Brenda Marie Dickenson

Brenda Marie Dickenson Most buyers find mortgages intimidating. As your mortgage agent, I will guide you towards your best lending solution.

When we work together, you can feel confident in knowing that your mortgage works for you.

06/01/2026

Saving for a down payment doesn’t have to happen the hard way. There are three powerful accounts that can help you get into a home sooner:

🏠 FHSA (First Home Savings Account) – Contributions are tax deductible, and qualifying withdrawals for your first home are tax-free. It’s one of the most powerful tools available for first-time buyers.

📈 TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) – Your investments can grow tax free, and withdrawals can be made at any time without tax consequences. Great for building your down payment fund while maintaining flexibility.

💰 RRSP (Home Buyers’ Plan) – Eligible buyers can withdraw funds from their RRSP to put toward a home purchase, helping boost their down payment and potentially reduce mortgage costs.

The bigger your down payment, the lower your mortgage balance, monthly payment, and overall borrowing costs.

Not sure which strategy makes the most sense for your situation? A little planning today can make a big difference when you’re ready to buy.

RRSP HomeBuyingTips MortgageAdvice OntarioRealEstate FinancialPlanning

Our first strawberry harvest 😍 low in volume but high in quality.
06/01/2026

Our first strawberry harvest 😍 low in volume but high in quality.

Internal thoughts becoming external thoughts.💭The last time the Bank of Canada moved rates was October 29,2025.Since the...
05/26/2026

Internal thoughts becoming external thoughts.💭

The last time the Bank of Canada moved rates was October 29,2025.

Since then, the Bank has held rates steady at every announcement:

Dec. 10, 2025 — held
Jan. 28, 2026 — held
Mar. 18, 2026 — held
Apr. 29, 2026 — held

So as of now, Canada has gone about 7 months without a rate change.

Why am I bringing this up? Because the BOC is widely expected to hold again in June, and the spread between fixed and variable rates is so vast that the risk of increase becomes less important when considering the loss of savings and cashflow relief.

You get a 5 year fixed rate at 4.39% vs a 5 year ARM at 3.70% today. That’s a difference of roughly $320/month you could have saved.

To further this argument. Rates would have to increase .69% to even the differential, and increase further to make a fixed rate more beneficial. Just putting this all out there.

05/22/2026

Canada’s 5-year bond yield hit its low point back in March and has been steadily climbing ever since and fixed mortgage rates have followed right along with it. 📈

This is exactly why securing a rate hold can be such a smart strategy in today’s market. You lock in a worst case scenario now, protecting yourself if rates continue to rise, while still keeping the ability to take advantage of lower rates if they improve before closing.

In a market that can shift quickly, having that flexibility and protection matters.

04/13/2026

Fixed vs. Variable in Today’s Market 🇨🇦

Right now in Canada, we’re seeing one of the largest gaps between fixed and variable rates in years — and that matters.

Fixed rates are still pricing in long-term uncertainty and bond market volatility, while variable rates are tied more closely to the Bank of Canada’s current policy rate. The result? Variable is often coming in noticeably lower upfront.
So what’s the opportunity?

A variable rate today can:
• Start you at a lower payment
• Give you flexibility if rates trend downward
• Allow you to benefit from potential cuts without refinancing
• Keep penalties lower if your plans change

This isn’t about “gambling” on rates — it’s about aligning your mortgage with the current spread and your risk tolerance.

If you’re someone who can handle a bit of short-term fluctuation, the math right now is making a strong case for variable.

The key isn’t predicting rates — it’s positioning yourself wisely in the market you’re in.

Starting April 1, 2026, all new home purchase agreements signed in Ontario, regardless of if it is your first, second, t...
03/26/2026

Starting April 1, 2026, all new home purchase agreements signed in Ontario, regardless of if it is your first, second, third home, will receive a 13% HST tax rebate. This year long advantage will reduce the cost of homes up to a maximum of $130,000.00.

