The first thing to keep in mind is that interest rates are at an all-time low.  Whether you qualify for 2.59% or 3.29% or even 4.99%, it is still a very low cost of borrowing. A mortgage for most people is the cheapest form of borrowing money. Now let's consider the lender's perspective. Lenders have money that they want to loan out as mortgages, and they need to earn a return on their money. The higher the risk of the investment, the higher the rate of interest charged.&nbsp...

One of the questions I get most frequently is "why use a broker, why not just go to a bank?" When I got my first mortgage about 18 years ago, I went straight to my bank and filled out an application. I didn't even know that mortgage brokers existed. I accepted whatever rate the bank offered and bought my first condo. Looking back, I had no idea what mortgage options were available or what rates other lenders were offering. The mortgage industry has come a long way in 18 ye...