🏡 BC First Home Series — Part 7 of 7. See all parts “Rent is just throwing money away.” If you’ve lived in Canada for more than a few months, someone has said this to you. A coworker, a relative back home, a realtor at an open house. I’ve heard it so often that I…
🏡 BC First Home Series — Part 6 of 7. See all parts Every December, my husband and I do the same small ritual. We check that each of our FHSAs has received its full contribution for the year, look at the balances, and then have the same conversation we had the December before. “Should…
🏡 BC First Home Series — Part 5 of 7. See all parts Saanich, the district where my family lives, raised property taxes by 7.2% in 2023, 7.93% in 2024 and 8.02% in 2025. This year’s 5.35% increase was actually the smallest since 2022, and it still meant about $215 more for the average homeowner…
🏡 BC First Home Series — Part 3 of 7. See all parts You’ve just seen the ad. A brand-new presale condo, priced below similar resale units, with the deposit split into small payments over two years. It feels like a door opening. Then you read the news: builders under pressure, projects delayed, a few…
🏡 BC First Home Series — Part 2 of 7. See all parts Short on time? Here’s the rule most newcomers get wrong. The minimum down payment in Canada is not a flat 5% of the price. Purchase price Minimum down payment $500,000 or less 5% of the price $500,000 to $1,499,999 5% of the…
🏡 BC First Home Series — Part 1 of 7. See all parts “I’ve never bought a home in Canada, so I’m a first-time buyer.” I’ve heard newcomers say this at playgrounds, at church potlucks and in Facebook groups. I used to say it too. It sounds obvious. It’s only half true. Canada has several…
My youngest turned 6 this year, and yesterday I finally sat down and applied for the BC Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG) through my RESP account. I’d been putting it off for months (mom life, right?), but a friend sent me a post warning that this $1,200 grant is being phased out — and…
This post is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. I’m sharing my personal experience, not professional advice — always do your own research and consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions. Requirements can vary by province and by your specific immigration status,…
This post is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. I’m sharing my personal experience, not professional advice — always do your own research and consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions. This post contains an affiliate link (Wealthsimple). If you sign up…
This post is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. I’m sharing my personal experience, not professional advice — always confirm your own payment amounts and eligibility through your CRA My Account. If you’ve been getting a quarterly CRA deposit called the “GST/HST credit,”…
