the real estate sector, these mortgage reforms may also have unintended side-effects that remain to be seen. It’s no secret that Canada’s housing market is one of ...

04/03/2025

Join us on April 22, 2025 for a virtual event and listen to CMHC’s position on our current housing supply, and how filling in the “missing middle” could be part of the solution.

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As an eligible professional* in our client’s home buying journey, sign up for the RBC Referral Awards program and you could receive Avion® points on your Avion Rewards credit card or your RBC bank account* for every eligible mortgage referral* plus access to our team of mobile mortgage specialist...

01/23/2025

Mortgage default insurance is required by the Government of Canada when home buyers are putting less than the 20% down payment typically needed to qualify for a conventional mortgage.

Mortgage default insurance is required by the Government of Canada when home buyers are putting less than 20% down on a home purchase. Find out how it works at RBC Royal Bank.

01/20/2025

Canada’s housing market recovery hits a bump but expected stay on track

Interest rate cuts in Canada set the housing market on a recovery path in 2024, but there have been bumps along the way as demonstrated by activity in December.

12/12/2024

In the last interest rate announcement of 2024, the Bank of Canada reduced its benchmark rate by 50 bps, bringing the rate down to 3.25%. The rate cut, which mirrors the last reduction announced in October, comes amidst a slight rise in the inflation rate.
This fifth straight interest rate reduction is positive news for current and prospective Canadian homebuyers, and complements the new mortgage rules that will take effect this month.

In its December 11 announcement, the BoC reduced its benchmark rate to 3.25%. This reduction complements upcoming new mortgage rules, designed to help reduce the barriers that exist for first-time homebuyers and renewers.

12/09/2024

Heading south for the holidays? Check out our pre-travel checklist to ensure you're fully prepared before leaving home.

learn about the U.S. travel checklist which will help keep your pre-trip to-do's straight.

10/03/2024

As a Canadian, renting out your U.S. home may seem complicated, but it doesn't have to be. Not sure where to start? Check out these 8 steps to getting your U.S. home renter ready.

If you're not using your U.S. home this year, renting out may be a great way to earn extra cash. Here are tips to get you started.

04/18/2024

Budget 2024 showed a slightly worse bottom line throughout the federal government’s fiscal plan compared to previous estimates but kept the deficit within target. To achieve this, however, the government introduced several new taxes after a myriad of new spending was rolled out in recent weeks. The lack of spending restraint was offset by a surprise upside in revenue projections.

Budget 2024 showed a slightly worse bottom line throughout the federal government’s fiscal plan compared to previous estimates but kept...

04/15/2024

Canada will allow 30-year amortization for first-time buyers’ mortgages. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the government would allow the amortization period on insured mortgages for first-time homebuyers purchasing newly built homes. The measure will take effect on Aug. 1. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association has advocated for the longer period, saying five years more would help with affordability and speed up construction. The government also nearly doubled the amount first-time buyers can withdraw from RRSPs to buy a home to $60,000 from $35,000 as of April 16.

The Canadian government will allow 30-year amortization periods on insured mortgages for first-time homebuyers purchasing newly built homes.

01/11/2024

Proud to share the news that the Minister of Finance has approved RBC’s proposed acquisition of HSBC Canada. We look forward to welcoming our new clients and colleagues in 2024!

11/30/2023

The latest RBC Women in Cleantech cohort share their stories of success, and what it means to be a woman leader making meaningful strides in a male-dominated sector.