Mortgages To Fit Your Life Plan

Professional advice for working professionals

So you can live your best life with a strategy to achieve your real estate and financial goals

BOOK A MEETING
Feel Empowered

Get the advice, strategy, and mortgage to achieve your lifestyle goals.


Save Time and Money

Achieve long term savings beyond just rate.

Experience our personalized and technology driven process designed to be efficient and convenient for you.


req-estimate_100x100
Create Wealth

Take advantage of opportunities to enhance your financial future with real estate investing.

Getting a mortgage on your own with a traditional bank can COST you!

Frustration

with paying more overall costs for your mortgage beyond rate

Overwhelmed

with spending excessive time researching for options

Struggle

with making the right decision without a mortgage professional whose interest is aligned with you

Miss out

on options and expertise that the banks do not offer

We believe you deserve

You deserve a mortgage that works for you.  Finding and financing your home is a huge investment in time and money.  For most, it is the biggest financial investment they’d ever make in their lifetime.

Therefore, your mortgage should fit into your overall financial strategy.  Unfortunately, the mortgage industry isn’t set up that way.  Most banks and mortgage providers are very transactional, and rate focused.  We want to provide you with much more to ensure you are empowered in the process, get clarity on where you are going and be confident that your mortgage fits into your overall financial life plan.


Let us be your strategic mortgage partners

Matthew Chan
CPA, CA
Mortgage Consultant
MEET THE TEAM

Matt still remembers clearly when he bought his first home.  At the time, he was still raising a very young family and just started his new mortgage career.  The prospect of buying his first home was overwhelming and downright terrifying.


Matt also remembered the feeling when he bought his first investment property.  There was a lot of anxiety he had no idea what it meant to be a landlord, whether or not it was the right decision and time to buy and even if it was affordable.


Because of this experience and his love of real estate, Matt is dedicated to supporting others to achieve their dream of home ownership.  Whether you are buying your first home or aspire to build a real estate empire, Matt is committed to providing a sound strategy to achieve your goals.


After starting his career as a professional accountant and achieving his CPA (CA) designation in Vancouver, Matthew moved to Toronto to pursue an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto.  In 2004, Matthew moved back to Vancouver to raise his family and start his mortgage career.


Since starting his career, Matthew has served as a board member for the Canadian Mortgage Broker Association of BC and achieved Elite Hall of Fame status with Dominion Lending Centres. Matthew is also an avid Real Estate Investor and loves to share his knowledge and passion of real estate investing with others.


With his professional qualifications, educational background, industry experience as both a mortgage professional and as a real estate investor, Matthew has the skillset to advise you on your mortgage and real estate goals. 


When not in his office, Matthew enjoys spending time with family and friends, training Gracie Jiu Jitsu and pursuing personal and professional development.

Here are some nice things clients say about working with us

Let us help you find a mortgage that best fits your life plan   
Budget
Proposal

We review both the costs to complete and the regular recurring costs of home ownership with you so you feel secure and confident to move forward every step of the way.

Mortgage
Options

We listen to you and provide advice and financial education.  With access to multiple lenders and products, we can review and present options that fit with your plan.

Support You Throughout the Process

We keep you regularly updated from the start to completion.  Once you complete, we continue with regular updates to ensure we are still moving towards your goals.

We'll guide you to a solution with these 3 simple steps

Schedule A

Discovery Call

We get to know each other a bit better and learn more about what your short term and long term real estate and financial goals are. We get a high level view of what your options could look like. 

Build a Custom Mortgage Proposal and Review Strategy with You

After we review your application in more depth, we propose options and help you evaluate the pros and cons of each, You get more clarity on your strategy for your long term goals.


We Implement

The Plan

With more insight, you choose the option that best fits your life. We handle the rest. You feel confident and empowered knowing you made a great decision.

Download My Mortgage Toolbox using my personal install buttons below so you can get exclusive access to all premium features.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH MY APP:

 

  • Calculate your total cost of owning a home
  • Estimate the minimum down payment you need
  • Calculate Land transfer taxes and the available rebates
  • Calculate the maximum loan you can borrow
  • Stress test your mortgage
  • Estimate your Closing costs
  • Compare your options side by side
  • Search for the best mortgage rates
  • Email Summary reports (PDF)
  • Use my app in English, French, Spanish, Hindi and Chinese

 

ARTICLES

Let’s Talk About Getting Top Dollar for Your Property

By Matthew Chan • February 25, 2026
When it comes to selling your home, most people think the first call should be to a real estate agent. But the smartest first step often isn’t with your agent—it’s with an independent mortgage professional. Why? Because your mortgage plays a bigger role in your bottom line than most people realize. Planning to Buy After You Sell If selling means you’ll also be purchasing another property, you’ll want to know exactly where you stand financially before listing. Mortgage rules change regularly, and qualifying once doesn’t guarantee you’ll qualify again. Getting a pre-approval in place ensures you know what you can afford and eliminates surprises later. On top of that, reviewing the terms of your existing mortgage could uncover options you may not have considered. For example, porting your mortgage instead of arranging a brand-new one could save you thousands. Selling Without Buying Even if you aren’t planning to buy right away, there’s still an important step: understanding the cost of breaking your mortgage. Unless your mortgage is open, penalties apply—and they can be significant. By reviewing the numbers with a mortgage professional, you might find that simply adjusting your timeline could reduce or even avoid costly fees. Navigating Life Changes In situations like a marital breakdown, it can feel like selling the family home is the only path forward. But that’s not always the case. With the right guidance and a legal separation agreement, one spouse may be able to buy out the other, keeping the home and providing stability for everyone involved. The Bottom Line Selling your property is more than just putting a sign on the lawn—it’s about creating a financial plan that protects your equity and positions you for the best possible outcome. Before you take the leap, let’s sit down and review your options. 📞 If you’re ready to talk strategy and make sure you get top dollar for your property, I’d be happy to connect anytime.

