About Rubina

I’m a social media savvy financial journalist with more than 10 years of experience. My career spans three continents in TV, radio, print and online. My passion is economics, business and personal finance. Along with my weekly column at Ratesupermarket.ca, I’m also a regular business contributor on CBC Steven and Chris. I appear regularly on Roger’s South Asian Focus TV as the shows dedicated financial expert. I regularly contribute on NEWSTALK 1010 on economic and business news. I’m the finance editor at CondoLife Magazine in Toronto. My print work appears regularly in The Toronto Star’s Moneyville.ca, OurkidsMedia.com and MasalaMommas.ca. My own blog is AlwaysSaveMoney.ca. As a business reporter I have reported live from the Toronto Stock Exchange for CP24 and filed reports for Business News Network. Before making the leap to financial reporting I worked as an anchor and reporter at CBC, BBC and ABC. I have a degree from York University, a post-graduate Journalism diploma from Humber College and hold the CSC designation.

Articles by Rubina

CMHC Approaching Limit : A Warning to Homeowners

February 16, 2012 by Rubina

CMHC is given permission to insure up to a limit of $600-billion. That threshold is slowly approaching and concerning some mortgage brokers and real estate experts. They say this could adversely affect smaller lenders and consumers in the short to medium term.
READ MORE

The Economics of Love

February 9, 2012 by Rubina

Valentine’s Day is only a few days away and if you haven’t bought anything for your significant other you may want to read this before you do. Canadians will spend on average $144 million on chocolate and confectionery on the day of love. On top of that more than $20 million will be spent flowers, mostly by men.
READ MORE

My Debt to Income Ratio is Higher than 153%: But That’s Okay!

February 2, 2012 by Rubina

Experts will tell you your debt-to-income ratio is one of the best ways to gauge your financial position. The media often quotes the Bank of Canada saying Canadians are at dangerously high levels of debt at 153 per cent. But what does that mean? I’ve spent dinner parties arguing how to properly calculate debt to income ratios and how much is too much. There are many schools of thought on how to asses your financial health. Here are a few.
READ MORE

Mini Real Estate Boom: A Sign Of What’s To Come

January 27, 2012 by Rubina

January is turning into one of the hottest months ever for real estate sales. Realtors say they have never experienced such a busy January. In my opinion, 2012 could be one of the hottest years for real estate. The mini boom the country is experiencing now will only grow as we move into the busiest real estate season. What’s behind the boom?
READ MORE

Condos in Canada: Is the Bubble a Myth?

January 19, 2012 by Rubina

Despite what all the real estate market pessimists might say in my opinion there is no condominium bubble in Canada. All signs point to Canada’s real estate market remaining strong for this year and well into the rest of the decade. In most major urban centers the average resale price is at historic highs. This indicates an even greater need for condominiums, which are often seen as a more cost effective alternative to single family homes. Here are the major reasons that debunk any theory that Canadian condominium prices are bubbling.
READ MORE