News Releases
New homebuyers eager to jump into Canada's sizzling housing market can look to the Internet's hottest new medium for answers to their most common questions. BMO Bank of Montreal has teamed up with Sandra Rinomato, host of a popular reality television series for first time home buyers, to launch the new series of audio information segments aimed at informing those entering the real estate market for the first time.
The free, weekly podcast will be available for download on the BMO.com websites as well as on iTunes and other podcast distributors. The series will take listeners through the decisions faced by those new to the home buying process, educating them on big-picture issues, while providing them with critical details and investigating some common myths.
Sandra will consult with industry experts, such as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Chief Economist Bob Dugan, Gary McRae of Coldwell Banker Terrequity Realty, as well as BMO mortgage experts Laura Parsons and John Turner, to guide new homebuyers through the home buying process.
“Purchasing a first home can be a complex and sometimes confusing process,” said Cid Palacio Vice President, BMO Bank of Montreal. “By developing and presenting this podcast series we want to help arm new home buyers with the information they need to overcome their anxiety and enter the market with confidence.”
Throughout the series these experts will provide podcast listeners with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions on the purchase of their first home. Podcast topics will include:
- Looking at the “big picture” – outlining recent housing market trends, analyzing potential changes and detailing how these changes might affect new homebuyers.
- Mortgage Approval 101 – guiding new homebuyers on the process of applying for and securing a mortgage.
- Making the Purchase – educating new homebuyers on the many factors they should consider when purchasing a home, as well as a breakdown of the additional costs they may encounter.
- Debunking the Home Buying Myths – a point-by-point analysis that investigates some of the common myths often encountered by new homebuyers.
“ The recent rise in real estate values, particularly in major cities and ever-fluctuating interest rates has left many young Canadians anxious about their prospects for purchasing a home,” said Rinomato. “Fears are often aggravated by myths about mortgage qualifications and market trends.”
“Today's first-time homebuyers are often Internet-savvy young people, who look to the web for answers to their endless list of questions. The podcast is the perfect, interactive medium to engage these newcomers in the housing market and help them through the process,” she noted.
About Sandra Rinomato
A property expert in the Toronto area for more than 12 years, Sandra Rinomato hosts a popular reality television series for first time homebuyers. She has focused her career on achieving the best possible outcome for her clients. Whether buying or selling a home, “setting the stage for an outstanding performance” is Sandra's specialty. There is a formula for success in selling real estate, and Sandra uses it! With her upfront honesty, and "go that extra mile" attitude, Sandra's effective negotiating skills combined with her expertise and professionalism are a true value-add for all real estate transactions.
About BMO Bank of Montreal
Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $356 billion as at January 31, 2007, and more than 35,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions. BMO Financial Group serves clients across Canada through its Canadian retail arm, BMO Bank of Montreal and through its wealth management firms BMO Nesbitt Burns, BMO InvestorLine and BMO Harris Private Banking. BMO Capital Markets, our North American investment and corporate banking division, provides a full suite of financial products and services to our North American and international clients. In the United States, BMO serves clients through Chicago-based Harris, an integrated financial services organization that provides more than one million personal and business clients with banking, lending, investing, financial planning, trust administration, portfolio management, family office and wealth transfer services.
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