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trends watch
Text Jo Alcorn
Real Estate
Advice with
Joe Mancuso
Home Trends’ Style Editor shares her favorite trends
WARM AND FUZZY
Faux fur fuzzy
furniture and
accessories add a
cozy yet luxurious
touch to a space.
ELTE, www.elte.com
Canadian Tire
www.canadiantire.ca
SIZE MATTERS
Oversized plants make a
statement in any room! A
trendy option would be a
fiddle leaf fig tree.
EXPOSE YOURSELF
Exposing natural or architectural detailing
in a home is very trendy!
BANKER VS. BROKER Most people
head straight to their bank for their
mortgage relying on the premise that their
bank “knows” them and will do their best for
them. This may be true however you must
still qualify for a mortgage and more of your
financial portfolio is tied to their institution.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but there
are other options. The bank can only offer
its own products and services as well as the
rates it believes are competitive and these
reflect the bank’s own opinions on the
market and economy. Bank interest rates
tend to be similar but there is variability.
A qualified mortgage professional or
broker uses this variability in rates between
banks to find you the best deal. Brokers
are generally not tied to one particular
institution and many shop for rates not only
between banks but also with other lenders
such as trust companies, co-ops and even
insurance companies who also lend. In most
cases, their fee is paid by the lender.
KNOW WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD
Your mortgage professional will “qualify”
you which means they will try to fit you
to a financial formula in order to arrive
at an estimate of how much you can
comfortably spend on your purchase.
Generally the rule of thumb is about 30%
of your income moderated by factors
specific to you, the economic condition
and sometimes geography. The idea is to
allow enough breathing space financially
that you can afford your mortgage and still
lead a normal life. The down payment and
qualified amount operate to insulate you
and the lender, to some extent, from normal
shocks such as rate changes and possible
employment or other life changes like
having a child. The idea here is affordability
and not to put yourself into a difficult
corner. - Text by Joe Mancuso
HomeSense, www.homesense.ca
BACK TO THE 80S
Bohemian 1980s inspired hanging art is
very stylish. Layering textures and fabric
isn’t just for your windows anymore, it
can also add dimension to your walls.
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CANADIANHOMETRENDS.COM
Designed by Jo Alcorn, www.whitewashco.ca
Photo by Jason Hartog, www.jasonhartog.com