Quotes of the Day

The Law of Habit: Whatever you do repeatedly eventually becomes a new habit. [2004] - Brian Tracy

Some expatriates fear Canada may change its tax laws, either closing or taxing nonresident investment accounts based in Canada. Such investors prefer keeping their assets offshore. Luxembourg, Singapore, and Hong Kong attract plenty of expatriate clients, based on their low‐cost tax structure. Foreign‐based brokerages tend to cost more than they do in Canada. But for some, it's a small price to pay for a sound night's sleep. Keep in mind, however, that Canadians residing in Europe won't be able to buy Canadian domiciled ETFs from a European-based brokerage. EU regulations, as of 2018, are blocking such purchases. That's why Canadians residing in Europe might consider using the firm, Interactive Brokers. [2018] - Andrew Hallam

You can find listings of court-ordered sales, either at the local courthouse or through services that collect such data and distribute it for a fee. Websites such as www.foreclosuresearch.ca exist, but as often as not vendors facing foreclosure are actively trying to avoid the circumstance and working with brokers who will be able to tip you off to potential opportunities in your locale. [2020] - Douglas Gray

Occasionally a lender may require mortgages be insured. For example, if the property is older or is smaller than is normally required by the policy of the lender, or if it is located in a rural or a run-down area, then the mortgage may be required to be insured with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) or Genworth Financial Canada. CMHC is a federal Crown corporation, whereas Genworth is a private corporation. [2006] - Douglas Gray

Airbnb currently charges most hosts a flat 3% of the gross bookings and most guests about 13% of the subtotal (the nightly rate plus cleaning fee and any additional fees) in North America. In other parts of the world, the host and guest fees range from 3-5% and up to 20%, respectively. Many hosts who tried but eventually stopped using Airbnb's Smart Pricing after they discovered that their listings were at times charging 40% lower than their optimal prices. Unlike Airbnb's Smart Pricing tool, 3rd-party dynamic pricing tools don't earn a service fee from the guests. The typical fee for 3rd-party pricing provider is 1% of gross bookings. [2023] - Symon He