Mortgage blog.

Articles that answer the common questions, and case studies that work the same decisions through with real numbers.

Inspection or appraisal: two reviews, two purposes

The inspection works for you. The appraisal works for the lender. Both matter, for different reasons.

HBP, FHSA, a gift, savings: where is your down payment coming from?

Every dollar of the down payment needs a source, a date, and proof. We put that together before the offer.

Set a purchase budget that leaves a reserve after closing

Start from the payment you want to make, and keep cash for costs, maintenance, and surprises.

Prequalification or approval: what is actually confirmed?

What a prequalification gives you, and what still has to be confirmed before the offer.

Financing condition: which dates should the offer protect?

How many days to give the financing condition, once you account for documents, appraisal, and the lender.

Buying with a co-borrower

Two incomes, two credit files, two different contributions. We turn that into one budget, and look at what each of you brings.

Newcomer and credit file

Your status, your job, the funds you’ve transferred, and the credit history you have here. We start from what exists, not from what’s missing.

Buying before selling

Sell first, make a conditional offer, or bridge it with temporary financing. Three paths, compared against realistic dates.

Buying with self-employed income

What you earn and what your paperwork shows aren’t always the same thing. We start from your assessments and financial statements to set a budget that holds up.

Prequalification before an offer

An estimate from last year isn’t worth much anymore. We redo your income, debts, and funds before you put in an offer.