Allison Kehler Tolley Lethbridge Alberta Mortgage Professional

04/26/2026

“It’s pretty much a full-fledged mortgage application,” says Harpreet Singh, a REALTOR® with Avion Realty Inc. in Markham, Ontario, and former Financial Services Representative with CIBC. “You’re taking in all your documentation—your pay stubs, your savings account statements—into you...

04/09/2026

What’s Blooming in Real Estate: Spring Market Insights

If you’re looking for a preview of what spring has in store for the housing market in Canada, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything buyers, sellers, investors, refinancers, and everyone else thinking about a change in their housing situation needs to know.

Rates:
Most economists, plus the Bank of Canada itself, have confirmed they believe the policy rate is at the bottom for this rate cycle. For mortgages, that means you’re unlikely to see further rate decreases, so it’s a good time to buy or refinance for a 3-to-5-year term. For those with or looking at a variable rate, there is currently a healthy discount, but over the next two years you’re likely to see a series of increases.

Down Payment News:

Nova Scotia unveiled a new program for home buyers, reducing the minimum down payment to only 2%. Credit unions are offering the consumer mortgage products, and the provincial government is providing lender insurance on the mortgages. Other provinces are taking note, although we’re yet to see any other program announced so far.

Canadian Real Estate Association:
CREA announced a decline in home sales to start the year, but suggested it was weather related rather than a market downturn. The main reason they believe the market is poised for an uptick is the pent-up demand from buyers 25-40 years old. It’s the biggest home buying cohort in Canadian history, and the buyers have been shut out for the past 3-4 years due to affordability and market conditions. But now rates are at their low point, and 75-85% of the group still want to be home owners. Timing is right for action.

04/03/2026

Property values have increased! Payoff debt with your home equity!

Canadians today face many reasons to refinance their mortgage.

12/24/2025

Happy Holidays!

11/14/2025

Reverse mortgages are a great option for seniors that still have mortgages.

When most of us dream of retirement, we imagine ourselves in our homes – sharing a meal with family or just relaxing in a comfortable spot.

04/19/2025

We ❤️ our new bus bunch!! It took a few drafts to fine tune the vision, but here it is!!

04/06/2025

A home's marketability hinges on first impressions, and a desirable design will instantly pique potential homebuyers' interest and benefit your overall sale. If your goal is to increase value, you may want to consider incorporating a more current design trend into your strategy.

03/21/2025

Rates have gone down! It’s a great time to take advantage of home values and refinance!

Canadians today face many reasons to refinance their mortgage.

02/18/2025

https://www.alberta.ca/seniors-property-tax-deferral-program

Eligible senior homeowners can defer all or part of their municipal property taxes with a low-interest home equity loan.

11/14/2024

Refinancing your mortgage can be a smart financial move for many reasons, and as your trusted mortgage advisor, I’ve seen how much it can benefit homeowners!

Ideally, refinancing is done at the end of your mortgage term to avoid penalties, but the timing can vary depending on your goals.

For some, it’s about unlocking the equity in their home to fund renovations or cover big expenses like college tuition. For others, it’s an opportunity to consolidate debt, lower their interest rate, or change up their mortgage product.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways refinancing your mortgage can help!

Consolidate Debt:
When it comes to renewal season and considering a refinance, this is a great time to review your existing debt and determine whether or not you want to consolidate it onto your mortgage. In most cases, the interest rate on your mortgage is less than you would be charged with credit card companies or other forms of financing you may have. Plus, having all your debt consolidated into a single payment can keep you on track!

Unlock Your Home Equity: Do you have projects around the house you’ve been dying to get started on? Need funds for a large purchase such as a new vehicle or post-secondary education? When you are looking to renew your mortgage, it is a great opportunity to consider refinancing in order to take advantage of the home equity you have built up to help with these larger changes in your life!

Change Your Mortgage Product: Are you unhappy with your existing mortgage product? If you have a variable-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage, you may be considering locking it in at the lower rates. Alternatively, you may want to switch your current fixed-rate mortgage to a variable option with the interest rates expected to continue decreasing into 2025. You can also utilize your refinance to take advantage of a different payment or amortization schedule to help pay off your mortgage faster!

PLUS! Some latest changes by the Government of Canada will make it even easier for you when it comes to your renewal and refinancing options:

Those of you who may have an uninsured mortgage will no longer have to pass the stress test as of November 21st. This means that you have more flexibility when it comes to rates and mortgage products in renewal cases where you wish to switch lenders without adding additional funds to your mortgage!

Beginning January 15, the federal government will allow default-insured mortgages to be refinanced to build a secondary suite. If you’ve been considering adding a suite to your property, you may be eligible to access up to 90% of your home’s equity for this purpose.