Cash Offers? Why Not Try This Instead?

Joel Olson • November 5, 2021

Instead of just going with the all-cash offer, give your buyers options and be a real hero in their eyes!

Okay, obviously, these days we hear a lot about people talking about cash offers. 


Obviously, a cash offer seems like it's gonna be a pretty good thing to take advantage of. 


I mean, what could go wrong with a cash offer?


Why couldn't that be the best possible client?


No conditions... no stress... no worries!



 But are you missing an opportunity, having cash offers?


Those cash offer buyers may be people with a good amount of down payment to buy a home for cash, but they may not have a lot of monthly income coming in. Maybe moving to the area means they can take advantage of a higher amount of monthly cash flow.

 
Let me explain. 


If a client comes in to a situation where they can pay cash for an $800,000 house, I realize that sometimes that number may be much bigger or a little bit smaller. But let's say it's $800,000. 


Let's say instead of them buying the house for cash, you advise them to buy a home and put down 600,000  leaving a minuscule $200,000 mortgage and taking that other $200,000 and putting that into an investment property where they put $200,000 down as a down payment. 


Now, there's a number of scenarios that might evolve here. 


But on most properties without math, we are talking about that person because of the size of their down payment and because of of rental income, netting an additional 1500 to $2,000 a month. 


How much of a hero would you appear to them by advising the client who probably may be at the end of their working years and not having the ability to earn extra dollars by going and getting a job or working some elusive side hustle? 


How good would you look to suggest that they could put 1500 or $2,000 extra in their pocket?


Now many clients may still decide that the idea of having a mortgage at this age is not for them, but just the advice of giving them the option is going to make you seem like much smarter than your "average Joe".


Additionally, on top of that, for the clients that do take advantage of this, you're looking at more business for you, more business for me and a much, much better situation for the client where they're able to have monthly cash flow that significantly impacts their life. 


So the next time you see the words "cash offer" come across your desk, or a client saying, "don't worry we'll go all cash", tell them there might be another option that they should maybe just consider in order to have a better quality of life.


I mean 2 deals are always better than one.

Do you have cash offers currently?  Do you have challenging real estate transactions?  Did you have someone get turned down recently?  Let us have a look at your clients' situations and offer a fresh perspective to help you get more transactions done!

 

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Joel Olson
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4 Signs You’re Ready for Homeownership

By Joel Olson • October 21, 2025
Buying your first home is a big deal. And while you may feel like you’re ready to take that step, here are 4 things that will prove it out. 1. You have at least 5% available for a downpayment. To buy your first home, you need to come up with at least 5% for a downpayment. From there, you’ll be expected to have roughly 1.5% of the purchase price set aside for closing costs. If you’ve saved your downpayment by accumulating your own funds, it means you have a positive cash flow which is a good thing. However, if you don’t quite have enough saved up on your own, but you have a family member who is willing to give you a gift to assist you, that works too. 2. You have established credit. Building a credit score takes some time. Before any lender considers you for mortgage financing, they want to see that you have an established history of repaying the money you’ve already borrowed. Typically two trade lines, for a period of two years, with a minimum amount of $2000, should work! Now, if you’ve had some credit issues in the past, it doesn’t mean you aren’t ready to be a homeowner. However, it might mean a little more planning is required! A co-signor can be considered here as well. 3. You have the income to make your mortgage payments. And then some. If you’re going to borrow money to buy a house, the lender wants to make sure that you have the ability to pay it back. Plus interest. The ideal situation is to have a permanent full-time position where you’re past probation. Now, if you rely on any inconsistent forms of income, having a two-year history is required. A good rule of thumb is to keep the costs of homeownership to under a third of your gross income, leaving you with two-thirds of your income to pay for your life. 4. You’ve discussed mortgage financing with a professional. Buying your first home can be quite a process. With all the information available online, it’s hard to know where to start. While you might feel ready, there are lots of steps to take; way more than can be outlined in a simple article like this one. So if you think you’re ready to buy your first home, the best place to start is with a preapproval! Let's discuss your financial situation, talk through your downpayment options, look at your credit score, assess your income and liabilities, and ultimately see what kind of mortgage you can qualify for to become a homeowner! Please connect anytime; it would be a pleasure to work with you!
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Mortgages Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All

By Joel Olson • October 7, 2025
Why the Cheapest Mortgage Isn’t Always the Smartest Move Some things are fine to buy on the cheap. Generic cereal? Sure. Basic airline seat? No problem. A car with roll-down windows? If it gets you where you're going, great. But when it comes to choosing a mortgage? That’s not the time to cut corners. A “no-frills” mortgage might sound appealing with its rock-bottom interest rate, but what’s stripped away to get you that rate can end up costing you far more in the long run. These mortgages often come with severe limitations—restrictions that could hit your wallet hard if life throws you a curveball. Let’s break it down. A typical no-frills mortgage might offer a slightly lower interest rate—maybe 0.10% to 0.20% less. That could save you a few hundred dollars over a few years. But that small upfront saving comes at the cost of flexibility: Breaking your mortgage early? Expect a massive penalty. Want to make extra payments? Often not allowed—or severely restricted. Need to move and take your mortgage with you? Not likely. Thinking about refinancing? Good luck doing that without a financial hit. Most people don’t plan on breaking their mortgage early—but roughly two-thirds of Canadians do, often due to job changes, separations, relocations, or expanding families. That’s why flexibility matters. So why do lenders even offer no-frills mortgages? Because they know the stats. And they know many borrowers chase the lowest rate without asking what’s behind it. Some banks count on that. Their job is to maximize profits. Ours? To help you make an informed, strategic choice. As independent mortgage professionals, we work for you—not a single lender. That means we can compare multiple products from various financial institutions to find the one that actually suits your goals and protects your long-term financial health. Bottom line: Don’t let a shiny low rate distract you from what really matters. A mortgage should fit your life—not the other way around. Have questions? Want to look at your options? I’d be happy to help. Let’s chat.