I have a story to share today.

One that might shift your frequency.

The first day the COVID lockdown was finally lifted, I rushed to a little café with a friend. Just the joy of being able to eat out again felt like a celebration.

We had to wait 20 minutes to get in. The place was packed. People stood outside, smiling behind their masks, desperate for a taste of normal life.

Do you remember that time?

The world was still a little raw. A little awkward. But something inside all of us just wanted connection again.

Now here’s where it gets… interesting.

The service?

Well, let’s just say the universe was testing us.

First came the coffee.
And it was served at room temperature.

Now, in Northern Europe, “room temperature” means achingly cold.

I flagged the waitress—kindly—and asked if I could get a fresh, hot one.

She nodded. And then vanished into the void. No second cup.

Then the food came.

I had ordered an omelet with a side of guacamole.
Now, if you know me, you know this part already:

Guacamole is sacred.

It is the nectar of the gods. The green gold of civilization.

So when my plate arrived—without the guacamole—part of me broke inside.

I was low-key triggered.

Meanwhile, my friend across the table was getting increasingly annoyed. The cold coffee. The missing guac.

The delay. The forgotten request. The waitress was barely looking up from her notepad.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered.

But here’s the thing—I wasn’t mad.

Because earlier that morning, I had done my 6 Phase Meditation, and Phase 1—Compassion—had already shifted something in me.

I took a breath. And I looked at the waitress—really looked at her.

That waitress had probably been jobless for three months.

We were all locked down. Restaurants were shut.
And like the rest of us, she was probably feeling painfully alone.

But unlike us, she may have had the added weight of worry:

Where’s the next paycheck coming from?
How will I take care of the kids?
What if the café closes again next week?

Now she’s back on the job, wearing a mask over her nose and mouth for 10 straight hours in an overcrowded café.
And from the corner of her eye, she can see a line of 20 more customers outside, waiting to be seated.

She’s probably doing her best to keep up with a tidal wave of requests, all while quietly holding this terrifying truth in the back of her mind:

“This could all disappear again.”

So yeah. From that perspective?

She was doing a hell of a job. 

What if she hadn’t worked in three months?
What if she was terrified of losing her job again?
What if she was carrying the weight of bills, kids, or long-haul COVID… and still showed up?

So when the bill came, I tipped her 20 euros on a 40-euro meal.

My friend nearly choked.

“Are you serious? She messed up everything.”

I just smiled and said, “Yeah. But she’s still standing.

And I respect that.”

We walked out of that café a little more caffeinated… and a lot more compassionate.

Now here’s where it gets interesting.

I kept thinking about it.

Not the guac. Okay, maybe the guac.
But mostly—the power of that one choice.

The choice to see differently. To act differently.

And then a bigger thought hit me:

Why do we do this so rarely, when this is exactly what all our sacred texts ask of us?

What would Jesus do?

If Jesus were in that café, He wouldn’t be muttering under His breath.
He wouldn’t be demanding a free meal.
He’d smile. Tip. Maybe even bless her on the way out.

If you’re Muslim, maybe you’d reflect on the principle of Zakat.

To give without expectation.
To see others through the eyes of mercy, not merit.

But maybe religion isn’t your thing. That’s cool. You still need a compass, right?

So here’s one I love—equal parts spiritual and cinematic legend:

WWKD — What Would Keanu Do?

Yes. That Keanu.

Whether it was his role as Neo in The Matrix, the deadly but noble John Wick, or the ever-optimistic Ted in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Keanu Reeves is considered one of the nicest humans on Earth.

And it’s not just fan hype.

It’s the way he lives.

This is a man who…

• Lost the love of his life in a tragic car accident.
  Lost his child before she was born.
  Lost his best friend, River Phoenix, to an overdose.

He’s known loss. He’s known grief.

And maybe that’s why he walks through life with more humility.
More softness.
More presence.

You’ve heard the stories:

• He quietly donates millions to children’s hospitals.
• He buys meals for homeless strangers—no cameras, no PR.
• He gave away most of his Matrix salary to the crew and special effects team.
• He bought Rolex watches for his John Wick 4 stunt team—engraved, personalized.
• He gives up his subway seat without blinking.
• He takes time for every fan, every photo, every hug.
• He mourns privately and deeply… and still shows up with gentleness in his eyes.

