The Build Wealth Canada Podcast: Fixed or Variable? Mortgages, Home Equity and Retirement in Canada

I was recently once again a guest on the the Build Wealth Canada Podcast, hosted by Kornel Szrejber. Listen to the episode and read the full summary below.

Watch on YouTube:

• Listen to it on Apple Podcasts.
• Listen to it on Spotify.
• Listen to it on YouTube Music or YouTube
• Listen to it on Audible and Amazon Music​

How do you choose between a fixed vs variable mortgage rates? And when might it make sense to use the equity in your home to invest or help fund your retirement? We discuss:

• How the Canada-U.S. trade war is affecting mortgage rates and complicating the Bank of Canada’s interest rate decisions.
• What to consider when choosing between fixed and variable rates, including the idea of starting variable and locking into a fixed rate later.
• What buyers and sellers should know about the Canadian housing market.
• How the Smith Manoeuvre works, who it may suit and why assumptions about investment returns and borrowing costs matter.
• How reverse mortgages compare with downsizing or a home equity line of credit, including costs, repayment and retirement planning considerations.

Whether you’re choosing a mortgage or thinking about how your home fits into your retirement plans, we explore the options and trade-offs to help you ask better questions and make more informed decisions.