by Allen Ehlert | September 18, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages
Navigating the complexities of mortgage qualifications can be daunting, particularly when it involves accounting for rental income from investment properties. Understanding the different methods for calculating this income is crucial for both lenders and borrowers to...
by Allen Ehlert | September 16, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Personal Finance
An emergency fund in Canada refers to a savings reserve specifically set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies. This fund acts as a financial safety net to help individuals and families manage unforeseen circumstances without needing to rely on...
by Allen Ehlert | September 15, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
A “living inheritance” is a financial strategy that has gained popularity among older generations looking to support their children’s futures while still alive. This approach involves transferring wealth to children or grandchildren during the...
by Allen Ehlert | September 10, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
Raising a family in Canada comes with significant financial responsibilities, from childcare costs to daily household expenses. For many families, the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) serves as a crucial financial lifeline, providing tax-free monthly payments to support...
by Allen Ehlert | September 9, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
When you hear that your mortgage application is ‘a little tight on ratios,’ it can sound like lender-speak for a hard no. It is not quite that simple. Canadian lenders use two percentages – Gross Debt Service, or GDS, and Total Debt Service, or TDS...
by Allen Ehlert | September 7, 2026 | Mortgage Terms
In Canada, a Disability Assistance Payment (DAP) refers to withdrawals made from a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). The RDSP is a government-registered savings plan designed to help parents and others save for the long-term financial security of a person...
by Allen Ehlert | September 5, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
In the ever-evolving landscape of Canadian real estate, rising home prices have made it increasingly challenging for many buyers to enter the market. As a result, gifted funds for down payments have become a significant enabler for many prospective homeowners,...
by Allen Ehlert | September 2, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
Choosing between a fixed and variable mortgage can feel a bit like deciding whether to pack an umbrella when the sky looks perfectly blue. You may save money by travelling light, or you may get caught in a downpour. The truth is that neither mortgage is automatically...
by Allen Ehlert | September 2, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
A fixed mortgage can feel like putting a fence around one of your household’s biggest expenses: for the length of your term, the interest rate—and usually the required principal-and-interest payment—stays put. That certainty is valuable, but it is not free and it is...
by Allen Ehlert | September 2, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
Mortgage providers in Canada are either federally or provincially regulated. Canada’s chartered banks are federally regulated while many other lenders (see below) are not. Getting a mortgage from a non-federally regulated mortgage provider in Canada has both...
by Allen Ehlert | September 1, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Real Estate
Imagine you and your partner are excited to buy your first home in Ontario. You spend your weekends looking at homes, dreaming of your future, and planning your perfect space. But then, you start to worry about the extra costs, like the land transfer tax. That’s...
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 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 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...
