Like the USA did in 2007, Canada is investigating the real estate listing service and filing to make changes to allow more access to consumers and more choice in types of real estate services. When the changes were made south of the border, the real estate market really opened up for new entrants and costs became much lower for people listing their homes. Hopefully we will get similar changes and choices.

Starting April 30, TD is going to be charging their customers for having a line-of-credit not using them. I’ve always had a line-of-credit available to me so I can use it in an emergency. It’s nice to have an available credit line that uses reasonable rates – especially compared to credit cards.

While I’m no fan of the current government efforts to stimulate the economy – their complaints about banks tightening up credit to consumers seem very valid when you see tactics like this. What incentive do you have to have a credit line available to you? Instead you have to close the account to waive the fee, only to reapply for it when you need it – and in an emergency that could be very difficult to do.

Having been a big fan of TD Bank in the past, this makes me doubt I will keep all my accounts there. The true test will be if all the other banks follow them with the fee, leaving Canadian banking customers all out in the cold.