Hewbrook Incorporated Mortgage Brokers

03/25/2026

Considering building or buying a new home?

Ontario is expected to table changes that would remove the full HST on newly built homes in the upcoming budget — and notably, this won’t be limited to first-time home buyers.

At a $1M purchase/build cost, that’s up to $130,000 in potential savings.

For first-time buyers in particular, this could make small multi-unit builds (like a duplex) a much more realistic & strategic entry point — live in one unit, rent the other, and use that rental income to help qualify.

For those considering building new, this rebate changes the overall project cost in a meaningful way.

If you have questions about how this works, or how it may apply to your situation, please reach out - we are here to help!

As a reminder, our brokerage works with clients across the Bay of Quinte region on:

• Home purchases
• Refinancing and debt restructuring
• Construction and new build financing
• Mortgage renewals and transfers
• Reverse mortgages

If you’re planning a move, exploring options, or just want to understand how programs like this affect your plans, feel free to reach out or share this with someone who may find it helpful.

03/13/2026

Good news for First Time Home Buyers — particularly those considering a newly built home.

Bill C-4 has now received Royal Assent, which means the GST on new homes purchased by First Time Home Buyers is being eliminated on homes priced up to $1,000,000, and reduced on homes priced between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000.

The change is also retroactive to Agreements of Purchase and Sale signed after March 20, 2025, which is helpful for buyers who have already committed to a new build.

The program is currently scheduled to run through December 31, 2030.

When this is combined with the Ontario new housing rebate, FHSA savings accounts, land transfer tax rebates, and improving interest rate conditions, the overall math for first-time buyers continues to improve.

If you have questions about how this works, or how it may apply to your situation, please reach out - we are here to help!

As a reminder, our brokerage works with clients across the Bay of Quinte region on:

• Home purchases
• Refinancing and debt restructuring
• Construction and new build financing
• Mortgage renewals and transfers
• Reverse mortgages

If you’re planning a move, exploring options, or just want to understand how programs like this affect your plans, feel free to reach out or share this with someone who may find it helpful.

02/27/2026

If you’re thinking about buying a home in the Bay of Quinte, your first step should be getting a qualified pre-approval from a local trusted Mortgage Broker/Agent.

Building a relationship with a local mortgage professional from the very beginning gives you a financing expert in your corner as you shop and negotiate. When different properties come up — or the numbers shift — your broker can quickly adjust the strategy, confirm options, and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Our local realtors are working incredibly hard, and when homes in Belleville, Trenton, Brighton, or Prince Edward County are priced right — they move quickly, many times with multiple offers.
Being financially prepared allows your entire team to move with confidence.

A fully verified pre-approval with credit check (not just an online estimate) helps you:

• Understand your true purchasing power
• Know your comfortable monthly payment
• Lock in a rate while you shop
• See which lenders and programs fit your situation
• Write strong, confident offers

If you’re thinking about buying or know someone that needs expert mortgage advice and service please reach out anytime — We are happy to walk through options and answer any questions.

01/07/2026

After being largely removed from classrooms in the late 1990’s, practical financial education is officially making a comeback in Ontario schools.

Starting September 2026, students will begin learning real-world money skills much earlier—and they’ll need to show they understand them before graduating.

What does that look like?
✔️ Financial literacy introduced as early as Grade 1
✔️ A mandatory financial literacy assessment in Grade 10 math
✔️ Lessons that actually apply to real life, like:
• Budgeting and managing household cash flow
• How credit, borrowing, and interest really work
• Saving for long-term goals (yes… including buying a home 🏡)
• The basics of investing

From a mortgage and financial-planning perspective, this is a big step in the right direction. Financial confidence shouldn’t start the day someone applies for a mortgage—it should start years earlier.
Better education leads to better decisions.

Better decisions lead to stronger financial outcomes.

This is a win for families—and for the next generation of homeowners in our community. 👏

If you ever have questions about how these concepts apply to real life today, we're always happy to help.

12/03/2025

🏡 Attention First Time Home Buyers: Properties that need updates are hitting the market, and with the right strategy, you can turn them into a modern, upgraded home without scrambling for renovation funds upfront.

The key is a Purchase + Improvements mortgage, which allows you to:
✔️ Move forward with as little as 5% down
✔️ Include the renovation budget within the mortgage
✔️ Keep one predictable monthly payment
✔️ Potentially create value beyond the renovation costs

Here's a current on-market opportunity in Belleville:

Purchase Price: $349,000
Improvement Budget: $40,000
Total Project Cost: $389,000

Required Down Payment: $19,500
Mortgage Including CMHC Premium: ~$386,000
Estimated Monthly Payment: ~$1,833

By consolidating the purchase and renovations into one mortgage, you can enter the market with a manageable payment while transforming the home to yours!. Finished thoughtfully, the property should be worth more than the combined cost of buying and improving it — effectively creating equity from day one.

Interested in seeing how this strategy could work for your situation? Run the numbers instantly in our app or reach out to us.

📲 Download the app here: https://mccapp.ca/app/william-vanderlaan/download

A smart strategy, predictable payment, and a newly improved home — a clear path for first-time buyers to get into the market with confidence.

10/07/2025

We're growing! A big welcome to William Vanderlaan who has recently joined us as a Mortgage Agent.

11/25/2022

When do credit scores update and how often does your credit score update? Find out more about how credit scores are calculated and how often they change.

11/14/2022

The Bank of Canada is nearing the end of its rate-hike cycle, but it's not quite there yet.

08/19/2022

Latest Housing and Market Review from Mortgage Professionals Canada

We hope you enjoy this month’s instalment of our Housing and Mortgage Market Review: Still no bottom for home sales.

We’re excited to share key market findings to help support Canada’s broker channel. Read this month’s review, full of insightful stats! http://ow.ly/8zP150Kmhzv

04/07/2022

10 Reasons Why Homebuyers May Not Qualify for the Best Rates

As mortgage brokers, we know that homebuyers are sometimes disappointed when they can't qualify for the best rates. They inevitably always come back with one burning question: why?

01/19/2022

Obtaining a mortgage can be a challenging and intimidating process. At MERIX Financial, we are proud to work with the very best mortgage industry professionals to make homeownership more accessible for Canadians! Consider the following benefits of using a mortgage broker to purchase a home.