by Allen Ehlert | August 31, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Real Estate
Buying a home in Canada is often described as a cornerstone of achieving financial stability and building generational wealth. But the dream of homeownership has become increasingly challenging, with the federal government’s mortgage stress test adding another...
by Allen Ehlert | August 30, 2026 | Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
In the realm of personal finance and lifestyle design, real estate often serves as a cornerstone. It represents not only a significant financial investment but also a profound lifestyle choice. As a former realtor, financial advisor, and mortgage agent, I’ve...
by Allen Ehlert | August 29, 2026 | Mortgages, Real Estate
When purchasing a property, the condition of home inspection gives the buyer the right to hire a professional home inspector to assess the property’s condition. If significant issues are uncovered, the buyer can renegotiate the price, request repairs, or cancel...
by Allen Ehlert | August 28, 2026 | Economy, Mortgages, Real Estate
The structure of the regulatory framework for the mortgage industry in Canada is intricate and multi-layered, involving federal, provincial, and municipal entities along with key market participants such as the Bank of Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing...
by Allen Ehlert | August 27, 2026 | Mortgages, Real Estate
A home appraisal and a home inspection serve different purposes in the home-buying process, with distinct focuses and outcomes. Here’s a summary of their key differences: Purpose Home Appraisal: Determines the market value of a property. Primarily conducted for...
by Allen Ehlert | August 26, 2026 | Mortgages, Real Estate
In real estate transactions, an appraisal condition is a clause in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale that makes the buyer’s obligation to complete the purchase contingent upon the property’s appraised value meeting or exceeding the agreed-upon purchase...
by Allen Ehlert | August 25, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
Canadians are changing their preferences for mortgages. With a recent decrease in interest rates and speculation that more could be coming, brokers have been advising their clients to return to variable-rate mortgages from the 5-year fixed mortgages that have been the...
by Allen Ehlert | August 24, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Personal Finance
In Canada, insolvency refers to a financial state where an individual or a business is unable to meet their debt obligations as they come due. This typically means that the person or company cannot pay their bills or other debts and may owe more than they own in...
by Allen Ehlert | August 23, 2026 | Mortgages
The recent introduction of 40-year mortgages by Equitable Bank in Canada signifies a significant transition in the real estate market. This article will examine the impact of these extended mortgage terms, the difficulties encountered by developers, and the ongoing...
by Allen Ehlert | August 22, 2026 | Mortgages, Real Estate
Navigating the real estate market can be complex, especially when conditions like “sale of current property” clauses—commonly referred to as Sale of Buyer’s Property (SBP) conditions—come into play. With the cooling real estate market, these conditions...
by Allen Ehlert | August 21, 2026 | Mortgages, Real Estate
A rural property is not automatically a farm. For example, a detached home on five acres with a well, septic system and no meaningful farming operation may still qualify as a rural residential property. Conversely, substantial farming income, cultivated acreage,...
by Allen Ehlert | August 20, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
Think you’re stuck with your mortgage for 25 years? Think again. What if I told you there may be hidden tools within your mortgage agreement that could save you tens of thousands of dollars—and shave years off your mortgage payment timeline? Even more important than...
by Allen Ehlert | August 19, 2026 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
Divorce is hard enough emotionally. But when there’s a house and a mortgage involved, things can get financially complicated very quickly. The mortgage contract doesn’t care about the separation agreement. From the lender’s perspective, if both of you signed the...
by Allen Ehlert | August 18, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Real Estate
When purchasing a condo, buyers often focus on factors like location, amenities, and square footage. However, one of the most critical aspects that can impact both the value and financial health of a condo is the reserve fund. A condo reserve fund is a crucial...
by Allen Ehlert | August 17, 2026 | Mortgage Terms
An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a type of employee benefit plan that gives workers ownership interest in the company. In an ESOP, companies provide their employees with stock ownership, often at no upfront cost to the employees. ESOPs are typically used as...
by Allen Ehlert | August 16, 2026 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
With interest rate hikes, homeowners are facing the potential detonation of a financial bomb tied to their mortgages, the trigger rate. Let’s get into how a trigger point on a fixed-payment, variable mortgage can have such a strong impact on Canadians: Impact of...
by Allen Ehlert | August 15, 2026 | Mortgages, Real Estate
When a person in Canada wishes to purchase a condominium, they put in their offer to purchase a condition to enable themselves, their lawyer, their realtor, and their mortgage agent and lender the opportunity to review detailed information about the financial and...
by Allen Ehlert | August 14, 2026 | Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
In today’s economy, many Canadians face high household debt. The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) offers a way out. It lets you use your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) for a down payment on your first home. This move can be a big step towards owning a...
by Allen Ehlert | August 13, 2026 | Mortgages, Real Estate
In Canadian real estate transactions, conditions are specific clauses included in a purchase agreement that must be satisfied for the deal to proceed. These conditions are designed to protect the buyer (or sometimes the seller) and ensure that certain requirements or...
by Allen Ehlert | August 12, 2026 | Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
When purchasing a property, buyers either pay for the entire property with their existing funds or they need to seek out financing by getting a mortgage. Previous to looking for a home, buyers need to have a relationship with a mortgage agent to create a financial...
by Allen Ehlert | August 11, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) is not a traditional mortgage but a type of revolving credit secured against the equity in your home. Canadians are very creative in their use of HELOCs using them for everything from investing, to debt consolidation, to using...