Eligibility:

Be an individual (not a corporation)
Buy a new or substantially renovated home
Use it as your primary residence
Actually take possession / occupancy
Meet price thresholds (for federal portion)

Bottom line, who actually receives the rebate?

The GST/HST rebate is a tax recovery mechanism, not a grant cheque. It is usually baked into the price, and then the buyer assigns the rebate to the builder.

The new HST rebate will likely follow the same legal structure
Your contract, not just the law, determines who gets the money.

Legally, your Purchase Agreement usually says:

Price is “HST included, net of rebates”
Buyer assigns rebate rights to builder

#13%

⚠️ Geopolitical risk = supply uncertainty premiumWhen there is conflict (Middle East tensions, global instability, sanct...
03/24/2026

⚠️ Geopolitical risk = supply uncertainty premium

When there is conflict (Middle East tensions, global instability, sanctions, etc.) markets don’t just react to current oil prices—they price in future uncertainty.

This creates a “risk premium”.

Investors expect possible supply disruptions, bidding up future oil prices before an actual shortage occurs, feeding into inflation expectations immediately.

In simple terms:

It’s not just the price today...it’s the fear of higher prices tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow.

02/05/2026

Here’s the truth 👇

Forecasts change. Headlines flip. Economists revise.

But your comfort level?

That’s what actually matters.

If you lose sleep over payment changes → structure for stability.
If you can handle some movement for potential savings → structure for flexibility.

The best mortgage isn’t the one that wins the prediction game.
It’s the one that fits your financial plan, cash flow, and stress tolerance.

Choose strategy over speculation. Always. 💼🏡

This image has been floating around…what does it REALLY mean in mortgage terms?Big 6 banks are projecting:🔹 TD, CIBC & B...
02/04/2026

This image has been floating around…what does it REALLY mean in mortgage terms?

Big 6 banks are projecting:

🔹 TD, CIBC & BMO – Holding steady around 2.25% through 2026–2027
🔹 NBC – Gradual increase to 2.75%
🔹 Scotiabank – Moving higher to 3.00%
🔹 RBC – Most aggressive outlook at 3.25% by Q4 2027

Let’s play this out as if we have a mortgage of $800,000, 25 year amortization, using the policy rate and changes according to each lenders projection.

📊 Year 1 Impact

Scenario Principal Interest Total P&I Balance
TD/CIBC/BMO $24,116 $17,752 $41,869 $775,884
NBC $23,728 $18,728 $42,456 $776,272
Scotia $23,532 $19,221 $42,753 $776,468
RBC $24,116 $17,752 $41,869 $775,884

Here’s the main takeaways:

1. Each of these scenarios are expected to play out near the end of the year. One thing that we should realize is that the longer the projection, the less likely they are to materialize.
2. There are many volatile variables currently playing out that need to find resolution before considering a plausible direction for the policy interest rate.
3. The lower your rate, the more you pay in principal, and the longer you can hold it, the lower your principal is at maturity. So if rates go up later in the year, you would have already paid down more of your principal than if you take a higher rate fixed in this market.
4. All considerations when it comes to rate and product should be based around your risk tolerance. There’s no sense in a variable rate if it’s going to keep you up at night.
5. Variable rates are the only products affected by fluctuating policy rates, AND you can lock your rate in at anytime.

CIBC, TD and BMO are typically the most accurate forecasters..

01/30/2026

Receive up to $68,724.95 when you close 🎉

BEFORE you get excited, here’s what you need to know about cashback mortgages.

It’s a mortgage, where the lender gives you 1-5% of your mortgage in lump sum at closing, CASH. *The amount depends on your mortgage size.

Yes, you pay a slightly higher interest rate, if you break the term there is a prorated repayment penalty, funds can’t be used for your downpayment, and you need a minimum credit score of 680.

BUT, it’s beneficial for closing costs, paying off high-interest debt, renovations or moving expenses, and fallback.

Sometimes the lowest rate wins.
Sometimes flexibility wins.
Sometimes cashback wins.

It depends on your goals, but there are options.

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#2/7694 Islington Avenue
Vaughan, ON
L4L1W3

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