So when the world throws you a test—

An annoying waiter.
A rude email.
A delayed flight.
A missing guacamole incident…

You don’t have to fight back.

You can ask:

What Would Keanu Do?

Written by Vishen Lakhiani, Mindvalley

You’ve worked hard. Raised children. Weathered storms. And now, it’s your time.

Whether you’re 55 or 75, being divorced in this stage of life often comes with a unique blend of freedom, wisdom—and yes, financial questions. You might be thinking about travel, healthcare, supporting grandkids, or just making sure your retirement years are as stress-free as possible.

One question you might not have considered:
Could your home help pay you back?

It’s called a reverse mortgage, and for many independent women it’s becoming an unexpected tool for financial peace of mind.

By Kim Franz

“With a reverse mortgage, you no longer own your home.”

FALSE. You always maintain title, ownership, and control of your home, as long you continue to meet your mortgage obligations (i.e., paying property taxes and maintaining the home). The reverse mortgage lender simply has a first mortgage on the title, in the same way as a traditional mortgage.

“You’ll owe more than the value of your home.”

FALSE. It is federally mandated that all reverse mortgages come with a “no negative equity guarantee.” As long as you meet the required mortgage obligations, the amount you owe on the due date will not exceed the fair market value of your home.

“Reverse mortgages are expensive.”

FALSE. An appraisal of your property and independent legal advice is required for a reverse mortgage. Additional fees include a closing and administration fee. When compared to alternatives like downsizing or moving to another home, a reverse mortgage can be an affordable option.

“Reverse mortgages have higher interest rates.”

DEPENDS. While interest rates are typically higher than a traditional mortgage, it’s important to remember that for many retired Canadians, monthly mortgage payments are difficult to afford. Plus, many struggle to even qualify for a traditional mortgage. For these reasons, many retired Canadians choose a reverse mortgage over traditional solutions.

“You can’t pass on your home.”

FALSE. Your heirs will always have the option to keep the property by paying off your reverse mortgage after you pass away. In addition, with the “no negative equity guarantee,” your heirs will never owe more than the fair market value of the home, as long as all mortgage obligations were maintained.

Written by Equitable Bank

You may consider a reverse mortgage to turn your home equity into tax-free cash as part of your retirement solution. But, you might question, “With a reverse mortgage will I owe more than my home is worth?”

The answer to this is NO.

The CHIP Reverse Mortgage has safeguards built into products to ensure you are not at risk of losing your home or equity.

What is the No Negative Equity Guarantee? 

The No Negative Equity Guarantee* ensures that if you meet your property taxes and mortgage obligations, HomeEquity Bank guarantees that the amount owed on the due date will not exceed the fair market value of your home. If the house depreciates and the mortgage amount due is more than the gross proceeds from the sale of the property, HomeEquity Bank covers the difference between the sale price and the loan amount.

Ultimately, the No Negative Equity Guarantee keeps you and your equity secure in your home. The peace of mind you get from leveraging a reverse mortgage is protected no matter the economic backdrop.

Does a home ever sell for less than the mortgage balance?

This is extremely rare. HomeEquity Bank never lends more than 55% of the home’s value for this reason. Over the past 30+ years, 99% of Reverse Mortgage holders have had equity left in their home; on average, this equity amounts to 60%. Escalating real estate value boosts the equity in the house, reducing the impact of interest charged to the mortgage principal. The homeowner keeps all the equity remaining in the home. That equity depends on the amount borrowed, the value of the house, and the time that has passed since the reverse mortgage was taken out.

Contact me if you have any questions about The CHIP Reverse Mortgage!

*As long as you keep your property in good maintenance, pay your property taxes and property insurance and your property is not in default. The guarantee excludes administrative expenses and interest that has accumulated after the due date.

Written by HomeEquity Bank

Some changes coming down the pipe!  I have been accepted into the SMCP accreditation program.

What is SMCP?

Smith Manoeuvre Certified Professional – a mortgage/investment/tax strategy to help you pay your mortgage down faster, invest for your future, and receive tax refunds while you are doing it.

