by Allen Ehlert | November 23, 2025 | Economy, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… What to Know About Carrying a Mortgage in Retirement There’s a common assumption floating around out there — maybe you’ve heard it. It goes something like this: “Once I retire, I shouldn’t have a mortgage.” Sure, in a perfect world, that’s a nice goal. But life...
by Allen Ehlert | November 22, 2025 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Real Estate
… What You Need to Know Before You Buy That 55+ Condo Maybe you’re ready to downsize. Maybe you’re dreaming of a quieter, more community-focused place where you don’t have to shovel snow or cut the grass. Age-restricted properties — often branded as 55+ or “adult...
by Allen Ehlert | November 21, 2025 | Economy, Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
… Can I Still Buy a Home in Canada?” Yes — Here’s How. If you’re living in Canada on a work permit or study permit and wondering if homeownership is even on the table, I’ve got good news: yes, you absolutely can buy a home. You don’t have to wait until you’ve got your...
by Allen Ehlert | November 21, 2025 | Commercial, Mortgages
“Beyond the White Picket Fence: Why Commercial Mortgages Are a Whole Different Ball Game” If you’ve ever gone through the process of securing a residential mortgage, you know the routine: income verification, a credit check, an appraisal, and a few legal documents....
by Allen Ehlert | November 20, 2025 | Home Specifications, Mortgages, Real Estate
… But Only If You Follow the Rules Replacing a fence sounds simple enough, right? Two neighbours, a bit of lumber, a weekend, and maybe a cooler of cold drinks. But once you start talking property lines, costs, and local by-laws, things can get a little...
by Allen Ehlert | November 20, 2025 | Economy, Lender, Mortgages
… The Limits of Lines of Credit & Warehouse Facilities in Mortgage Lending You probably don’t sit around wondering how your lender pays for the mortgage they’re offering you. That’s fair—most people don’t. But if you’re a realtor or a savvy homebuyer, knowing a...
by Allen Ehlert | November 19, 2025 | Home Specifications, Mortgages, Real Estate
… Drawing the Line: Why You May Need a Land Survey Buying, selling, or upgrading a home is one of those times when small details can make or break the experience. You can renovate kitchens, paint walls, and swap out windows—but none of it matters much if you don’t...
by Allen Ehlert | November 18, 2025 | Home Specifications, Mortgages, Real Estate
… Lines in the Sand: How to Handle Property Line Disputes Without Losing Your Cool Few things can sour a cup of morning coffee faster than a knock at the door and your neighbour saying, “You’re on my property.” Whether it’s a fence, a shed, or even a few inches of...
by Allen Ehlert | November 18, 2025 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… How Different Income Sources (Including Overtime) Impact Your Mortgage Approval in Today’s Economy Once upon a time, mortgage applications were simple: you worked a 9-to-5 job, had a steady salary, and lenders barely batted an eye. Fast forward to today’s economy —...
by Allen Ehlert | November 16, 2025 | Commercial
… How Maintenance Reserves Protect You (and Your Property) in Commercial Real Estate” You’ve probably heard the term “maintenance reserve” tossed around in commercial lending conversations and wondered if it’s just another way lenders make life complicated. But the...
by Allen Ehlert | November 15, 2025 | Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
…. And Why That Low Rate Isn’t Always a Bargain We’ve all seen them — those ultra-low mortgage rates advertised by the big banks or online lenders. They’re tempting, no doubt about it. Who doesn’t want to save a few bucks on interest? But here’s what you might not...
by Allen Ehlert | November 15, 2025 | Economy, Lender, Mortgages
The Open Banking Revolution: How Mortgages Are About to Get a Whole Lot Easier If you’ve ever felt like getting a mortgage meant running an obstacle course—chasing down pay stubs, digging through old bank statements, sending documents back and forth—you’re not alone....
by Allen Ehlert | November 14, 2025 | Commercial
“Behind Every Great Deal: Reports That Make or Break Commercial Mortgages If you’ve ever gone through a commercial mortgage process, you know it’s a different beast entirely compared to residential lending. It’s not just about income and credit—it’s about the property...
by Allen Ehlert | November 14, 2025 | Lender, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… Here’s How CMHC’s Enhanced BFS Program Can Help You Buy a Home If you’re self-employed in Canada, you already know the drill: your income looks fantastic before your accountant works their magic. After write-offs and deductions? Not so much. That’s why so many...
by Allen Ehlert | November 13, 2025 | Home Specifications, Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… and why you might not be entitled to see it If you’ve ever gone through a mortgage process and found yourself wondering, “Wait, I paid for that appraisal—why won’t the lender give me a copy?” you’re not alone. This is one of the most common sources of confusion and...
by Allen Ehlert | November 13, 2025 | Commercial
… How Capitalizing Net Operating Income Reveals a Property’s True Worth When you step into the world of commercial real estate, one phrase comes up over and over again — “What’s the cap rate?” or “Let’s capitalize the NOI.” And if you’ve ever wondered what those words...
by Allen Ehlert | November 12, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
…The Mortgage Matchmaker: Finding the Right Fit for Your Payments and Your Future Let’s face it—mortgages aren’t exactly cocktail-party conversation. But if you’re like most homeowners, you’ve probably asked yourself more than once: “Am I really getting the best deal...
by Allen Ehlert | November 12, 2025 | Economy, Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
… The Limits of Bonds and Capital Markets Ever wonder why mortgage rates seem to jump overnight even though you’ve done everything right? It can feel like the lender’s just making it up as they go along—but trust me, they’re not. What’s really happening behind the...
by Allen Ehlert | November 11, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
… What If You’re Living in a Home but Not on the Mortgage or Title? When you’re diving into the world of mortgages, the term “shelter costs” gets thrown around a lot. It sounds straightforward, right? Just your housing expenses. But what if you’re an adult—or maybe a...
by Allen Ehlert | November 11, 2025 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… Allen Ehlert’s Secret Weapon for Stress-Free and Reduced Risk Moves If you’ve ever bought and sold homes at the same time, you know it can feel like trying to juggle with oven mitts on. Point-to-point moves are fraught with danger, and they never come off without a...
by Allen Ehlert | November 11, 2025 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… The Sneaky Trap That Looks Like a Gift If you ask a friend who has a mortgage what kind of mortgage they have, they will probably say, “I don’t know, a mortgage, what do you mean what kind? You mean fixed or variable?” NO! I mean what KIND of mortgage do you have,...
