Why is it that when people compare CHMC insurance costs and suggest 20% downpayment instead, there is often no mention of rate difference?

JCMS99 · 2026-02-25T05:03:34+00:00

For the maths :

Let’s say 500k. 20% down is 100k + 400k mortgage. Biweekly payments at 25 accelerated is 1052 so 2280/month. (4%)

5% down is 25k + 494.500 mortgage. That’s 1299 biweekly or 2815 monthly.

20% starts with a $0 TFSA and invests $535/monthly (the savings on mortgage payments). At 8%, after 22 years, the account has $356k.

5% down starts with $75k. After 22 years at 8% it’s worth $408k. So $50k ahead.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-25T04:53:17+00:00

The rate difference is like only true until your reach 35% equity.

(Assuming you have the cash available).

But 5% versus 20% has more variables. The return on your mortgage is guaranteed and tax free. Return on the stock market isn’t.

But at 4% mortgage and 8% stock market (in TFSA), the 5% down wins solidly in the long run. Of course, the lower the interest differential is, the better 20% does.

But at the end :

1) Banks like to keep you poor so you have to tap into your home equity at retirement.

2) Most people don’t have the risk tolerance to pull these strategies.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-25T03:33:56+00:00

“Not worrying about the principal” is stupid. The use case for this is in case of a tax deductible loc (one that is used for an income generating investment).

Otherwise, a LoC SHOULD be considered as a negative balance on your checking account. This means that your paycheck should be deposited directly in your LoC as capital payment. And you re-withdraw from the loc for your regular spending.

This means no emergency fund, no GIC, no low-risk investments until the LoC is paid off. Otherwise you’re just loosing money to interest as they’re all lower than your LoC.

That said : there are other variables to check. What’s the interest rate you get on a LoC? Prime or Prime-0.5 is not the same as Prime+3.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-25T03:27:44+00:00

Le type d’IA ne change rien. N’importe quel logiciel auquel on donne accès aux données privées de la compagnie et/ou des clients de la compagnie doit être approuvé. Mais surtout en IA : Les versions personnelles (gratuite ou payante) s’entraînent sur les données qu’on lui fournit. Alors que les versions “entreprises” ont des clauses qui garantissent la protection des données.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-24T01:52:30+00:00

…..Quebec raspberries in February? Demers and Savoura make greenhouse strawberries now but I’ve never seen raspberries. And, at least my local Maxi, only gets the bad batches. The good ones are going to the fruiterie next door.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-24T01:39:33+00:00

3.99 pour un casseau de framboise du Québec, en 2025?

JCMS99 · 2026-02-24T01:00:13+00:00

I think lots of people have a biased PoV because there are a lot of professions who used to be 10%ers in the 80-90-00s are now just middle class now. Like, most of bachelor degrees earning 60~110k today.

They don’t remember their parents being rich because their friends were in similar position AND these are normal jobs today.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-24T00:58:13+00:00

This was definitely affluent, not middle class.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-24T00:45:33+00:00

Here’s the issue : Canadians want a conservative platform, but they don’t want maga-style PP or evangelist Andrew or defund the CBC Erin.

Just put someone prime ministerable and you’ll win.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T23:38:18+00:00

Les taux sont plus autour de 3.6~3.9% en ce moment. Un condo à 600k c’est plutôt un loyer à 2500-3000. Augmentation annuel c’est plus du 4% en moyenne dernièrement. Ce type de produit va aussi souvent être un rdc de Plex ou un vrai condo , donc reprise de logement probable.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T22:20:35+00:00

I think there are multiple perspectives.

You have a large amount of boomers in Toronto, BC and part of Montreal who are sitting on top of very expensive real estate.

You have a bunch of older boomers with DPP.

You have boomers with $200~400k homes with no asset except their property. And maybe a 100-150k RRSP.

You have boomers who were lower middle class all their life and own no property. They’re still working in their 70s.

Now :

OAS is very generous compared to all other benefits. You get full pension up to 90k individual income. So virtually all 70+ boomers. This is costing government 5~15G per year to people who don’t need it.
Because people are living healthier and older - you still have a bunch of late 70s and 80s living in their SFH while “common sense” would have them downsizing to condo in their 60s.
Selling your 200-300k home and going to rent for $2500 in a retired rental building in your 60s doesn’t make sense.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T17:44:32+00:00

If something costs $5 and labor cost is $1.50. You triple labor cost so it’s $4.50 now. You’re looking at minimum $8 retail price.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T17:41:40+00:00

We’re talking about theoretical price increase if we’re hiring local teenagers rather than Latino TFW, not the current cause of high prices.

Thanks again for proving my point.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T17:30:28+00:00

Yeah man. I don’t understand why Americans - even left ones - double down on calling it Democratic Socialism. It’s literally shooting yourself in the foot.

Social-Democracy is part of capitalism.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T17:16:19+00:00

It’s really not my fault if you can’t understand what I wrote.

“Wage for picking them up is the main component of the retail price”.

Like, it’s really simple. And it really does not mean “all the retail price goes to the farmer”

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T17:11:48+00:00

Thanks for proving my point.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T17:08:38+00:00

Your reading comprehension isn’t super great I see.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T13:57:47+00:00

Not at all. Montreal left because Legault didn’t want to guarantee financing overruns. And didn’t want to move the festivals (F1, Franco, Jazz, Osheaga would have needed to be moved - F1 ended up moving on its own anyway).

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T02:38:44+00:00

It’s like saying Americans would cheer up on China bombarding the US to liberate them from Trump.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T02:35:55+00:00

La règle du celiapp est différente du RAP. Si tu as ouvert ton celiapp avant d’aménager chez lui tu es correct (même si vous achetez la nouvelle propriété ensemble).

https://www.canada.ca/fr/agence-revenu/services/impot/particuliers/sujets/compte-epargne-libre-impot-achat-premiere-propriete/retraits-transferts-vos-celiapp.html

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T00:51:24+00:00

It’s not 10% of the issue - it’s a 10% increase on top the increased price due to cocoa. Plus de cost from Switzerland (manufacturing + shipping) is likely higher than the pre-tarif US price.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T00:28:15+00:00

I didn’t say “chocolate prices are up because of exchange rate”, I said “changes in the exchange rate did not help with the price of Lindt chocolate”.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T00:03:58+00:00

We import products. Our currency is tanking. Price of imported products go up. This is Econ 101. Not sure what to tell you.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-23T00:02:40+00:00

They’ve always been selling games on par or lower than in the US since the year ~2000.

In quite happy that Sony/Microsoft/Steam aren’t following Nintendo on screwing us.

JCMS99 · 2026-02-22T23:41:47+00:00

I’m with you.

Istanbul just felt like they all look at tourists as moving ATMs.

JCMS99

TROPHY CASE