Richelle Morgan
Kingston Mortgage Solutions
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Level up with these moms at work business recommendations
January 30, 2025
I'm proud to have been feaured alongside other wonderful Mom-owned, Canadian businesses in a blog by Moms at Work.
"At Moms at Work, everything comes back to our mission to fix work - not women. We know that real change happens through everyday small acts, like choosing where to spend our money and who we support. That’s why we’re proud to highlight incredible service-based businesses from the Moms at Work Collective community. These businesses, run by talented professionals, are here to empower and support you—whether it’s navigating the housing market with a mortgage agent, boosting productivity with an executive function coach, finding balance with a life and menopause coach, prioritizing mental health with a psychology practice, or managing family challenges with a parenting and sleep coach. By choosing to support these businesses, you’re not only investing in yourself but also helping to create a more equitable and supportive world."
Read more about the other businesses I recommend on the Moms at Work website.

Recent mortgage industry changes – December 2024
January 10, 2025
There have been changes to Canada’s mortgage rules that could open up great opportunities for you. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, considering refinancing, or approaching your mortgage renewal, these changes may positively impact your mortgage options.
A summary of recent mortgage industry changes:
As of November 21, 2024:
• No stress test qualifying for mortgage switches (both insured and uninsured)
As of December 15, 2024:
• 30-year amortizations available for first-time homebuyers
• 30-year amortizations available for anyone buying a new build home
• Insured mortgages (less than 20% down) can be up to $1.5 million
Starting January 15, 2025:
• Refinances allowed up to 90% of your value if adding a secondary suite
While more details are to come, these rule changes are set to provide greater flexibility and new possibilities for Canadian homeowners. I’d love to help you understand how these updates could potentially benefit your situation.

My home selling journey during COVID-19
January 10, 2025
I had to put my home on the market during the first COVID-19 lockdown – almost exactly 4 years ago on April 5, 2020.
I had purchased a new construction home in 2019 that was going to be ready in June 2020.
Despite lockdowns, social distancing, school closures, only essential businesses being open, masking and a cleaning product shortage. Despite the unknown real estate market, economic freeze and mass layoffs.
I had no choice. I needed the equity from my current home as my down payment for my new one. I tried to wait out the “three weeks to flatten the curve”. I tried to wait to see what the market would be like on the other side of lockdowns but I was running out of time.
Showings were few. I had to sanitize the house before and after each showing. I had to leave all the lights on and closet doors open. Potential buyers were told to touch the least amount of surfaces, use hand sanitizer and wear a mask. My family and I went on long walks or car rides with drive-thru food during showings because there was nothing else to do safely. This added to the stress knowing we were letting others into our home during a time when we were told to keep our distance.
We took the only offer after a couple weeks of stress. It was $10,000 under asking. The closing date had to get pushed back 3 weeks because one buyer couldn’t get financing until her job re-opened. I had to arrange last-minute bridge financing to cover the gap in closing dates. I signed all the paperwork over Facetime with the lawyer. Virtual or e-signing wasn’t a thing yet.
Due to the changes in dates and financing, our closing was almost delayed. I am so thankful to my lawyer and her team, for working quickly to ensure everything came in just under the wire. The keys to my new home had to be delivered to my house because we closed at 4:55 on a Friday.
I don’t recommend selling a house during the initial stages of a global pandemic.
Despite the extreme uncertainty of the real estate market and the economy, my realtor, Tracie Tattrie, Royal LePage ProAlliance, my lawyer, Carolyn Knight, and my (now former) mortgage agent, Cris Vilela, worked so hard to help my family.
I learned so much from that experience that I now carry with me into my mortgage business today.
P.S. the image used above is my actual home once it sold!

Evolution of Women’s Home Ownership in Canada
January 10, 2025
Legal changes and societal attitudes have shaped women’s property ownership rights over time.
The history of women’s property ownership rights in Canada is a story of evolving legal frameworks and changing societal attitudes. Throughout the 19th century, women’s ability to own property was often tied to their marital status, with married women having limited rights to own property separately from their husbands. However, significant changes began to occur with the enactment of legislation such as the Married Women’s Property Act of 1884 in Ontario.
The Married Women’s Property Act of 1884 was a landmark piece of legislation that allowed married women in Ontario to own property in their own right, separate from their husbands. Similar legislation was subsequently enacted in other provinces, although the timing varied. These legal reforms marked a significant step forward in granting women greater property ownership rights and autonomy.
Even before these legal changes, there were instances of women owning property in Canada. For example, widows were often able to inherit property from their husbands. Additionally, in some Indigenous cultures in Canada, women had significant rights to land and property, reflecting the diversity of historical practices regarding women’s property rights.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw further legal reforms that expanded property ownership rights for women. By the early 20th century, most provinces in Canada had enacted legislation that allowed unmarried women to own property in their own right. These legal changes were part of broader efforts to improve women’s rights and address gender inequalities in property ownership.
19th Century: Women’s property rights tied to marital status.
- Married Women’s Property Act of 1884 in Ontario allowed married women to own property separately.
- Similar laws enacted in other provinces, varying in timing.
Pre-Legal Changes: Instances of women owning property.
- Widows could inherit property.
- Some Indigenous cultures gave women significant rights to land and property.
Late 19th & Early 20th Centuries: Legal reforms expanded property ownership rights for women.
- Married Women’s Property Acts granted women greater property ownership rights.
- Ontario led with the Married Women’s Property Act in 1884.
- Other provinces followed suit, advancing women’s property rights.
Today: Women in Canada have the same legal rights as men to own property.
- Challenges like the gender pay gap and housing market discrimination persist.
- Women increasingly gain access to and control over property.
Notable Milestones:
- 1884: Married Women’s Property Act in Ontario grants women property rights without permission from their fathers or husbands
- 1964: Women can open a bank account without husband’s signature.
- 1970s: Matrimonial Property Acts ensure equal division of property on marriage dissolution.
- 2016: 27% of all Canadian homeowners were single females.
- 2019: 61% of first-time and repeat home buyers in Canada were female per Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Mortgage Consumer survey
Today, women in Canada have the same legal rights as men to own property. However, challenges such as the gender pay gap and housing market discrimination persist, making it more difficult for women to afford homes, especially in expensive housing markets. Despite these challenges, the history of home ownership for women in Canada reflects broader societal changes in gender roles and rights, with women increasingly gaining access to and control over property over time.

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