An Introduction to “Smart” Technology | Smart Home Series

Marci • March 4, 2016

Welcome to the introduction article of a 3 part series focusing on smart technology with a focus on smart homes. Expect part 2 in a week and part 3 a week after that. 3 parts, 3 weeks, simple as that. 

We all need some sort of “down time” in our lives; time to unwind and reflect. And though most of us are required to put in a hard day’s work, when the clock signals the end of the work day, the vast majority of us are looking for any and all ways to work less, think less, and relax more. Enter “smart” technology; that which is designed to do much of the working and thinking for us, so that we don’t have to spend our valuable personal time trudging through unnecessary exertion hoops.

The term “smart” has popped up in a few different places over the last number of years. Let’s look, very briefly, at four such examples:

The “Smart” Phone

Perhaps the greatest innovation of the last thirty years, these handheld devices have completely transformed the way that our world communicates, shrinking our once endless land and seascape into a global playground. Not to mention, they’re great for browsing Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. What’s crazy is the kids of the future will never know life without one!

The “Smart” Car

Not to be confused with the (tiny) vehicle of the same name, smart car technology has progressed rather slowly. Yes, many current models include such features as: voice activated climate control, touch screen GPS, park assist, and backing cameras, but it’s been less “Back To The Future” style advancements, and more gimmicky overpriced gadgets. Truthfully, we’re all still waiting for the electric/self-driving Google or Apple car, both of which may or may not be very far off.

“Smart” Internet Monitoring Technology

Yes, internet monitoring is a big topic (too big for this post), but if you want to talk about “smart” then look no further than the tracking/analytics programs utilized by any and all of the top online brass. Ever wonder how targeted ads show up on your Facebook wall? Well, to put it in layman’s terms, your computer is learning (or perhaps more aptly, people inside of your computer are tracking you). Is this incredibly convenient, or is this incredibly terrifying? Most definitely, both. There is no doubt that Amazon knows more about you than you do!

The “Smart” Television

Smart TV’s are essentially a hybrid of television and computer/internet technology. So, in addition to spending hours channel surfing, you can stream content “on demand”, you can go down the YouTube rabbit trail, or you can binge on the latest Netflix offering. So there’s that.

Enter the most recent trend on the “smart” block:

The “Smart” Home

It should be mentioned, at this point, that when we say “smart” home, we’re not talking about artificial intelligence (although this sort of Terminator style technology is, no doubt, being developed within the hallowed halls of Google, Apple and Samsung). Rather, what we’re talking about is automation. We’re talking about a home that’s wired to respond to your commands through various means, including simple voice controls, as well as easily downloaded applications (the second of which will be our main focus, here).

The end result?
*Advanced security/ease of mind
*Energy savings,
*Convenience
*Fun!

Advanced Security/Ease of Mind

Home automation allows for doors and windows to be locked remotely. It allows for security systems to be activated from outside the home. And it allows for “up to the minute” monitoring from any connected device. These functions (and more) help to provide ease of mind to the consumer.

Energy Savings

How often have you left your home, only to get twenty minutes down the road before thinking, “Did I leave the hall lights on?” In a previous age, you would either turn around, making a thirty minute trip into a seventy-five minute trip, or continue on, trying to forget about the possibility that you left the lights on, or the heater, or the television, or the coffee maker. With smart home technology however, this worry is needless; an artifact from the not so distant past. Control all of your lights, dimmers, switches, appliances and amenities with the simplicity of the touch screen on your smart phone. It’s truly that easy.

Convenience

All of this is downright convenient! Need proof? See the above paragraph.

Fun!

This technology is also fun! Who wouldn’t want to be able to control their home remotely, with the touch of a digital button?! The future is here, people!

We’ll get into some of the wildly interesting, room by room specifics in the next blog post. For now, keep in mind that: first comes home ownership, then comes home customizing! So, if you’re considering the purchase of a new (or a new to you) home, contact me anytime!

Let me walk you through the process with you. You won’t be disappointed!

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Everything You Need to Know About Mortgage Financing in Canada

By Marci Deane • November 5, 2025
For most Canadians, buying a home isn’t possible without a mortgage. And while getting a mortgage may seem straightforward—borrow money, buy a home, pay it back—it’s the details that make the difference. Understanding how mortgages work (and what to watch out for) is key to keeping your borrowing costs as low as possible. The Basics: How a Mortgage Works A mortgage is a loan secured against your property. You agree to pay it back over an amortization period (often 25 years), divided into shorter terms (ranging from 6 months to 10 years). Each term comes with its own interest rate and rules. While the interest rate is important, it’s not the only thing that determines the true cost of your mortgage. Features, penalties, and flexibility all play a role—and sometimes a slightly higher rate can save you thousands in the long run. Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Mortgage How long will you stay in the property? Your timeframe helps determine the right term length and product. Do you need flexibility to move? If a work transfer or lifestyle change is possible, portability may be important. What are the penalties for breaking the mortgage early? This is one of the biggest factors in the real cost of borrowing. A low rate won’t save you if breaking costs you tens of thousands. How are penalties calculated? Some lenders use more borrower-friendly formulas than others. It’s not easy to calculate yourself—get professional help. Can you make extra payments? Prepayment privileges allow you to pay off your mortgage faster, potentially saving years of interest. How is the mortgage registered on title? Some registrations (like collateral charges) can limit your ability to switch lenders at renewal without extra costs. Which type of mortgage fits best? Fixed, variable, HELOCs, or even reverse mortgages each have their place depending on your financial and life situation. What’s your down payment? A larger down payment could reduce or eliminate mortgage insurance premiums, saving thousands upfront. Why the Lowest Rate Isn’t Always the Best Choice It’s tempting to chase the lowest rate, but mortgages with rock-bottom pricing often come with restrictive terms. For example, saving 0.10% on your rate may put a few extra dollars in your pocket each month, but if the mortgage has harsh penalties, you could end up paying thousands more if you break it early. The goal isn’t just the lowest rate—it’s the lowest overall cost of borrowing . That’s why it’s so important to look beyond the headline number and consider the whole picture. The Bottom Line Mortgage financing in Canada is about more than rate shopping. It’s about aligning your mortgage with your financial goals, lifestyle, and future plans. The best way to do that is to work with an independent mortgage professional who can walk you through the fine print and help you secure the product that truly keeps your costs low. If you’d like to explore your options—or review your current mortgage to see if it’s really working in your favour—let’s connect. I’d be happy to help.

