by Allen Ehlert | September 6, 2026 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
Where you get your mortgage can have a big impact on how much you have to pay in regular mortgage payments, how fast you can pay off your house, and what you need to do and have to qualify for. When asked, most Canadians think that ‘the bank’ is the only...
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 | 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 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 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 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 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 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...
by Allen Ehlert | August 9, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
When entering the world of homeownership, understanding the dynamics of your mortgage is crucial for financial planning. Among the key concepts in mortgage management is amortization. This article aims to demystify mortgage amortization, differentiate it from the...
by Allen Ehlert | August 8, 2026 | Mortgages, Personal Finance
As a homeowner in Canada, the idea of breaking your mortgage may have crossed your mind at some point. Whether it’s due to unexpected life events, new financial opportunities, or personal circumstances, the decision to terminate your mortgage can have...
by Allen Ehlert | August 6, 2026 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance
Home buying is a naturally expensive thing to be doing. You not only have to pay for the house, but you have substantial closing costs as well. You might want to make your new house ‘home ready’ by getting a few new pieces of furniture and don’t forget new window...
