The Mortgage Life (The Mortgage Life)

The Bank of Canada has once again dropped their key policy rate, this time by .25%. This rate drop will most likely cause Canadian banks to drop their prime rate by .25%, which would bring prime to 5.2%.

For those with Variable Rate mortgages, Adjustable Rate mortgages, and Home Equity Lines of Credit - you will see a change to your mortgage (either payment or amortization period).

For those with Fixed Rate mortgages, there will be no change. Just a reminder that in general, fixed rates follow long term bond yields and are not directly impacted by the Bank of Canada rate changes like variable and adjustable rates are.

Lots of information to unpack in today's announcement. Have a listen to The Mortgage Life podcast episode coming today, and reach out to us if you have any questions!

Next rate announcement is March 12th, come back and listen!

Another hold! The Bank of Canada has given us a bit more time with the current rate. Have a listen to our chat about it, and we have a little announcement!

**check out episode 40 - Insights of a CEO for the full conversation with Gary Mauris, as mentioned in this Special Feature.

The beginning of a broker / client relationship is warm and encouraging as we discuss the client's goals and how we can achieve them...then we ask for supporting documentation...

Quite often a client may feel like we're asking for too much information, and it can be quite a bit of home work for the client finding all the pieces! In all cases each lender is very specific on what they want to see in order to verify income, down payment, property details etc. We do our best to streamline the process for our clients, but document collection is a reality when it comes to getting approved for a mortgage.

This episode lays out all the various documents that may be required under various scenarios. If you haven't applied for a mortgage before, this is a great listen!

They’ve seen it all! Appraisers have a very interesting spot in the real estate market. Check out this episode with appraiser Adam Lawrenson of Adlaw Appraisals.

Adam Lawrenson, is owner / operator at Adlaw Appraisals which focusesses on residential appraisals for mortgage brokers in the GVA and Okanagan. Adlaw Appraisals is approved with most lenders and offers quick turnarounds, excellent service levels and a free value estimate service for its loyal client base.

A person's capacity in a mortgage transation is the amount of mortgage they qualify for given their verified income. What does that mean for you? Have a listen to this episode where Pete, Mindy, and Sue tackle the extensive world of income qualification to break it down into understandable and bite sized pieces.

Also! Check out our RAM! series, episodes 34-36, where we dive deeper into investment income through rental/investment properties.

Check it out! In this episode, we discuss short term rentals, and Mindy talks about her experience in ownership.

In today's Bank of Canada announcement we finally get a pause! The Bank of Canada has decided to leave the policy rate unchanged at 4.5% which means that variable rate mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and unsecured lines of credit will not see any increases. For the first time in a year people with variable rates can breathe a sigh of relief. The next rate announcement comes on April 12th. Stay tuned...

Pete and Sue chat about refinancing! Listen in to find out our top reasons that you might want to look at accessing the equity in your home.

We got together in person, for the first time in 5 months, to record our final episode of 2022. All the best of the holiday season to you and yours! We allude to some to some great new content for next year, so come back in listen in 2023.

For the second time in a row, the Bank of Canada has dropped their rate!

Home Inspector Kendall Kinnear joins us to talk about the importance of having your home inspected. Prior to a purchase or for simple home maintenance, home inspectors carry a wealth of knowledge!

Join Pete, Sue and Mindy as they discuss construction financing. They also interview builder-turned-realtor Mark Imhoff about the builder/developer perspective.

In 1983 Mark was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, purchasing the first of two restaurants he would own. In 1988 Mark sold the restaurants to pursue a new career in the building industry. Working for a project management company from Vancouver, building Seniors Homes in Victoria, Mark started at the bottom and quickly rose to the top. Within 18 Months he was running projects as large as 200 suites. After 3 years it was time to venture into the housing speculation market. In 1992 he began buying, rezoning, designing and physically building more than 150 personally purchased properties over the next 15 years. With 20 years of building, Mark’s Real Estate License was inevitable, so in June 2007, it became reality, and in 2011, The Mark Imhoff Group was formed. Mark and his team consistently deliver award winning service combined with aggressive and modern marketing techniques. Marketing and branding has been one of Mark’s and his team's most important success factors. Mark understands and utilizes marketing and branding to help his clients sell their current homes and purchase their next home.

