by Allen Ehlert | May 26, 2026 | Lender, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… Get into the minds of mortgage lenders When it comes to second mortgages in residential lending, most people assume it’s simply a question of qualification. It’s not. It’s a question of how lenders think about risk. Every lender—from the major banks to private...
by Allen Ehlert | April 18, 2026 | Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
…. The Small Town Eastern Ontario Mortgage Investment Entity If you’ve ever had a client whose deal fell apart at the eleventh hour — credit bruised from a rough patch, self-employment income that doesn’t translate neatly onto a T4, or a gorgeous rural...
by Allen Ehlert | April 15, 2026 | Lender, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… When It’s Time to Consider an Alternative Lender If you work in a commission-based profession, you already know that income doesn’t always arrive in neat, predictable paycheques. One month can feel like a windfall, and the next might feel a little quieter. That’s...
by Allen Ehlert | April 5, 2026 | Lender, Mortgages
…The “One Submission” Alternative Lender If you’ve ever had a mortgage file that looked perfectly reasonable in real life—but got torpedoed by policy, the stress test, or “computer says no”—you already understand why the alternative-lending world exists. It’s the part...
by Allen Ehlert | April 4, 2026 | Lender, Mortgages, Real Estate
… The Strategic Middle Step Between Private and Prime Most people don’t wake up and say, “I’d love to pay 1–2% more than the bank for my mortgage.” You want the lowest rate possible. Of course you do. That’s rational. Sometimes the lowest rate isn’t the smartest first...
by Allen Ehlert | March 31, 2026 | Lender, Mortgages
…Thinking Outside the Bank to Finance Your Home Buying a home isn’t always a straight line, and Merix Financial is built for the detours. Merix is a monoline mortgage lender – meaning they only do home loans, and they focus on doing them really well. They work...
by Allen Ehlert | March 27, 2026 | Lender, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
… The Comprehensive Pre-Approval Calculator for First-Time Homebuyers Most mortgage calculators out there are glorified guess machines. You punch in a few numbers, get a big shiny “you can afford $750,000,” and walk away feeling confident… until reality hits...
by Allen Ehlert | March 3, 2026 | Lender, Mortgages
… A Strategic Look at LendHub’s Quick Equity-Based Loans As an accountant or financial planner, you don’t get paid to react — you get paid to anticipate. You structure tax strategies, preserve capital, manage risk, and protect long-term wealth. But every now and...
by Allen Ehlert | February 27, 2026 | Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
… The Underwriting “Truth Serum” That Can Turn a File Into an Approval NOTE: The audience for this article is financial professionals and some engaged realtors. However, the information is presented in a manner that anyone who is interested can understand. You’ve seen...
by Allen Ehlert | February 19, 2026 | Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate, Realtor
… Where Deals Are Won, Lost, or Quietly Saved Buying a home isn’t just about price — it’s about timing, certainty, and risk management. And nowhere is that more obvious than when you’re staring down a condition of financing. On paper, it sounds simple: get a mortgage...
by Allen Ehlert | February 14, 2026 | Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… The Quiet Escape Hatch from a Collateral Mortgage Here’s an uncomfortable truth that comes up again and again in my practice: many homeowners have a collateral mortgage and don’t even know it. They didn’t choose it. They weren’t walked through the implications. They...
by Allen Ehlert | February 11, 2026 | Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
Why private mortgages can make financial sense for owner-occupied homes—when used properly Let’s get this out of the way right up front: private mortgages are expensive. Not just the rate—everything around them. You’re usually looking at higher interest, lender fees,...
by Allen Ehlert | February 10, 2026 | Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… Not All Alternative Mortgages Are Created Equal If you’ve spent any time around mortgages, you’ve probably heard the phrase “alternative lending” used as if it’s one big bucket. It isn’t. Not even close. In reality, Canada’s alternative lending space has two very...
by Allen Ehlert | February 9, 2026 | Economy, Lender, Mortgages
… Why the Big Banks are Winning the Renewal Wars If you’ve ever hit mortgage renewal time and thought, “Well this is convenient… my bank is suddenly very competitive,” you’re not imagining things. Mortgage renewals are where Canada’s chartered banks quietly flex their...
by Allen Ehlert | February 7, 2026 | Commercial, Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
… When High-Interest Money Is the Cheapest Capital an Investor Can Use Let’s not sugarcoat it: private mortgages are expensive. Not just the interest rate — which can easily run 10–14% — but the entire cost stack around them. Lender fees. Broker fees. Appraisals with...
