by Allen Ehlert | July 14, 2026 | Commercial, Investing, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
… The Metric That Separates Amateur Deals from Professional Decisions In real estate, it’s easy to get caught up in surface-level numbers—cash flow, purchase price, appreciation. But if you really want to operate like a professional investor, and guide your clients...
by Allen Ehlert | July 13, 2026 | Mortgage Terms
In Canada, a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) is a non-registered retirement plan provided by employers to offer additional retirement benefits to key executives beyond what is available through registered pension plans like Registered Retirement Savings...
by Allen Ehlert | July 12, 2026 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
To ensure you do not spend more than 30% of your income on housing costs, it’s important to understand how to calculate your housing expenses. In Canada, housing costs typically include: Mortgage Payments: The monthly amount paid towards the mortgage principal,...
by Allen Ehlert | July 11, 2026 | Mortgages, Real Estate
The potential consequences of escalating mortgage rates on the valuation of residential properties are leading to a projected decline of 5% in home prices. By analyzing the impact of rising interest rates on the housing market, my research seeks to shed light on the...
by Allen Ehlert | July 10, 2026 | Mortgage Terms
The closer connection exception is a provision under U.S. tax law that allows foreign nationals who meet the substantial presence test to avoid being classified as U.S. tax residents if they can demonstrate that they have a closer connection to another country. This...
by Allen Ehlert | July 8, 2026 | Commercial, Investing, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
… When Banks Stall Your Deal: How to Use Layered Commercial Financing You’ve found the right commercial asset. The fundamentals make sense. The upside is clear. The numbers work—at least from your perspective. And then the bank hesitates. Not because the deal is bad…...
by Allen Ehlert | July 7, 2026 | Commercial, Investing, Mortgages, Personal Finance
Most Canadians focus on paying down their mortgage as quickly as possible—but very few stop to ask whether they’re doing it in the most tax-efficient way. In a country where mortgage interest is not tax-deductible, yet interest on money borrowed to earn income often...
by Allen Ehlert | July 6, 2026 | Mortgage Terms
In Canada, particularly in the province of Quebec, emphyteusis is a legal concept originating from civil law. It refers to a long-term lease arrangement that grants the emphyteutic lessee (the person leasing the property) the right to use and enjoy another...
by Allen Ehlert | July 5, 2026 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
Did you know that 1 in 4 Canadian mortgage applications gets declined? This is because of poor Debt Service Ratios (DSRs). Knowing how to calculate your DSR is key to getting a mortgage and staying financially secure. Lenders use the Gross Debt Service (GDS) and Total...
by Allen Ehlert | July 4, 2026 | Insurance, Mortgages, Personal Finance
When you take out a mortgage in Canada, you’re entering into a long-term financial commitment that involves repaying both the principal amount borrowed and the interest charged by the lender. Understanding the nuances of how mortgage payments are structured,...
by Allen Ehlert | July 3, 2026 | Mortgage Terms
In Canada, gifts in kind refer to non-cash donations of tangible property, such as real estate, stocks, art, or other valuable assets, made to a charity or other qualified organization. These donations are valued at their fair market value at the time of the gift and...
by Allen Ehlert | July 2, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… What Your Contract Rate Isn’t Telling You About APR and EAR When you’re shopping for a mortgage, it’s easy to get laser-focused on the interest rate. You hear “4.79%” or “5.09%” and naturally assume the lower number is the better deal. Fair enough — that’s how most...
by Allen Ehlert | July 1, 2026 | Commercial, Economy, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
…. A Digital Deadbolt for Your Credit Ontario has just added a powerful new consumer-protection tool to your financial toolbox: the ability to lock or freeze your credit file. Think of it like putting a digital deadbolt on your credit report. It will not stop every...
by Allen Ehlert | June 30, 2026 | Mortgage Terms
A revolving loan is a type of credit that allows the borrower to access funds up to a predetermined credit limit on a recurring basis. Unlike a traditional loan, where you receive a lump sum upfront and repay it over time, a revolving loan allows you to borrow, repay,...
by Allen Ehlert | June 29, 2026 | Commercial, Mortgages, Real Estate
When you are selling one home and buying another, there are a lot of moving parts. You have the realtor, the mortgage agent, the deposit, the closing date, the moving truck, the insurance, the kids, the pets, the utility companies, and probably a dozen sticky notes on...
by Allen Ehlert | June 29, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
As a professional mortgage underwriter in Canada, I often emphasize the importance of the Loan to Value (LTV) ratio in the mortgage qualification process. The LTV ratio is a critical factor in determining the terms of the mortgage for which a borrower qualifies,...
by Allen Ehlert | June 28, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Real Estate
When considering the purchase of a condominium in Canada, it is essential for potential buyers to understand condominium fees. These fees are a significant component of condo ownership, affecting both budgeting and financing. Here, we will explore the nature of these...
by Allen Ehlert | June 27, 2026 | Mortgage Terms
In the context of U.S. tax law, a resident alien is a foreign national who is not a U.S. citizen but who meets certain criteria to be treated as a U.S. resident for tax purposes. Resident aliens are generally subject to the same tax rules as U.S. citizens, meaning...
by Allen Ehlert | June 26, 2026 | Investing, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate, Uncategorized
“Wait… We’re Paying Land Transfer Tax Again?” A lot of homeowners think adding a HELOC is just paperwork. You sign a few documents, the lawyer registers a new charge, and away you go. Easy peasy, right? Well… sometimes. But every now and then, a refinance or HELOC...
by Allen Ehlert | June 25, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
The mortgage pre-approval process is the process taken to get a borrower a pre-approval letter from a lender. It’s important to understand that being pre-approved for a mortgage requires a vigorous investigation of the borrower’s personal, financial, tax, and...
by Allen Ehlert | June 24, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
When purchasing a home in Canada, one of the most significant decisions buyers face is how much to put down as a down payment. While a 20% down payment might seem like the ideal, it’s often out of reach for many Canadians—especially first-time homebuyers. This is...
