Blog
The FCT blog aims to answer your industry questions, examine current market trends and provide key information on the value of our products and services.
The FCT blog does not represent a single author or opinion. Instead, it represents the collective voice and experience of FCT’s dedicated niche experts.
Can you lien on your title insurance policy?
May 17th, 2018 | FCT
The answer is a resounding yes! When Janice* tried to refinance her house, she discovered that there was a lien of over $2,500 registered on it. This took her by surprise as…
How is data impacting the real estate industry?
May 11th, 2018 | FCT
Data is everywhere. People are talking about it, sharing it, stealing it, hiding it, using it to target ads, and whatever they can think of! So, what’s the big deal about data…
What is your debt-to-income ratio?
May 4th, 2018 | FCT
What is debt-to-income ratio anyway? It’s the percentage of your annual income (before taxes) needed to cover all your debts, including loans and credit cards. Why does it matter? If you’re trying…
What’s not covered by title insurance?
Apr 27th, 2018 | FCT
Jen and Henry* saved up for years and finally bought a house, even though it needed a little work. They considered themselves pretty handy and to save a few bucks, they decided…
How much do you really know about your house?
Apr 19th, 2018 | FCT
Trent Dawson* applied for a permit to extend the deck off the back of his house. When the city reviewed his application, they discovered that the previous homeowner had built the existing…
What does it take to be a successful mortgage broker?
Apr 13th, 2018 | FCT
The mortgage broker industry is, and always has been, competitive. There’s a lot to learn about different lenders, regulations, forms, etc. and occasionally it can be an uphill battle when things change…
How to protect your clients from Vancouver’s Empty Homes Tax
Apr 5th, 2018 | FCT
As you know, the Empty Homes Tax or Vacancy Tax is applied to homes in Vancouver that are vacant or underutilized. As the bylaw requires a ‘registered owner’ to provide information for…
What’s the difference between secured and unsecured debt?
Mar 29th, 2018 | FCT
The average Canadian carries a lot of debt. According to Statistics Canada, in 2016, the national average debt-to-disposable-income ratio was 172.1%. This means there was $1.72 in secured and unsecured debt for…
Protect yourself from foreclosure fraud
Mar 22nd, 2018 | FCT
Maybe you or your spouse lost a job recently or you had a large unexpected expense. The unpaid bills are piling up and you’ve defaulted on your mortgage payments. Now you’re in…
Straw buyer fraud: it’s too good to be true!
Mar 15th, 2018 | FCT
Have you ever had a client come into your office to retain your services–someone you’ve never worked with before; you’re not sure how they were referred; and the talking and negotiating is…