Another rate hike today of 0.25%, and the Bank of Canada has indicated a pause... we think. With 8 consecutive rate hikes in the past year, we've been waiting for a bit of reprieve so that they can actually assess the impact on the Canadian economy. Let's see if it actually happens! In the meantime, make sure you're looking at your long term plans, and aligning your mortgage interest rates and other financial plans accordingly. 

A quick review of the annual mortgage statement and why it's an important document to keep.

Welcome to our podcast! We have created this library of episodes to help educate our clients on some of the most important and most asked about topics relating to the mortgage process. Stay tuned for more captivating topics in the future, and in the meantime, please enjoy the 62 episodes published to date.

Do you have a great rate on your mortage, want to make a change, but don't want to incur a penalty? Have a listen to this episode on how to avoid the penalty box, and contact your broker to see if there are options for you.

A chattel mortgage is a loan for a manufactured home or other movable piece of personal property, such as machinery or a vehicle. On this episode, Pete, Sue, and Mindy chat about what these loans look like in the mortgage industry.

Another rate hike today of 0.50% and the Bank of Canada is 'considering' a pause. Next rate annoucement will be on January 25, 2023. Stay tuned!

Mindy, Sue and Pete discuss the Bank of Canada's rate announcement this morning and... here we go again! Another rate increase today of 0.25%. How does the Bank of Canada deal with inflation that is made up of increasing housing costs? And how do you handle those increasing costs? Tune in to find out!

The Mortgage Life hosts chat with Jessey Camara from Better Mortgage Insurance about life and disability coverage.

Jessey started BMI Advisory Services Ltd. with his partner Rosy Jallad in February 2020 with the purpose of being able to provide Mortgage Broker clients the opportunity to get various choices for life insurance.  Jessey has been life licensed since 2012 and provides clients with life, disability, and critical illness insurance options.  Jessey has been married to his wife of 28 years, Natalie and has an 11 year-old daughter named Madelyn.  In Jessey’s spare time, he likes to hang out at Centennial Beach.

Leading off of a great chat with an Insolvency Trustee in Episode 15, join your hosts in this episode for a bit more of a conversation about credit from the mortgage broker perspective. 

It’s another series! RAM is for Rentals And Mortgages! Are you curious about real estate investment? This series kicks off with a knowledgeable property manager sharing his experience with managing rental properties. Aaron Piva is the Owner and Managing Broker of Real Property Management Executives in Kelowna, BC. Born and raised in Metro Vancouver, Aaron has a bachelor’s degree from Simon Fraser University and has devoted his career to project/operational management, and quality control. Living and working in a fast-paced environment has made Aaron excel in the areas of execution, time management and accountability. Personable, reliable, and with a keen eye for detail, Aaron has earned a solid reputation for treating all his clients and associates with the utmost professionalism and respect.

First Time Home Buyers have a unique position and potential benefits in the Canadian market. In this episode we chat about the experience from their perspective, what to expect, and how to navigate obtaining their first mortgage.

Property taxes are a hot topic around our office for the month of June - it’s property tax season! From mill rates to golden ticket paperwork, in this episode, we unpack those taxes.

While foreign investors have been restricted within Canada, as Canadians we do still have the ability to purchase abroad. Join us for our chat with Texas broker Dustin Carlson about brokering in the states, and helping foreign nationals purchasing real estate there.  Dustin has been in the financing business in the USA for over 20 years. He is married with 4 children, and loves fishing and seeing new places. In the financial industry, he provides personalized experience, and strives to ensure you get the best possible loan for your goals. If you are looking to purchase your dream home in the USA, a wonderful get away, or simply to lower the payment on your existing property (home, multifamily, condo, or townhome), do reach out via email at Dustin@freemydollars.com or phone at 907-903-1269 with any questions. 

Your hosts chat about alternative lending, and why this common sense approach is so important for purchasing or refinancing the Canadian mortgage industry. For this form of lending, a borrower would need at least 20-25% down payment or equity in the property.

Your down payment represents your 'skin in the game' - it is an equity injection at the time of your purchase. It also represents the biggest barrier to getting into the real estate market.

