Karen Boies

Mortgage Planner

  • How to save money on home renovations (even if you’re not handy)

    After speaking to several contractors and having floor plans drawn up by an interior designer, we were told to budget approximately $90,000 for the renovation. While we knew our project list was substantial—a full kitchen, bedroom, ensuite bathroom, living room, laundry facilities and storage closets—that large number was still hard to swallow. However, none of

  • How to manage and save money without a budget

    “Stick to a budget” is one of the most common pieces of advice you’ll hear if you’re trying to save money. But not everyone wants to make decisions according to a spreadsheet—and there are many ways to manage your money that don’t involve a budget. Often, a simple, critical look at your regular expenses can reveal unnecessary

  • Vancouver Island Real Estate Searches See Major Uptick 

    In what was one of the less pleasant summers we’ve had here in British Columbia, full of heatwaves, moths, and forest fires like we’ve never seen before, one part of the province fueled plenty of interest from home seekers. From top to bottom, Vancouver Island saw a major uptick in real estate searches on REW.ca this summer,