Personal Finance

Securing Your Today and Tomorrow

Housing as Income Percentage

Financial planners generally advise spending no more than 28% to 30% of your gross monthly income on housing. This guideline is known as the "front-end ratio" and primarily covers housing expenses like mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and...

Accessing Your Credit Score

In Canada, understanding and monitoring your credit score is crucial for managing your financial health. This score, a numerical representation of your creditworthiness, impacts various aspects of your financial life, from securing loans to negotiating better terms on...

Mortgages: You Better Shop Around

When shopping for a mortgage it is important to think like a bank. Don’t pay the loyalty penalty, get the advantage of having Allen Ehlert shop the market and get you your best mortgage

Property Tax Calculations

Understanding property taxes and their calculations in Canada is essential for homeowners, prospective buyers, and real estate professionals alike. Property taxes are a significant source of revenue for municipalities and directly impact local services and...

Is It a Scam to Pay a Full Year’s Rent in Advance?

Learn what is legal and what is practised when competing for a place to rent.

10 Commandments of Mortgages

Looking to buy your new home is an exciting experience. All the possibilities. You look and you look and you look. You go to open houses, have your realtor take you into house after house, then all of of sudden you walk into one house and bang it hits you, home! You...

Basis Points: Key to Smarter Mortgage Decisions

Learn what basis points are, why they are used and their impact on the mortgage application process.

Canadian Utilities Costs

Explore the cost of utilities in Canada to manage your household expenses better. Gain insights into average rates and cost-saving strategies.

Using a Cash-Back Realtor

In today’s real estate market, many Canadian homebuyers don’t know about the benefits of a cash-back realtor. Imagine getting a part of the agent’s commission for every property deal. This is what cash-back home buying offers, making homes more affordable in Canada.

Gifts Ineligible for Net Worth Programs

Discover why gifts are not generally eligible to be used as part of the down payment or source of income for people applying for a mortgage under the Net Worth Program

Second Mortgage Hard No!

May 15, 2026

Second Mortgage Hard No! Discover when getting a second mortgage is either a bad idea or completely not allowed.

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Introducing Effort Trust: Specializing in Complex Mortgage Scenarios

I often encounter clients who find themselves in a gray area—those who don’t quite fit the criteria for an “A” lender, but who still deserve competitive financing solutions. That’s why I’m introducing Effort Trust, a federally regulated “B” lender that offers flexible, fast, and practical mortgage solutions in Ontario. If you’ve never heard of Effort Trust before, you’re not alone—but they may be the right partner for your mortgage needs.

How the Bank of Canada Steers the Economy

Decoding How the Bank of Canada Influences the Economy Using its intricate workings, let's get into how the Bank of Canada steers interest rates to shape the entire economy. From influencing borrowing costs to guiding inflation, the BOC's policies have a profound...

Introducing Meridian Credit Union: A Trusted Partner in Real Estate Financing

I always want to securing the best financial solutions for my clients, I understand that trust is essential—especially when introducing a lender you may not have heard of or done business with before. That’s why I’m proud to introduce Meridian Credit Union, a unique lending partner that combines competitive mortgage products with the personal service of a community-based financial institution.

How Merdian’s Flex Line Compares to the Banks

Meridian’s Flex Line product provides a distinctive and competitive alternative to similar mortgage and Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) products available at Canada's chartered banks, such as the Scotia STEP, RBC Homeline Plan, TD FlexLine, BMO Readiline, and CIBC...

Introducing PHL Capital: A Lender That Thinks Like You Do

With years of experience guiding Canadians through complex financing decisions, I often get asked about lenders my clients haven’t heard of. One such lender that has consistently impressed me with their flexibility, responsiveness, and common-sense approach is PHL Capital. If you haven’t heard of them, you’re not alone—but after today, you’ll understand why they’re worth remembering.

Are You the Missing Middle?

Let’s cut to the chase—owning a home in the Greater Toronto Area used to be a realistic goal for middle-income Canadians. Now? Not so much. If you’re earning a decent salary but still can’t afford to buy (or even rent without stress), you’re probably part of a growing group called the “missing middle.” This article will walk you through what that means, who’s affected, why it’s happening, and what you can do about it—especially when it comes to mortgages.

Discovering GlassLake

In the ever-evolving Canadian lending landscape, one of my responsibilities as a licensed mortgage agent is to introduce clients to reputable, effective lenders—even those they may not have heard of before. Today, I want to introduce you to GlassLake, a rising force in alternative lending that is redefining how we approach both residential and commercial real estate financing.

FCT for Mortgage Switches

FCT (First Canadian Title) is a national provider of title insurance and real estate-related services in Canada. While not a lender, they serve as the operational backbone for countless mortgage transactions by working behind the scenes with lenders and mortgage agents like myself.

Introducing FCT

One of the most indispensable names in the Canadian real estate space is FCT (First Canadian Title). While many know them for their seamless handling of mortgage switch transactions, their role stretches far deeper. FCT is a national leader in real estate technology, title insurance, closing services, and transaction risk management.

What Is a Statutory Declaration

a document you probably won’t hear about until you absolutely need it: the statutory declaration. If you’re renewing, refinancing, or applying for a mortgage, this form might suddenly show up on your to-do list—and when it does, it’s important to understand what it is and how it works.

Introducing the B2B Sagen BFS Program

B2B Sagen BFS Program.As a professional mortgage agent committed to advocating for accessible and intelligent mortgage solutions, I often introduce clients to lenders they may not yet be familiar with. One such lender is B2B Bank, in partnership with Sagen, offering a powerful solution specifically tailored to Canada’s growing population of self-employed borrowers: the Alt-A Business-for-Self (BFS) Program.

Learn About First National

Part of my role is to connect my clients with lenders that offer the most competitive, flexible, and reliable financing options. One name that often surprises borrowers—because they haven’t seen a retail branch—is First National Financial LP. Let me formally introduce this outstanding lender and explain why I so often recommend them for mortgage switches, refinances, and more.

Discover Haventree Bank

As a licensed mortgage agent with a deep commitment to helping Canadians find the right financing solutions, I’m excited to introduce you to Haventree Bank—an increasingly important lending partner for clients who may not fit within traditional lending boxes. For many, Haventree is an unfamiliar name. Let me show you why that should change.

Co-op Appropriate Use

Co-ops don’t work like condos — not in how they’re owned, not in how they’re financed, and definitely not in how they’re used. And if you’re planning on leveraging the property to generate rental income or make investment plays, you need to understand this right now:

Canada’s Financial Snapshot

Whether you’re renewing, refinancing, or getting ready to jump into homeownership, let’s sit down and chat about something that directly affects your financial future: Canada’s financial landscape. Think of this as our casual coffee chat—packed with important info, minus the confusing jargon.