by Allen Ehlert | October 6, 2025 | Commercial
… How Much Cash Do You Really Need to Play the Game? If you’ve been looking at commercial real estate and wondering how much you’ll need to bring to the table, you’re asking the right question. Unlike residential mortgages where you can sometimes squeak by with 5%...
by Allen Ehlert | October 5, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
Imagine this: you’ve found your dream home in Canada, the perfect place to build a lifetime of memories. You can already picture yourself sipping a cup of coffee on the front porch, watching the sunrise over the majestic mountains. But as you begin the process...
by Allen Ehlert | October 4, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
What You Need to Know About Ontario’s Non-Resident Speculation Tax Imagine you’re a young professional who’s recently relocated to Toronto for work. The thriving city and its vibrant neighbourhoods have persuaded you to take the plunge and buy your...
by Allen Ehlert | October 3, 2025 | Mortgages, Real Estate
In Ontario, property appraisals play a crucial role in various real estate transactions and decisions. Whether you are purchasing a home, refinancing a mortgage, or settling a divorce, a property appraisal ensures that the value of the property aligns with the...
by Allen Ehlert | October 2, 2025 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… What You Really Need to Know Before You Borrow Against Your Home There’s a lot of buzz out there about second mortgages. You hear about people using them to pay off debt, help kids buy homes, or fund renovations. They sound like a simple solution — and sometimes...
by Allen Ehlert | October 1, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
A reverse mortgage is often assumed to be a reactive option for a senior homeowner in financial need, but it’s not always the case. In fact, there are situations when a reverse mortgage can be used proactively to unlock financial opportunities. Meet Sheila and Dan...
by Allen Ehlert | September 30, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
As a senior, it seems nothing gets any easier … especially when it comes to money. Everything gets more expensive all the time. Bills go up, taxes go up… things can get very scary! You are lucky if you have a pension, but most of those don’t keep up...
by Allen Ehlert | September 29, 2025 | Commercial, Real Estate
… there’s a lot more involved in the commercial world If you’ve ever been involved in a commercial real estate deal—whether as a buyer, investor, realtor, or business owner—you’ve probably heard someone groan about how long the appraisal process takes or how expensive...
by Allen Ehlert | September 28, 2025 | Mortgages, Real Estate
In Canada, the primary professional body that oversees home appraisals is the Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC). The AIC sets the standards and regulations for the appraisal profession across the country. Members of the AIC are designated professionals who must...
by Allen Ehlert | September 27, 2025 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… or how little white lies turn into whoppers! Let’s be real — in real estate, everyone plays a role. The realtor sells the dream, the lawyer protects the paperwork, but when it comes to vetting the financials, that’s where I step in. As a mortgage agent, it’s my job...
by Allen Ehlert | September 26, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
When the cost-of-living spikes, many workers can rely on salary increases to keep pace, while retired public servants with indexed pensions may also be somewhat protected. Retirees with pensions that aren’t inflation-adjusted have more cause for concern; however, if...
by Allen Ehlert | September 25, 2025 | Mortgages, Real Estate
… Lenders Won’t Touch (And Why It Matters Before You Fall in Love) You’ve found the “perfect” property — it’s quirky, unique, maybe even a little outside-the-box. You’re already mentally arranging furniture and planning summer BBQs… and then your mortgage agent drops...
by Allen Ehlert | September 24, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
Getting a mortgage isn’t like applying for a gym membership. It’s not about looking good on paper for five minutes—it’s about proving you can carry the weight for the next twenty-five years. Lenders aren’t just handing out keys to anyone who asks. They need to trust...
by Allen Ehlert | September 23, 2025 | Commercial
… What to Expect and How to Structure Your Financing for Success If you’ve spent any time poking around the world of commercial mortgages, you’ve probably heard lenders throw around this mysterious acronym: DSCR — Debt Service Coverage Ratio. It sounds like something...
by Allen Ehlert | September 22, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
A reverse mortgage is a timeless financial tool that can be useful for many seniors who own their home. While it may not be the first option that comes to mind, it can be a viable strategy for homeowners even though interest rates have risen. Many people’s first...
by Allen Ehlert | September 21, 2025 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
…Why Your Mortgage Isn’t Final ‘Til It’s Funded” You’ve done everything right—you got pre-approved, made your offer, provided every bank statement and pay stub under the sun. The lender issues a written mortgage commitment and you think, “Phew, we’re done.” Not so...
by Allen Ehlert | September 20, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
Reverse mortgages are an often misunderstood or overlooked financial tool. One critique is that a reverse mortgage may reduce the inheritance a senior can leave to their family, but that is not always the case. In fact, in some cases, a reverse mortgage may be a...
by Allen Ehlert | September 19, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
A few years ago, you purchased your home. At the time, you secured a mortgage that was suitable for your financial situation. However, as time goes on, things change, interest rates are not the same and your own financial situation is different; maybe better, maybe...
by Allen Ehlert | September 18, 2025 | Commercial
… Making the Numbers Work by Re-Structuring Your Financing If you’ve been hanging around the commercial real estate world for even five minutes, you’ve probably heard someone say, “It’s all about the NOI.” And they’re not wrong. When it comes to getting a commercial...
by Allen Ehlert | September 17, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
A reverse mortgage is offered to Canadians 55 years of age and older and is of particular interest to homeowners who want to access a portion of their home equity for a wide variety of reasons including to fund their retirement years, purchase a second home, cottage,...
by Allen Ehlert | September 16, 2025 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
…“When’s the Ink Dry After Your Offer Is Accepted” You’ve got the house. The offer’s accepted. You’ve told your family, picked out paint colours, and maybe even started scoping out where the Christmas tree’s going to sit. But now comes the part that isn’t quite as...
