Straight talk on mortgages, minus the jargon.

Every article we’ve written for Albertans — buying, renewing, refinancing, investing and what the Bank of Canada is up to. Search it, browse by topic, or just start reading.

Browse by topic

• First-Time Buyers — Down payments, pre-approvals, programs and the plays that get you from renting to keys.
• Mortgage Renewals — Your bank’s renewal letter is a starting offer, not the final word. Here’s how to play it.
• Self-Employed — Business owners, contractors and commission earners — how to qualify when your income doesn’t fit the box.
• Investment Properties — Rentals that actually pencil out — financing, cash flow, and the lender rules nobody explains.
• Refinance & HELOC — Put your equity to work — refinancing, HELOCs, consolidating debt and what breaking a mortgage really costs.
• Moving Up & Selling — Selling, buying the next one, porting, bridge financing and downsizing — the second-home-purchase playbook.
• Money Smarts — Owning smarter and living richer — paying it off faster, credit, debt, saving, taxes and the habits that make the mortgage feel small.
• Market Updates & Rates — Bank of Canada calls, rate moves and what they mean for your payment — in plain English.
• Hot Takes — Spicy takes on mortgages, money, and the strange things people do with both. Built on thousands of mortgage applications and a belief that we can have a good time along the way.

Latest articles

• 7 Things Not to Do Before Closing (Seriously, Don't) — Your approval is conditional until the day the money moves, and lenders re-check. Here are the seven moves that quietly blow up mortgages between firm and keys, why each one matters, and what to do instead.
• Oil fear is raising fixed rates even when the numbers say stop — The US just posted its worst jobs month in years. That should have pulled fixed rates lower. It didn't, because oil is driving the cost lenders borrow at right now, and that is a fear trade.
• The Michael Jackson Soundtrack to Getting a Mortgage — There is a Michael Jackson song for almost every stage of getting a mortgage. From Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' to Remember the Time—the unofficial Hello Mortgage soundtrack, with apologies to the King of Pop.
• Fixed rates climbed again. Oil near $100 is why. — Fixed rates hit 4.34% this week even though inflation sits near 2% and the economy stalled in July. The reason: oil near $100 a barrel has lenders betting it'll push into everything else. That bet may be wrong.
• Mortgage Protection: What It Is, What It Costs, and When to Say No — Your mortgage commitment signing package includes a personal link to apply for mortgage protection or waive it. Here's what it actually covers, what it costs, how it stacks up against term life, and the honest cases for yes and for no.
• Your renewal letter just got more expensive — Lenders raised fixed rates this week even though the cost to borrow for five years fell. If you're renewing in the next eight months, that disconnect matters more than what the Fed did last week.
• All Dollars, No Sense — There’s an Adam Mac song called All Dollars, No Sense, and every time I hear it I think about first-time home buyers. Good income, great Instagram, and a mortgage application that says no. Here’s why—and the one question nobody asks.
• Your renewal letter just got more expensive — Fixed rates climbed this week as US inflation stayed hot and oil hit $100. If your mortgage renews this fall or winter, the quote in your letter may be higher than the one you got last month.
• Sell First or Buy First? How to Decide When You Already Own a Home — Every move-up buyer hits the same fork: sell the house you have, or buy the next one first? Here's the honest trade-off, the middle paths most people don't know about, and a five-question test to decide.
• Downsizing: What Happens to Your Mortgage When You Move to Something Smaller — Selling the big house and buying smaller sounds like the easy move—until the penalty, the condo fees, the qualifying rules and the tax return show up. Here's the full picture, and how to keep the most equity in your pocket.
• Porting Your Mortgage: How It Works and When It Beats Paying the Penalty — Porting lets you take your current mortgage—rate, term and all—to your next home and skip the penalty. Here's how it actually works, the 30-to-120-day catch, and when breaking is the smarter move.
• Fixed Rates Climb as Markets Price Out September Cut — The market rate driving fixed mortgages jumped 0.11% this week. We expect the Bank of Canada to hold on October 28, and recommend locking five-year fixed today.
• Bank of Canada Holds Tuesday — Here's Why We Expect Another Cut Soon — We expect the Bank to hold at 2.25% this week but signal flexibility to cut if trade pressure deepens. Five-year fixed holds steady at 4.09%.
• Bank of Canada holds at 2.25% — Sept 2, 2026 — The Bank kept rates steady but flagged rising inflation risks from Middle East tensions, high oil prices, and new US-Canada tariffs.
• Rate Hike Wave Builds as Bank of Canada Decision Looms — We expect the Bank to hold on September 2nd despite core inflation cooling to target. Markets are pricing more volatility and lenders moved rates up.
• Canada Housing Starts Slow: What It Means for Your Next Move — New home construction is moderating across Canada, but the story's more nuanced than the headlines suggest. Here's what actually matters for your decision.
• Market Rates Drift Higher While the Bank of Canada Sits Out September — We expect the Bank to hold at 2.25% through early autumn — inflation is cooling, but fixed rates edged up this week. Our strategy call inside.
• Inflation Surprises Cool, Bond Yields Drift Lower — September Cut on Hold — June inflation fell faster than expected, but the Bank of Canada will likely stay at 2.25% in September. Our call and what it means for your mortgage today.
• Canada Is Building More Homes — Why Is Buying Still Hard? — Housing starts are up, but more construction doesn't automatically mean more homes you can buy. Here's what's actually happening and what it means for your mortgage.
• Why We Expect the Bank of Canada to Hold in September — Inflation fell to 2.8% in June and core measures sit below 2%, but the Bank will wait for oil-price clarity before cutting again. Fixed rates held flat this week.
• Should You Buy Now or Wait for More Housing Supply? — More construction doesn't guarantee the right home will appear at a lower price. Here's how to decide if buying today makes sense for you — or if waiting is smarter.
• The Bank of Canada Will Hold in September—And Rates Held All Week — We expect the Bank to hold again next month as inflation cools and the economic backdrop stabilises. Fixed and variable rates barely moved this week.
• The Real Cash You Need to Buy Your First Home in Alberta — Your down payment is only one of five cash buckets you need. Here's the full picture so your closing day is a celebration, not a fire drill.
• FHSA vs. RRSP Home Buyers' Plan: How to Stack Up to $200,000 — A first-time buyer couple in Alberta can combine the FHSA and RRSP Home Buyers' Plan to access up to $200,000 in tax-advantaged down payment—no smoke, just strategy.
• Bank of Canada holds steady at 2.25% — July 2026 — The Bank kept rates flat in July 2026 as growth picks up and inflation eases from a Middle East oil spike. What it means for your mortgage.
• Bank of Canada Holds Tomorrow — And Rates Climbed Anyway — We expect the Bank to hold at 2.25% Tuesday, but the bond market isn't waiting. Fixed rates rose again this week — here's the mortgage call that makes sense now.
• What 2026's First-Time Buyer Mortgage Rules Really Mean for Your Payment — Longer amortizations and a higher insured cap can lower your monthly payment — but that's not the same as making a home more affordable. Here's what changed and what to watch.
• Rate Hold Expected Next Week — and the Signal That Comes With It — We expect the Bank of Canada to hold steady at 2.25% on July 15. Total inflation jumped to 3.23%, but core pressures remain calm. Here's how we're advising clients.
• Total Inflation Jumps to 3.2%, But Core Stays Cool—What It Means for July — Headline inflation spiked in May, yet the Bank of Canada's core measures held near target. We expect them to hold rates in July and keep the door open for cuts.
• Rates Hold Steady as the Bank of Canada Stands Pat Next Month — Market rates are flat, inflation is cooling, and we expect the Bank to hold its 2.25% target in July. Here's the strategy that wins today.
• Renewing Soon? Why Sticky Inflation Could Affect Your Mortgage Strategy This Summer — Inflation is still shaping interest rates. If your mortgage renews this year, your lender's first offer may not be your best move.
• Bank of Canada Holds at 2.25% — What It Means for Your Mortgage — The Bank of Canada kept rates steady at 2.25% in June 2026 as Middle East conflict pushes energy prices up and trade uncertainty lingers. Here's what changed.
• First-Time Buyer GST/HST Rebate: What It Means for New Home Affordability in Canada — The federal first-time buyer GST/HST rebate can cut upfront tax costs on qualifying new homes. Here's who qualifies, how much you might save, and why it's one piece of a bigger mortgage plan.
• GDP contracted for two straight quarters — here's what the R-word means for your rate — Canada just met the technical definition of recession. Bond yields fell, lenders raised rates anyway. That contradiction tells you everything.
• Buying a Home in 2026? Why More Housing Starts May Not Mean More Choices — Canada's building more homes, but most new supply is rentals. If you're hoping to buy, here's what the data actually means for your options and budget.
• Mortgage Renewal in 2026: Fixed or Variable — Renewing in 2026? Here's how to choose between fixed and variable rates based on your budget, risk comfort, and the real forces moving mortgage pricing.
• Market rates climb sharply, lock windows narrow — Bond yields jumped this week — the kind of move that usually triggers lender repricing. If you're shopping or waiting to lock, this is the week to get serious.
• Bank of Canada Expected to Hold; Market Rates Climb Sharply Anyway — We're calling a hold at the June 10 meeting — inflation's behaving, the economy's cooling, and five-year bond yields jumped anyway. Here's what it means for you.
• April 29, 2026 — Bank of Canada holds rate at 2.25% — The Bank of Canada kept rates steady at 2.25% as Middle East conflict drives up energy costs and inflation. What it means for your mortgage strategy.
• What the market showed us (for a few hours) — Bond yields dropped fast when the Strait of Hormuz reopened — then reversed just as fast. Here's what that tells us about rates and your next move.
• 5 Things That Can Delay Your Mortgage Closing (and How to Avoid Them) — Approval isn't the finish line. Here are the five most common issues that push back mortgage closings in Canada — and what you can do to keep your deal on track.
• Something Shifted This Week… Here's What It Means For Rates — Jobs bounced back, inflation heated up, and oil prices jumped again. Here's what all that push and pull means for your mortgage rate right now.
• Why Buying Still Feels Hard in 2026, Even as More Homes Are Being Built — More homes are being built, but affordability still feels out of reach. Supply doesn't always match what you need, and monthly payments matter more than price.
• Newly Passed Bill C-4, What It Means for Your Mortgage — Bill C-4 offers a GST rebate for first-time buyers of new homes and a tax cut for millions of Canadians. Here's what it actually does for your mortgage—and what it doesn't.
• March 18, 2026 – Bank of Canada holds at 2.25% — The Bank of Canada kept rates steady at 2.25% as Middle East conflict rattles energy markets and growth softens. What it means for your mortgage.
• Affordability challenges spread across Canadian cities — CMHC confirms what you're feeling: affordability pressure isn't just Toronto and Vancouver anymore. It's spread to Ottawa, Montréal, Halifax, and beyond.
• Getting a Mortgage After Consumer Proposal or Bankruptcy in Alberta — You can get an Alberta mortgage even a day after discharge — if you know which path fits your timeline and how much equity you bring.
• Mortgage Appraisals: Everything You Need to Know (But Were Afraid to Ask) — Alberta appraisals explained: why you pay but don't own the report, how AVMs work, and what to do if your home valuation comes in low.
• The Gift of Family: A Guide to Gifted Down Payments in Alberta — How to use a gifted down payment in Alberta without stalling your deal. Timing, documentation, and lender rules that matter when family helps you buy.
• Do I Need My Own Real Estate Agent? — Using the listing agent might feel simpler, but it can cost you time, money, and advocacy. Here's how representation models affect your offer—and your financing.