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There are now seventy amazing pictures of Ontario Tourist Attractions

on this cool new photo contest website.

Starting in september, Lenzr has been collecting Ontario Tourist Attractions pictures and is set-up to make participants slightly nostalgic and reminiscent of their own family road trips across this great big province. They should reflect on all the places they stopped wherein family pictures for scrapbooks and photo albums occured. The Big Nickle was submitted by sj_gb who delights the admin by linking to a personal photography blogspot in the designated area in the user profile.  This contest is a search for pictures that celebrate of our province’s most interesting destinations, and The Big Nickle is a classic. Look at these other gems, This photo by Slimmswitch is called Ottawa - The Spider City and so far it has the most votes with the highest rating.

Caption: Located in Ottawa, if you stand under this huge spider and look up you can actually see they put fake spider eggs inside the structure??

The one is titled, No Pesky Neighbours Here and was uploaded by mommakoala. This is a terrific photo from 1000 islands tourist attraction in the most eastern corner of Ontario.

Lenzr is an online attraction that celebrates Ontario as it asks users to upload scenic shots of the province's most delightful destinations. Ontario Tourist Attractions photo contest on Lenzr sponsored by Kanetix insurance & mortgage rate quotes This photo contest ends 12:01 am on the morning of November 1st 2009. Two Prizes: both cash prizes. There’s a $200 value first prize, followed by a $100 second prize unit.

Used car salesmen often get a bad rap, and there's a good reason for that. Once you drive the car of the lot they wash their hands of you, and don't care much about your mileage, car insurance rates, or driving experience in general. In Canada, most used car salesman will say just about anything to sell a car, but its what they don't say that really matters.



You can't ask enough good questions when it comes to buying a used car. Regardless of whether you're buying from a licensed car dealer or salesperson, or privately from an old friend, you'll want to consider questions like:

    1. Are you the original owner (if buying privately)?
    2. Why are you selling the vehicle (if buying privately)?
    3. Are you the person who drove it the most (if buying privately)?
    4. How many people have owned the car?
    5. What is the car's condition? How about the body and upholstery?
    6. Has the car ever needed repairs that cost more than say $1000?
    7. Has the vehicle ever been in an accident?
    8. Do you have service records?
    9. Did the car come from another province?
    10. Was it ever used as a taxi, police car, emergency vehicle, a lease or rental?
    11. Does the odometer accurately show the true mileage the car has traveled?

Understand how much the car is worth
If you're interested in finding the value of a used car, check the Canadian Red Book. You'll likely find a copy at a local library, but keep in mind this is only a guideline.

Disclaimer - The above description/explanation is intended as a guideline only, and is not to be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance products, or to provide legal or financial advice of any kind. Also, this blog does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed.

Whether you’re purchasing your first home, upgrading to a larger home, downsizing or relocating, if you need a mortgage, chances are you will encounter some of the following terms. Its no secret, a mortgage is a huge responsibility, so it’s best you understand mortgage rates, and the terminology brokers use when shopping for your mortgages - remember you’ll have to live by the terms for years to come.

Amortization

The number of years it would take you to fully repay your mortgage based on a set number of fixed payments; this can range from 1 to 35 years. This is different than the mortgage term.

Closed mortgage

A mortgage which cannot be prepaid, renegotiated, or refinanced before the mortgage term reaches full maturity without some sort of additional charges; often three months worth of interest. Interest rates for a closed mortgage are typically lower than the rates offered for an open mortgage.

This might not be as stringent as it sounds. Many mortgages will allow you to make lump sum payments once a year up to a certain percentage of the mortgage without penalty.

Convertible mortgage

A convertible mortgage offers you the option to convert your shorter term mortgage into a longer term mortgage at any time without any prepayment charges.

Down payment

The money you put down upfront towards the purchase of your home, which then influences the amount of mortgage you require. Down payments typically range from 10%-25% of the total value of the home.

Fixed rate mortgage

The interest rate for a fixed rate mortgage will not fluctuate. It is set, and will not change for the entire term of the mortgage.

High ratio mortgage

A mortgage loan when you have less than 20% for a down payment towards the purchase of the property. Or, alternately a mortgage loan for an amount that is more than 80% of the value of the property.

Mortgage

A mortgage is a loan you take out, typically to buy a property (a second mortgage may not involve the purchase of property). The property is used as collateral to ensure that the amount borrowed is paid back.

Mortgage rate

When you take out a mortgage, you are borrowing money. The mortgage rate is the percentage interest you will pay back on top of the money you borrowed.

Mortgage term

The term of the mortgage is the length of the loan. This is different than the amortization period. A mortgage is usually amortized over say 20 to 35 years, with a shorter term (usually 1 to 10 years). At the end of the term, the remaining balance of the principal (amount of money borrowed) can either be repaid or a new mortgage agreement can be arranged at a new interest rate.

Open mortgage

An open mortgage can be prepaid, in part or in full, at any time during the mortgage term, without the penalties associated with a closed mortgage. Interest rates for an open mortgage are typically higher than the rates offered for a closed mortgage.

Prime interest rate

The prime interest rate is usually the lowest interest rate available when borrowing money.

Principal

The amount of the loan owed at any specified time, not including interest.

Published rates

Mortgage rates are published daily. Through Kanetix.ca, you can find today’s current rates from some of the most common mortgage lenders, including banks, trust companies, savings and loan companies and credit unions. 

Variable rate mortgage

A variable rate mortgage is a mortgage where the interest rate fluctuates according to changes in the prime lending rate. The payments for a variable rate mortgage do not fluctuate with the fluctuation of the interest rate. Instead, if interest rates go down, more of the payment is applied to reduce the principal; if rates go up, more of the payment is applied to payment of interest. 

Disclaimer - The above description/explanation is intended as a guideline only, and is not to be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance products, or to provide legal or financial advice of any kind. Also, this blog does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed.