Mortgage Tips & Expert Advice

First Time Buyers

How Long Does Mortgage Approval Take in Canada?

Timelines for pre-approval, full approval, switches and refinances — plus the five things that slow a file down.

Voytek Jedrusiak

Aug 11

First Time Buyers

Gifted Down Payment Rules in Canada

Who can gift, what the gift letter must say, how lenders trace the funds, and the tax treatment of a gifted down payment in 2026.

Voytek Jedrusiak

Aug 11

First Time Buyers

What Income Do You Need for a Mortgage in Canada?

GDS and TDS ratios, the 2026 stress test, and the actual household income required for $500K, $750K and $1M mortgages in Canada.

Voytek Jedrusiak

Aug 11

First Time Buyers

Mortgage Pre-Approval vs Pre-Qualification in Canada

One is a soft estimate, the other holds a rate and gets your offer taken seriously. Here is exactly what separates them in 2026.

Voytek Jedrusiak

Aug 11

First Time Buyers

BC CMHC Insurance: When You Need It and How It Works

Understand CMHC mortgage insurance requirements for BC buyers, including premiums, benefits, and when insurance is required.

Voytek Jedrusiak

Jun 4

First Time Buyers

How to Maximize the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan in Alberta for 2026

The 2026 RRSP HBP playbook for Alberta first-time buyers — $60K limit, FHSA stacking, the gross-up strategy, and repayment math.

V

voytekj

May 7

First Time Buyers

First-Time Home Buyer Incentives for Calgary in 2026

Every program a Calgary first-time buyer can stack in 2026 — FHSA, RRSP HBP, GST rebate, attainable-home programs, and the new $1.5M insurable cap.

V

voytekj

May 7

First Time Buyers

Buying a Townhouse in Alberta: 2026 Mortgage Guide

Townhouse buying and financing in Alberta in 2026 — condo vs bare-land, condo fees, lender review, and the math that makes townhouses Calgary and Edmonton's best entry-level option.

Monika Tarnik-Jedrusiak

Mar 14

First Time Buyers

Using Your RRSP to Buy a Home in Alberta: 2026 Home Buyers’ Plan Guide

How Alberta first-time buyers can use the $60,000 RRSP Home Buyers' Plan in 2026 — eligibility, withdrawal mechanics, repayment math, and stacking with the FHSA.

Voytek Jedrusiak

Mar 11