Oaken Blog

When purchasing a new home, the final expenses incurred by the buyer to complete the transfer of ownership are referred to as closing costs. While total closing costs vary by region, many are common across all markets. Mortgage lenders require new buyers to demonstrate their capacity to manage these expenses when assessing overall ability to … read more

Everyone knows that in order to maintain a good credit score, you must pay your bills on time. Likewise, most people know that you need to have a good credit score to be approved for loans and other forms of credit. But did you know that with a better credit score, you can often qualify for … read more

There are many things to consider when planning the transfer of wealth within families. And while Canada doesn’t have an inheritance tax, there are still other fees and taxes that could substantially reduce the value of your estate. One option available to minimize these costs is to “gift” a portion of the assets you intend … read more

It goes without saying that technology has had a tremendous impact on the way we live our lives. Many of the everyday things we now take for granted were considered to be nothing more than fanciful flights of science fiction just a few decades ago. Travel has certainly seen its share of technological advances, and we’ll … read more

Down payments were introduced to provide stability to the mortgage market, and are a mandatory for all mortgages in Canada. In this Oaken Blog post, we’ll take a look at what you need to know about down payments when purchasing a new home. We’ll also review how the minimum down payment is calculated, as well … read more

The number of older students returning to school has increased in recent years, as more workers are finding it necessary to upgrade their skills in order to adapt to rapid changes in the workplace. New technologies and updated practises have combined to impact not only how we carry out our job-related tasks, but also the … read more

How many times have you heard someone bragging about the great deal they got by booking their trip at the last minute? And why can’t you find similar deals? Well, we’re about to give you seven tips that can help you find your own travel deals. But first, let’s clear up a little misconception about what … read more

The internet is a wondrous technological advancement that has made the world a smaller place, where virtually everyone is connected with everyone else. But the problem with the internet is that it has made the world a smaller place, where virtually everyone is connected with everyone else. In other words, even though you can now … read more

Perhaps you’ve heard how easy it is to earn a little extra cash by listing your spare room or vacant apartment on the Airbnb website. You might even know someone who has served as an Airbnb host, and you’re now thinking of trying it for yourself. That’s great. But before you go ahead and list … read more

As we discussed in an earlier Oaken Blog post, the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) means that the proceeds from the sale of your main home are not subject to either income tax or capital gains tax. Even if you sell for considerably more than you paid when purchasing the property, you can pocket the proceeds … read more