Sound intrigued???  Stay tuned… I am taking the course, writing the exam, and then I’ll fill you in with more details.

Have a great week and stay safe this long weekend!

Kim

Canadian national home sales were up 3.6% month-over-month.

Global Tariff Uncertainty Sidelines Buyers

Canadian existing home sales recorded over the MLS Systems climbed 3.6% between April and May, a normally strong month for housing, marking the first gain in activity since last November.

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Calgary, and Ottawa led the monthly increase.

“May 2025 not only saw home sales move higher at the national level for the first time in more than six months, but prices at the national level also stopped falling,” said Shaun Cathcart, CREA’s Senior Economist. “It’s only one month of data, and one car doesn’t make a parade, but there is a sense that maybe the expected turnaround in housing activity this year was just delayed for a few months by the initial tariff chaos and uncertainty.”

New Listings

New supply declined by 1% month-over-month in April. Combined with flat sales, the national sales-to-new listings ratio climbed to 46.8% compared to 46.4% in March. The long-term average for the national sales-to-new listings ratio is 54.9%, with readings between 45% and 65% generally consistent with balanced housing market conditions.

At the end of April 2025, 183,000 properties were listed for sale on all Canadian MLS® Systems, up 14.3% from a year earlier but still below the long-term average of around 201,000 listings.

“The number of homes for sale across Canada has almost returned to normal, but that is the result of higher inventories in B.C. and Ontario, and tight inventories everywhere else,” said Valérie Paquin, CREA Chair.

There were 5.1 months of inventory on a national basis at the end of April 2025, which is in line with the long-term average of five months. Based on one standard deviation above and below that long-term average, a seller’s market would be below 3.6 months and a buyer’s market above 6.4 months.

New supply rose by 3.1% month-over-month in May. Given a similar increase in sales activity, the national sales-to-new listings ratio was 47%, almost unchanged from 46.8% in April. The long-term average for the national sales-to-new listings ratio is 54.9%, with readings between 45% and 65% generally consistent with balanced housing market conditions.

At the end of May 2025, 201,880 properties were listed for sale on all Canadian MLS® Systems, up 13.2% from a year earlier but remaining about 5% below the long-term average of around 211,500 listings for the month.

“May saw an increased number of new listings hitting the market early in the month, followed by a higher number of transactions in the second half of the month, so overall more sellers and buyers compared to April,” said Valérie Paquin, CREA Chair. “It seems like this may carry over into June as well.”

There were 4.9 months of inventory nationally at the end of May 2025, near the long-term average of five months. Based on one standard deviation above and below that long-term average, a seller’s market would be below 3.6 months, and a buyer’s market would be above 6.4 months.

Home Prices

The National Composite MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) was relatively unchanged (-0.2%) from April to May 2025. The pause follows three straight month-over-month declines of closer to 1%. The non-seasonally adjusted National Composite MLS® HPI was down 3.5% compared to May 2024.

Bottom Line

The First-Time Homebuyers GST Rebate on newly built homes took effect for purchase agreements dated on or after May 27. This may bring some additional buyers into sales offices, but it’ll be a while before those projects break ground and show up in the housing starts statistics.

In the resale market, May saw the first signs of optimism in home sales in six months, but sales remain at the low end of seasonal norms. While trade war uncertainty still looms, average and benchmark prices have fallen to about 17% below their early 2022 peaks. The opportunity may have been too good for some buyers to pass up.

New listings picked up about 3% from April, while inventory held steady at nearly five months. With this excess supply in the market, average sale prices ticked up only slightly in May but remain flat over the past year, while the benchmark price declined marginally.

Regional differences remained significant. Home sales reversed course in Quebec City, but the average selling price increased, reaching a new high. Despite stronger sales in Toronto and Vancouver, these cities remained deep in buyer’s market territory.

While one good month of home sales doesn’t make a trend, there may be signs of cautious optimism for the resale market for those buyers who remain little affected by the ongoing trade war. The combination of lower prices, more inventory and less economic uncertainty should continue to entice more homebuyers back into the market this summer. This would be more likely if the Bank of Canada cuts rates again, which could well happen in July if the inflation readings improve, especially for core inflation.

