by Allen Ehlert | August 10, 2025 | Mortgages, Real Estate
The Waterloo Region Affordable Home Ownership Program is a government initiative aimed at making home ownership more accessible and affordable for individuals and families in the Waterloo region. By providing financial assistance, subsidies, and support programs, this...
by Allen Ehlert | August 9, 2025 | Mortgages, Real Estate
Are you a first-time homebuyer in Muskoka looking for affordable housing options? The Gateway Muskoka Homeownership Program may be the solution you’ve been searching for. This locally funded down payment assistance program aims to help families and individuals...
by Allen Ehlert | August 9, 2025 | Commercial, Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
…What You Need to Know Before You’re Hit with Commercial Lending Rules So you’ve been picking up rental properties over the years—maybe it started with a duplex, then a triplex, and next thing you know, you’re sitting on a healthy portfolio under your holding company....
by Allen Ehlert | August 8, 2025 | Lender, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
What You Need, and What to Do If You Don’t Have Them If you’re separated or divorced and looking to buy a home, refinance, or renew your mortgage, you’ve probably already realized: “This process isn’t just about credit scores and down payments—it’s about...
by Allen Ehlert | August 7, 2025 | Home Specifications, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Real Estate
Let’s say you’ve found the perfect townhome. It’s modern, beautifully landscaped, and sits in a neat little community that shares a private road and maybe even a small playground. Sounds like a freehold dream, right? Well… not so fast. That “freehold” might actually...
by Allen Ehlert | August 6, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
… actually, I saved them A LOT more!!! My clients, a married couple with really good jobs, wanted to purchase a $990,000 house with 10% down. When they went to their bank, they were offered the typical 5-year fixed, 25-year amortized mortgage at the typical rate...
by Allen Ehlert | August 5, 2025 | Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
… What It Really Means and Why It Matters to Your Mortgage Buying your first home is one of life’s big milestones, but here’s the kicker: being a “first-time buyer” isn’t as cut-and-dry as it sounds. Depending on the program, you might be considered a first-time buyer...
by Allen Ehlert | August 5, 2025 | Economy, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
Why was it necessary for OSFI to mandate the implementation of the mortgage stress test? The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) mandated the implementation of the mortgage stress test in Canada for several key reasons, primarily aimed at...
by Allen Ehlert | July 30, 2025 | Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
Imagine owning a property for just $10! That’s the incredible opportunity that the town of Cochran in Northern Ontario is offering. In an effort to support young families and make homeownership a reality, Cochran is selling land at an unbelievably low price. The...
by Allen Ehlert | July 28, 2025 | Mortgages, Real Estate
Welcome to Canada, where new opportunities await you. As a newcomer, one of your aspirations may be to own a home in this beautiful country. However, you may face certain challenges, such as not meeting the eligibility criteria for a regular mortgage due to your...
by Allen Ehlert | July 23, 2025 | Economy, Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate
… Why Canadians Pay More in Taxes than on Food, Shelter & Clothing Combined” If it feels like your paycheque doesn’t stretch as far as it used to, you’re not imagining things. Canadians today spend more on taxes than on food, shelter, and clothing combined—the...
by Allen Ehlert | July 23, 2025 | Home Specifications, Lender, Mortgages, Real Estate
One of the most critical and often underestimated components of the mortgage process is the property appraisal. Whether you’re buying a home, refinancing, or leveraging equity for investment, the appraisal determines the property’s market value—and that value...
by Allen Ehlert | July 21, 2025 | Mortgages, Real Estate
Desjardins, the fifth largest cooperative financial group in the world, based in Quebec, will no longer offer new mortgages for properties in high-risk zones due to the certainty of a flood every 20 years in the province. It is reasonable to assume other lenders will...
by Allen Ehlert | July 19, 2025 | Home Specifications, Real Estate
I’ve seen a lot of ridiculous staircases in my time — stairs so steep, so narrow, and so poorly thought out they might as well come with a warning label. These designs don’t just look intimidating — they actively scare away anyone over 45 (who are the buyers with the...
by Allen Ehlert | July 16, 2025 | Economy, Mortgage Terms, Mortgages, Real Estate
…And Why It Matters More Than Ever If you’ve been chatting with clients or colleagues lately, you’ve probably noticed that the question on everyone’s mind is: Who’s actually buying real estate right now? It’s a fair question. The headlines are full of doom and gloom...
