First of all, if you plan on selling or buying a home, this forecast may suggest some stability in the housing market. This means it’ll be easier to price and negotiate if you’re selling, and if you’re buying, it’ll mean that you can shop the market with confidence that you’re purchasing at what is most likely as close to the dip in the market as economists are forecasting. It is important to call me to get a pre-approval prior to making any offers, as any rate increases may affect your buying power.

If you are planning on sitting tight in your current home, 2023 really is about finding ways to adjust for a lot of Canadian families. If we assume the forecasts are correct, we now know what we’ll have as a budget for the next 12 months. The relative short timeframe of the predicted recession means that no matter your situation, there is probably a short-term solution we can work towards to help with cashflow over the next year.

If you’re looking at making a move once the recession is over, which is expected to be in early 2024, it’s important we touch base to review your options. It is widely expected that The Bank of Canada will lower overnight rates to spur the general economy post-recession, and this will have a tangible effect on the real estate market due to pent-up demand, which will be exacerbated by an undersupply of housing stock. As a result, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got everything you need in place and know exactly what you will be able to buy.

No matter what camp you fall into over this year and next, it’s important to be prepared prior to making any decisions. Give me a call, and we can put together a plan that’s most advantageous for your individual situation.

Did you know?

The deadline to contribute to your RRSP this year is March 1. Your home may be the perfect tool to pay yourself first and grow your net worth. Here are three quick tips that can help make that happen, even in a more challenging economic climate.
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• Many homeowners feel caught between competing financial priorities – paying down their mortgage and keeping up with monthly bills often means retirement savings take a back seat. With the right plan in place, it may be possible to simplify your debt, reduce interest costs, and save for retirement.
  
  If there is enough equity in your home, you can borrow to invest in your RRSP if you have the contribution room.
• Consolidate your high-interest debt such as credit cards, car loans and other consumer obligations and roll it into a mortgage, which, despite the current rate environment, is still one of the lowest-cost fund options available. Very often, this strategy can have a positive effect on monthly cashflow, and reducing the number of payments you have to manage each month makes life simpler – who doesn't love that?
• If you’re considering skipping an RRSP contribution this year, ensure you check with a tax professional first. In some situations, the contribution might ‘pay for itself’ by offsetting a good portion of the amount of tax you might owe. Don’t leave money on the table!

Paul Trainor, LLQP | Atlantic Business Federation: 

One Stop Professional Services: Our Team Offers In House: Mortgages . Real Estate . Insurances . Website Management &  Development . Marketing . Logo Designs . Health & Dental . Drone Services . Podcast Studio . Photography . Bookkeeping . Financing . Private Lending .  Working Capital . Refinancing . Branding . Social Media Administration & more...


330 North River Road, Charlottetown, PE C1A 3M5

Cell/Direct: 902.940 5927
Toll Free: 1.844.940.5927
Toll Free Fax: 1 844 363 6243
Email: paul@peibf.com
www.atlanticbusinessfederation.com 

We were pleased to sit down with Assumption Life Assurance Company:  Daniel Audet. MBA Associate Vice-President, Individual Insurance and Investments and Mehdi Saghir Business Development Manager.

Topics included:

Better Mortgage Insurance
Mortgage Insurance VS Bank Insurance
5 reasons why FlexTerm is a better
mortgage protection solution
Complete Mortgage Protection: Life, Disability & Critical Illness

​Also see topics not discussed but shows Assumptions complete list of products and services: Including Life and Investments.

 Term Life Insurance
​ Permanent Life Insurance 
Living Benefit 
Participating Life Insurance
​Guaranteed Interest Accounts 
Planning for a project or retirement 
Retirement Income Options 
SmartSeries 
Investment Options
Find an Advisor​

To get an online quote on this or any other products please visit:

PEI: https://bettermortgageinsurance.ca/pei
Nova Scotia: https://bettermortgageinsurance.ca/nova-scotia
New Brunswick: https://bettermortgageinsurance.ca/newbrunswick

​902 940 5927 or Toll Free 1 844 940 5927 office@peibf.com

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On a week when a judge ordered protesters at the Ambassador Bridge over the U.S.-Canadian border to end the 5-day-old blockade thousand and thousands of Canadians and Islanders joined forces to peacefully protest against vaccine mandates, vaccine ID cards and mask restrictions that literally have ruined the lives and livelihood of thousands of small business owners and staff, caused serious mental health issues and financial ruin for many islanders and their families and friends. The overriding message from participants and by standers is its time to stop the fear and get back to living life again.

Unfortunately politicians did not meet or give any speeches to the crowd but the P.E.I. government intends to drop the requirement for Islanders and visitors to isolate for four days after arriving at an entry point. It was imposed in late 2021 when Omicron variant case numbers began to rise elsewhere in Canada. Although this is a start, government sponsored ID segregation and mask mandates are yet to be eliminated, but hopefully there will be an announcement soon on these policies.

Now there is widespread community transmission on the Island, almost all of these cases are very mild. The convoy had trucks, cars, tractors and big wheel trucks and all very cheerfully and peaceful agreeing that its time to end these mask mandates, ID card registrations and vaccine cards restrictions and get back to building an economy decimated by the virus and governments restrictions on its populations.

With close to 93.7 per cent of residents over 12 had gotten at least two shots of a COVID-19 vaccinated, and 67.4 per cent of children aged 5 to 11 had at least one dose so its time to stop and try to heal. We are unsure of the devastation on small business: closures, job loss, suicides - it probably never will be publicized - but we have seen hundreds of job losses, business closures and financial ruin just in PEI.

Here at Atlantic Business Federation we agree with the stand of Islanders to end these vaccine mandates and ID card registrations. Obviously it was important to monitor the virus once it started and we agree it was a necessity, but now is the time to take of these masks and stop segregating the population. Presenting ID cards to eat, restrictions on places of worship and family gathering just seems like a time that we should never go back to. 

Paul Trainor is vice president and General Manager of PEI and Atlantic Business Federation. Please contact us anytime at 902 940 5927 or email office@peibf.com for feedback and conversation.


​Photos courtesy of Virtual Creations Photography . www.virtualcreations.ca