Down Payment Options for Canadian Homebuyers

By Matthew Chan • February 18, 2026
For most Canadians, the down payment is the biggest hurdle to homeownership. A down payment is the initial amount you contribute toward your property purchase, while the lender covers the rest through a mortgage. By law, Canadian lenders can only finance up to 95% of a property’s value, which means you’ll need at least 5% down to qualify. If you’re putting down less than 20%, your mortgage must be insured through one of Canada’s three default insurance providers— CMHC, Sagen (formerly Genworth), or Canada Guaranty . This insurance comes at a cost, but it can be rolled into your mortgage amount. The less you put down, the higher the premium. Since saving a down payment can feel overwhelming, it helps to know the different sources you can draw from. Here are the most common options available to Canadian homebuyers: 1. Savings & Personal Resources The most straightforward source is your own savings. Lenders will ask to see a 90-day history of the funds in your account. Any large deposits outside of regular payroll must be explained with documentation—such as the sale of a vehicle or a transfer from an investment account. This requirement isn’t just red tape; it’s part of Canada’s anti-money laundering rules. 2. Proceeds from the Sale of a Property If you’ve recently sold another home, you can use the proceeds as a down payment on your new purchase. Proof of the sale—such as the final statement of adjustments from your lawyer—will be required. 3. RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) First-time buyers can withdraw up to $35,000 each (or $70,000 as a couple) from their RRSPs to put toward a down payment under the federal Home Buyers’ Plan . The funds are withdrawn tax-free, but they must be repaid over a 15-year period. This is a popular option for buyers who have been steadily contributing to their retirement savings. 4. Gifted Down Payment With today’s housing prices, many buyers turn to family for help. A parent or immediate family member can provide a gift that makes up part—or even all—of the required down payment. The lender will require a signed gift letter confirming that the money is a true gift (with no repayment expected) and proof that the funds have been deposited into your account. 5. Borrowed Down Payment In some cases, you may be able to borrow your down payment. This option is usually available only if you have strong credit and sufficient income. The payments on the borrowed funds are factored into your debt service ratios, so affordability is key. Lenders typically use 3% of the outstanding balance when calculating the additional payment. The Bottom Line A down payment doesn’t have to come from just one source—it can be a combination of savings, gifted funds, RRSPs, or other resources. What matters most is being able to show where the money came from and that it meets lender requirements. If you’d like to explore your options or learn how much you might qualify for, it’s never too early to start the conversation. Connect with us today—we’d be happy to help you create a plan and take the first steps toward homeownership.

Stress-Testing Your Mortgage Affordability: Why It Matters

By Matthew Chan • February 11, 2026
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments you’ll ever make. That’s why lenders want to be sure you can handle your mortgage payments—not just today, but also if interest rates rise in the future. This is where the mortgage stress test comes in. Many Canadians hear the term but aren’t entirely sure what it means or how it affects them. Let’s break it down in plain language. What Is the Mortgage Stress Test? The stress test is a rule introduced by the federal government that requires all mortgage applicants to qualify at a higher rate than the one they’ll actually pay. Currently, you must qualify at the greater of your contract rate + 2% or the benchmark qualifying rate (set by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions). For example: If your lender offers you a 5-year fixed mortgage at 5.25%, you must show you could still afford the payments at 7.25% . Even if rates don’t rise that high, the stress test ensures you won’t be overextended if they do. Why Does It Matter? The stress test protects both borrowers and lenders by: Preventing over-borrowing : It ensures you don’t take on more debt than you can realistically handle. Preparing for rate hikes : With interest rates fluctuating, it’s a safeguard against sudden increases. Strengthening financial stability : It lowers the risk of defaults, protecting the housing market as a whole. While it can sometimes feel like a barrier—reducing the amount you qualify for—it’s ultimately designed to keep you from becoming “house poor.” How Does It Impact Buyers? The stress test can significantly affect your homebuying budget. For example, without it, you might qualify for a $600,000 mortgage, but with the stress test applied, you may only qualify for $500,000. That doesn’t mean your dream of homeownership is out of reach—it just means you may need to adjust expectations or explore other strategies, such as: Increasing your down payment Paying down existing debts Considering alternative lenders who may have different qualification standards Why Work With a Mortgage Professional? Every lender applies the stress test, but not every lender views your application the same way. An independent mortgage professional can: Shop multiple lenders to find the best fit Run affordability scenarios at different rates Help you understand how much house you can truly afford—without stretching your finances too thin The Bottom Line The mortgage stress test isn’t meant to stop you from buying a home—it’s there to protect you from financial strain down the road. By understanding how it works and planning ahead, you can make smarter choices and buy with confidence. If you’re thinking about purchasing a home, refinancing, or simply want to know how the stress test affects your options, connect with us today. We’ll help you stress-test your budget and find the mortgage solution that works best for you.

We keep our articles up to date so you can stay informed.

MORE ARTICLES