Listen in as Pete, Sue, and Mindy talk down payment.

Today, July 13, 2022, the Bank of Canada raised it's key lending rate by 1%. On this Special Feature episode, we interview Brendon Ogmundson, Chief Economist from the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), for some further insight into the reasoning behind this aggressive change, and some thoughts on how it will impact us moving forward.

The Bank of Canada held it's interest rate this morning. After 10 increases over the past couple of years, Canadians are faced with higher mortgage payments than ever before. So what does this mean for us now? What is the Bank of Canada looking for between now and the next annoucement on October 25, 2023?

Have a listen to this morning's brief conversation, as we hash out some of these questions.

Helloooo Bank of Canada! Join us for another special feature highlighting the Bank of Canada rate changes. This morning, the Bank of Canada raised its overnight interest rate, this time by 75 basis points, or ¾ of a percent. This will eventually trickle down to your lender’s prime rate. At some point in the next month your lender will most likely increase their prime rate by the same amount, resulting in an increase in your mortgage rate. The Bank of Canada has said it will continue to increase interest rates in the coming months in order to bring inflation back to normal levels.  This may feel overwhelming. Please reach out to your mortgage broker to have a conversation about your options moving forward!

Get to know your hosts - Pete, Sue, and Mindy - in this introductory episode.

We have seen a lot of changes in interest rates this year, and there is even more speculation on the market. In this episode, your hosts chat about various aspects of how interest rates work in the mortgage world.

Today, the Bank of Canada announced another rate cut - the fourth consecutive rate cut for the Bank this year. And, to top it off, today's rate cut is twice the size of previous cuts at 1/2 percent! Tune in to get Pete and Mindy's take on the rate cut, why it was a jumbo sized rate cut, and what might happen at the Bank of Canada's next announcement on December 11th. Have a listen!

Welcome to part 2 of the DAM! series - design and mortgages! In this episode, Pete, Sue and Mindy chat with home designer Matt Lunde. Matt is principal at the award winning design studio 925R Design Inc. He has 20+ years in the design world, 925R Design Inc being incorporated for 14 years. Matt has a structural steel detailing background, and then went into architecture with his fathers company Lunde Architect Ltd in 2006. In 2009 925R Design Inc was founded and mainly focuses on custom home design, but also designs some multi-family and small commercial Buildings.     Give him a follow on Instagram / Facebook @925rdesigninc

Co-Signers and Guarantors – what exactly are they and when would you need them?

In this episode we chat about potential options of including cosigners or guarantors when you can’t qualify for the mortgage on your own. We also review what is required, their legal obligations, and how easy (or difficult) it is to remove them at a later date.

If you have a co-signer or guarantor on your mortgage, tune in to get all the details.

As mortgage brokers, we have helped many many clients through the financial side of their spousal separation. Every circumstance is different, but the end goal remains the same; a peaceful resolution where all parties can afford their path forward. In this episode, we interview Christina Vinters. She is a wealth of knowledge, and adds her depth of experience to this informative conversation. Christina Vinters, J.D., C.Med, is a family lawyer with a boutique online mediation practice, Modern Separations, dedicated to helping couples across British Columbia peacefully resolve the details of their separation. She is the author of Pathways to Amicable Divorce and the host of the limited series Divorce Well Podcast. Complimentary resources such as her book, videos, checklists and podcast episodes are available at www.modernseparations.com.

Christmas presents being given out by the Bank of Canada? Yup, that's right! The Bank of Canada announced today that they're cutting the overnight rate by 1/2% to 3.25% today. That means variable rate mortgage clients and those with lines of credit should see some relief in their rates shortly. Tune in to get our take on what happened and where we're going in 2025.

In the third and final episode of the RAM! series, The Mortgage Life hosts discuss the basic parameters, common misconceptions, and the risks involved with building an empire (i.e. your rental investment portfolio). What is your purpose? How many properties will you own? Do you have the time and a solid financial plan? Check out the conversation!

Reflections on some of our key episodes since the launch of The Mortgage Life in January 2021.

- episode 1: Curious about BC Assessment?

- episode 2: Don't burn your mortgage statement!

- episode 6: What is Alternative Lending?

