Let’s start with that dreaded "F" word—finances! Whether you’re buying a house in Trinidad and Tobago or buying property in Trinidad, chances are, unless you’ve received an inheritance, won the lottery, or have been saving since birth, you’ll need a mortgage.

The good news is that getting a mortgage in Trinidad is relatively straightforward. Banks, insurance companies, and credit unions can pre-approve you over the phone in as little as 15 minutes (this is commonly referred to as a pre-qualification). However, they will require specific documents to move forward with your mortgage application, including proof of income, details of any existing loans or credit card commitments, and your regular expenses. Once submitted, a credit committee will review everything, and if approved, you’ll get the final stamp of approval for your mortgage.

Let’s face it: our homes need a little sprucing up now and then. What worked ten years ago might not look so great today, but don’t stress! Whether you’re taking on a home renovation project or you just want to make a few upgrades this year, we’ll cover some tips and share our checklist for Property Maintenance to help you refresh and renew your home without breaking the bank—or your spirit.

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic that has swept across the world and touched down in our sister isle of T&T in the last couple weeks, working from home is no longer the exception but the rule. In the past, as a Terra Caribbean agent, we’ve always had the option to either work via remote access or come into the office and use the space there.

But with current conditions, we were strongly advised to stay home to do our part in flattening the curve. I could use some curve flattening! I welcomed the nearly mandatory work from home directive and thought, this should be fine, a walk in the park. But a week and a half in, this proved not to be exactly so. Here’s how I changed 5 woes into wins that may change my office life forever.