Bank of Canada Cuts but may have also thrown us a Curveball Oct 29

By Marci Dean • October 31, 2025
Apologies in advance for all the baseball puns! We are fully on the Blue Jay bandwagon over here ad loving every minute of it! Who knew baseball could be so much fun and wow, the strategy!! Very impressed!! As you likely heard, the Bank of Canada took the mound and cut the BOC policy rate to 2.25% which will push prime down to 4.45%. That’s the lowest since mid-2022. This was not a celebratory pitch. It was a damage-control adjustment to help an economy that’s limping between bases. Why the BoC Made the Move Think of the economy as a lineup that’s losing steam: GDP contracted — investment and exports are getting jammed inside Jobs remain soft — hiring is weak, unemployment is climbing Trade uncertainty (especially CUSMA renewal drama) has businesses choking up on the bat Consumers are still swinging , but they can’t win the series alone Inflation Scoreboard Inflation isn’t a shutout, but the score is manageable: CPI hovering near 2–2.5% Core still “sticky” around 3%, but trending lower BoC believes price pressures will cool further in coming innings That gave them the green light to make this cut without risking a walk-off inflation disaster. Forward Guidance = “Don’t Expect Extra Cuts Right Away” Macklem essentially said: If the game plays out as expected, this is the right rate for now. Translation: barring a shock, don’t expect another cut in December.  This is likely a pause , not the start of an aggressive easing cycle. Markets agree — odds of another cut next meeting are tiny.

Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Oct 29th, 2025

By Marci Deane • October 29, 2025
Bank of Canada lowers policy rate to 2¼%. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Relations Ottawa, Ontario October 29, 2025 The Bank of Canada today reduced its target for the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. With the effects of US trade actions on economic growth and inflation somewhat clearer, the Bank has returned to its usual practice of providing a projection for the global and Canadian economies in this Monetary Policy Report (MPR). Because US trade policy remains unpredictable and uncertainty is still higher than normal, this projection is subject to a wider-than-usual range of risks. While the global economy has been resilient to the historic rise in US tariffs, the impact is becoming more evident. Trade relationships are being reconfigured and ongoing trade tensions are dampening investment in many countries. In the MPR projection, the global economy slows from about 3¼% in 2025 to about 3% in 2026 and 2027. In the United States, economic activity has been strong, supported by the boom in AI investment. At the same time, employment growth has slowed and tariffs have started to push up consumer prices. Growth in the euro area is decelerating due to weaker exports and slowing domestic demand. In China, lower exports to the United States have been offset by higher exports to other countries, but business investment has weakened. Global financial conditions have eased further since July and oil prices have been fairly stable. The Canadian dollar has depreciated slightly against the US dollar. Canada’s economy contracted by 1.6% in the second quarter, reflecting a drop in exports and weak business investment amid heightened uncertainty. Meanwhile, household spending grew at a healthy pace. US trade actions and related uncertainty are having severe effects on targeted sectors including autos, steel, aluminum, and lumber. As a result, GDP growth is expected to be weak in the second half of the year. Growth will get some support from rising consumer and government spending and residential investment, and then pick up gradually as exports and business investment begin to recover. Canada’s labour market remains soft. Employment gains in September followed two months of sizeable losses. Job losses continue to build in trade-sensitive sectors and hiring has been weak across the economy. The unemployment rate remained at 7.1% in September and wage growth has slowed. Slower population growth means fewer new jobs are needed to keep the employment rate steady. The Bank projects GDP will grow by 1.2% in 2025, 1.1% in 2026 and 1.6% in 2027. On a quarterly basis, growth strengthens in 2026 after a weak second half of this year. Excess capacity in the economy is expected to persist and be taken up gradually. CPI inflation was 2.4% in September, slightly higher than the Bank had anticipated. Inflation excluding taxes was 2.9%. The Bank’s preferred measures of core inflation have been sticky around 3%. Expanding the range of indicators to include alternative measures of core inflation and the distribution of price changes among CPI components suggests underlying inflation remains around 2½%. The Bank expects inflationary pressures to ease in the months ahead and CPI inflation to remain near 2% over the projection horizon. With ongoing weakness in the economy and inflation expected to remain close to the 2% target, Governing Council decided to cut the policy rate by 25 basis points. If inflation and economic activity evolve broadly in line with the October projection, Governing Council sees the current policy rate at about the right level to keep inflation close to 2% while helping the economy through this period of structural adjustment. If the outlook changes, we are prepared to respond. Governing Council will be assessing incoming data carefully relative to the Bank’s forecast. The Canadian economy faces a difficult transition. The structural damage caused by the trade conflict reduces the capacity of the economy and adds costs. This limits the role that monetary policy can play to boost demand while maintaining low inflation. The Bank is focused on ensuring that Canadians continue to have confidence in price stability through this period of global upheaval. Information note The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is December 10, 2025. The Bank’s next MPR will be released on January 28, 2026. Read the October 29th, 2025 Monetary Report