- episodes 14-16, 19, 20: the GAM! Series - getting a mortgage

- episode 17: First Time Home Buyers

- episode 25: Thinking of purchasing in the USA?

- episode 26: Under the Mattress - Saving for a Down Payment?

- episode 41: Down Payment - upside down or right side up?

- episode 37: Choosing Your Lender

- episodes 29, 31, 32: the DAM! Series - design and mortgages

- episode 34-36: the RAM! Series - rentals and mortgages

- Bank of Canada Special Features

Have a listen!

Listen in to find out what spring time looks like for your hosts. From de-winterizing to backyard planning to volunteer opportunities, success for us means community, connections, and smooth transitions.

In this installment of our GAM! series we chat with Harpreet Nahal, a local lawyer in Vernon, British Columbia. Once you’ve decided your goals, built your trusted team, and completed the application process, it’s time for your mortgage broker and lawyer to work their magic to find an approval and get your mortgage to the closing stage.

Harpreet Nahal is the principal of Lake City Law which specializes in Real Estate, Business and Financial transactions. After working at the largest law firm in the country, Harpreet returned home to the Okanagan to start Lake City Law. He is currently advising clients completing some of the biggest development projects in each of Kelowna, Vernon and Armstrong and manages a highly service-oriented office that completes numerous residential and commercial deals each month. From an early age, Harpreet has been involved in real estate and construction which allows him to provide to practical and comprehensive advice to his clients.

GAM! In the Getting a Mortgage series, we discuss all aspects of the mortgage process. 'Part 1 - The Application' outlines our process of starting up a new file, and what that looks like for you. Keep an eye out for more GAM! episodes, where we'll discuss the rest of the process, from credit, to approval and funding, and what happens after the fact.

Pete, Sue, and Mindy talk about locking in interest rates on this episode, along with the process and procedure for making it happen. Your decision to lock in or stick with your variable rate depends entirely on your personal situation. And so, this has been a popular discussion over the past year while the Bank of Canada rates (and those variable rate mortgages) were rising. Listen in!

How does your mortgage broker choose your lender? Why do some lenders have a branch location, while others do not? What is a Monoline lender?

On this episode, Pete, Mindy, and Sue find answers to these questions in their chat with Sarah Almond from First National Financial. Sarah has been working in the mortgage industry since the early 2000's and joined the First National team in 2015. She is located in Kelowna and brings deep industry knowledge and excellent problem solving skills to her Account Manager role for the Interior of British Columbia. Sarah believes that education and partnership are paramount to the momentum of our industry. Her ability to inspire and connect instantly with people enables her to nurture and develop relationships with brokers.

From the new recission period, to the foreign buyer ban, to discussing our stress test requirements when it comes to mortgage financing - we had another interview with Brendon Ogmundson about some of the new housing rules as of January 2023. Brendon Ogmundson is the Chief Economist for the BC Real Estate Association.   He holds an MA in Economics from Simon Fraser University and is a CFA Charterholder. Brendon specializes in housing market analysis and macroeconomic forecasting and is a member of the BC Ministry of Finance’s Economic Forecast Council, a contributor to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve's Survey of Professional Forecasters. Brendon was also recently named one of the most influential economists in BC by Business in Vancouver.

NEW series alert! DAM! stands for design and mortgages! With products available in the mortgage world to help make home renovations possible, on this episode we chat with interior designer, Nicole Verbeke. She shares her journey into her industry, some thoughts around design trends, and how working with a professional can save you money in the long run. Nicole is the Founder and Principal Designer of award-winning full-service residential design studio, Copper + Oak Design ( https://copperandoak.design ). Based in the Okanagan, her work primarily focuses on high-end residential projects. She is committed to designing spaces that truly reflect the clients living in them. Growing up with parents in the building industry, design became a staple in Nicole’s every day life from an early age. Merging her background and education in business with her passion for interior design, Nicole uses these abilities to better communicate with her clients and keep projects running smoothly in the field. From concept to completion, the team at Copper + Oak Design will work to achieve a balance of modern and fresh yet totally timeless design in your home.

The Bank of Canada changed it's overnight lending rate again this morning from 1% to 1.5%. So what does that mean for YOU, the mortgage borrower? Pete, Sue, and Mindy got together this morning for a quick chat...