Written by DLC Chief Economist Dr Sherry Cooper

Starting Points & Strategies

What, Who, How, Why

What is a Reverse Mortgage?

A loan secured against the value of a homeowner’s principal residence.

Who qualifies for a Reverse Mortgage?

Homeowners age 55 or older who live in their primary residence and has a low mortgage balance or is mortgage-free.  A homeowner can apply for a Reverse Mortgage with the help of a mortgage broker, as well as a lawyer who can review the terms of the Reverse Mortgage and clarify how it will affect their heirs and estate planning.

How does a homeowner qualify for a Reverse Mortgage?

There is no need to qualify by debt service ratios or income level, additionally, Reverse Mortgages will not impact pension payments.  Furthermore, the funds withdrawn are tax-free and the homeowner maintains ownership of the home.

Up to 55% of the home equity can be accessed.

No monthly payments are required; however, optional interest payments can be made.

Why would a homeowner want a Reverse Mortgage?

These are the different Strategies that can be used with a Reverse Mortgage:

• First time home buyer – gift from grandparents/parents – help adult kids to purchase home without touching savings of grandparents/parents
• Living inheritance, tuition gifts to family members
• Debt consolidation
• Monthly income
• Renovations
• Divorce/separation – use equity to buy second home for other spouse so can wait for good time to sell, no rush to sell immediately
• Down-sizing – use equity for downpayment to avoid having to use “condition to sale of home”. Allows for time to transition into a new home.
• Proactive down-sizing – Purchase down-size property now, rent out until ready to downsize. Use rental income for vacations, etc.
• Purchase investment property, vacation home, able to purchase a “unique property, rural property, remote location” more easily

**Using Reverse Mortgage funds for investing means interest is tax-deductible

Written by Kim Franz

Refinancing Your Mortgage in 2025.

Refinancing your mortgage can be a smart financial move for many reasons, and as your trusted mortgage advisor, I’ve seen how much it can benefit homeowners!

Ideally, refinancing is done at the end of your mortgage term to avoid penalties, but the timing can vary depending on your goals. For some, it’s about unlocking the equity in their home to fund renovations or cover big expenses like college tuition. For others, it’s an opportunity to consolidate debt, lower their interest rate, or change up their mortgage product.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways refinancing your mortgage can help!

• Get a Better Rate: As interest rates have continued to decrease with the Bank of Canada updates these past few months, now is a great time to consider refinancing for a better rate and lower overall mortgage payments!  Experts anticipate the Bank of Canada will move to have the overnight rate down to 4.0% at year-end and potentially down to 2.75% for 2025.
• Consolidate Debt: When it comes to renewal season and considering a refinance, this is a great time to review your existing debt and determine whether or not you want to consolidate it onto your mortgage. In most cases, the interest rate on your mortgage is less than you would be charged with credit card companies or other forms of financing you may have. Plus, having all your debt consolidated into a single payment can keep you on track!
• Unlock Your Home Equity: Do you have projects around the house you’ve been dying to get started on? Need funds for a large purchase such as a new vehicle or post-secondary education? When you are looking to renew your mortgage, it is a great opportunity to consider refinancing in order to take advantage of the home equity you have built up to help with these larger changes in your life!
• Change Your Mortgage Product: Are you unhappy with your existing mortgage product? If you have a variable-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage, you may be considering locking it in at the lower rates. Alternatively, you may want to switch your current fixed-rate mortgage to a variable option with the interest rates expected to continue decreasing into 2025. You can also utilize your refinance to take advantage of a different payment or amortization schedule to help pay off your mortgage faster!

PLUS! Some latest changes by the Government of Canada will make it even easier for you when it comes to your renewal and refinancing options:

• Those of you who may have an uninsured mortgage will no longer have to pass the stress test as of November 21st. This means that you have more flexibility when it comes to rates and mortgage products in renewal cases where you wish to switch lenders without adding additional funds to your mortgage!
• Beginning January 15, the federal government will allow default-insured mortgages to be refinanced to build a secondary suite. If you’ve been considering adding a suite to your property, you may be eligible to access up to 90% of your home’s equity for this purpose.

Written by my DLC Marketing Team