Pete, Sue, and Mindy discuss some key strategies for purchasing from the mortgage perspective.

Effective December 15, 2024 there are some MAJOR changes to insured mortgages. One big change is that purchases of up to $1.5M can now be insured mortgages which means your down payment can be less than 20%. Another change is bringing back 30 year amortizations on insured mortgages. Buyers who are considered first-time home buyers or buyers of newly built homes can now get a mortgage with a 30 year amortization. Lastly, we discuss the latest inflation numbers with CPI coming in at 2.0% for August which means there could be some downward pressure on variable rates. Have a listen to see what we think!

Check out our chat with Ryan Danchuk, a realtor with Re/Max Vernon, about real estate and the spring market in the Okanagan. From ski slopes to buyers' hopes, we gain some valuable insight into buyers and sellers perspectives.

They love PREMIUM chocolates ;) They also love to talk about insurance. Have a listen to this episode, where we interview Nicola Dent, manager from Capri CMW, about home insurance. Come back and listen to future episodes about other types of insurance associated with mortgages, including default insurance, title insurance, and life & disability insurance.

From policy changes to interest rates to home values, this in an enlightening chat with Dustan Woodhouse, author of Be the Better Broker book series. After a challenging couple of years in the mortgage and real estate industry, and following the most recent drop in the Bank of Canada interest rate, we hope that you enjoy the extra perspective in this episode!

Pete, Sue, and Mindy have an in depth conversation with Gary Mauris, co-founder and President & CEO of Dominion Lending Centres; CEO of Mortgage Centre Canada; and Chairman of Mortgage Architects. They chat about everything from the Canadian economy to the concept of imposter syndrome, both in business and in life in general.

Together, the DLC Group of Companies (DLCG) account for almost 40% of all broker originated mortgages in Canada. Mr. Mauris is a serial entrepreneur, having sold two prior companies to the public market. He has been recognized as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011 and earned the 2016 Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year. His companies have also won multiple industry awards and have been recognized by Profit Magazine as among Canada’s fastest growing companies. As a business leader, Mr. Mauris is called upon to share his views with media throughout Canada; as part of the 2011 Pre-budget Consultation process with the Federal Minister of Finance at the time, Mr. Jim Flaherty; and selected to be part of CBC’s “Face the Nation” in 2016 and have an open and frank discussion with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on a variety of economic topics. He has led multiple socially conscious initiatives as the co-founder and President of the I AM SOMEONE Ending Bullying Society and recently co-founded “Bikes for Kids”, a National program that collects new bicycles for underprivileged children across Canada.

In this informative episode, hosts Pete, Sue, and Mindy chat with Jess Patterson about saving, budgeting, smart financial decisions, and so much more. With interest rates rising, and a new year starting, make sure you're setting and working towards your financial goals. Born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Jess Patterson has established a successful and thriving practice during his 16 years with IG Wealth Management. Jess takes the business of comprehensive financial planning very seriously. He prides himself in conducting his practice in a seamless and professional manner, paying close attention to the smallest of details. With a dedicated team approach, he helps individuals and corporations navigate the complex financial world in a very comprehensive manner. When he’s not in the office, Jess likes to spend time with friends and his family. Married for a little over 10 years, Jess and his lovely wife have an adorable 8-year-old daughter and two dogs.

Check out this episode where Pete and Mindy discuss some of the things you might want to think about as a first time home buyer.

Pete and Mindy discuss today's Bank of Canada rate announcement with Professor Tom Davidoff from UBC Sauder School of Business.

Thomas Davidoff holds a BA from Harvard, an MPA/URP from Princeton, and a PhD from MIT. He holds the Stanley Hamilton Professorship in Real Estate Finance and is the Director for the UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate. He is also an Associate Professor of the Strategy and Business Economics Division at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia.

Professor Davidoff talks about how the unchanged rate actually gets felt in the economy - from your mortgage rate today to the expected mortgage rates in the near future and the effects on house prices. Have a listen!

Once your mortgage has funded, and money has changed hands, our job as your mortgage broker is not over! 

Murray Smith from KPMG in Vernon joins Pete, Sue, and Mindy for a riveting chat about working with an accountant, and how an accountant can add to your trusted team of advisors. From financial reporting, to tax advice, to business strategy, an accountant can add an in depth financial perspective to your portfolio.

Insolvency is a state of financial distress in which a person is unable to pay their bills. Have a listen to this interview with Chris Michalcheon, Licensed Insolvency Trustee with BDO Debt Solutions. We chat about credit, establishing credit, how people get into trouble with credit, and how to get out of it.  It's never too early to have a conversation about your financial status. Check out this link to book a free consultation with BDO: https://debtsolutions.bdo.ca/ Your mortgage broker can help too with perspective on how to manage your credit while maintaining and/or working towards home ownership.

Flexibility is more than a yoga pose. HELOCs are a popular choice that can offer the mortgage flexibility you might need. Chat with your mortgage broker to see if it’s an option for you!

Your hosts interview Deb White, current president of the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association of BC, and owner of DLC White House Mortgages, for some insight, history, and evolution of the mortgage broker industry.

Mindy, Sue and Pete talk with Brendon Ogmundson, chief economist from the BC Real Estate Association, about the Bank of Canada’s 0.25% rate increase this morning.

Brendon gives his insights about the latest rate increase, what the Bank of Canada is trying to do with all these increases, and when we might see rate increases stop… or even start to go back down.

Check it out!

Pete, Mindy, and Sue chat with a Deputy Assessor from BC Assessment in the Thompson/Okanagan, Amanda Wilms. This is a very informative episode on how BC Assessment works.

The Bank of Canada leaves its rate unchanged! Are we at a precipice? Are we at a place where inflation might continue to decrease? Will we stay level, or decrease in the near future? We'll have to wait and see!

You might be surprised at some of the unique topics uncovered in this episode! Have a listen as Pete, Sue, and Mindy chat with Terence Tait, broker/owner at REMAX Action Realty in Whitehorse, YT.

The Bank of Canada changed it's overnight lending rate this morning from 0.50% to 1%. So what does that mean for YOU, the mortgage borrower? Pete, Sue, and Mindy got together this morning for a quick chat... 

The Bank of Canada dropped the overnight lending rate by 1/4 % today. Check out this episode for our analysis of the rate drop and what's coming for possible future cuts.

We are interrupting our regular podcast flow for a bonus episode on preparing for a natural disaster. Whether you're in the Okanagan, on Vancouver Island, or somewhere else in the world, this episode is meant to get you thinking about how to prepare for fires, floods, earthquakes, and whatever else Mother Nature brings.

We’re bringing a bit of the Victoria Market to The Mortgage Life, in this conversation with Matthew Traynor from The Traynor Group. A driven entrepreneur for most of his life, in 2010 Matthew had the excitement of co-founding what would become a nationally recognized nutrition bar company. All of this while using his free time training as a paid volunteer Firefighter with the Qualicum Beach Fire Department. And then his transition into his career as a team Realtor in Victoria, British Columbia. We thought this would be a natural fit to discuss teamwork, building teams, and executing a high level of customer service in the Real Estate and Mortgage industry.

In this episode, we chat with realtor Justina LeeStolz about the real estate market here in the Okanagan Valley. Flag this one for more than one listen through; it's packed with some great tidbits about the inner workings of the Fall Market.

Listen in on our chat about the basic costs involved with renting VS the costs involved with buying and maintaining real estate in British Columbia, Canada. Now is the ideal time to be chatting with your mortgage broker about those costs, and what options make sense for you. 

We chat with Brendon Ogmundson, the chief economist for the BC Real Estate Association, to find out what he thinks about the current state of interest rates. Brendon explains the recent Bank of Canada rate drop and the potential for future rate decreases. Does the Bank of Canada have any effect on fixed rates? And how do these rates affect the real estate market? Is it a good time to buy? Tune in to find out!

Another rate hike today of 0.50%. We are in uncharted territory, and no one really knows what will happen next. How fitting for a Halloween episode!

What DOES a mortgage broker do? Good question! And turns out Pete and Mindy could speak about it for days!

In a nutshell, mortgage brokers are independent, licensed, regulated and educated professionals who are absolutely determined to understand their clients financing needs!

Have a listen to Pete and Mindy' chat!