How do we tap into the first-time investors hiding in your database?

Joel Olson • January 20, 2022

(*What's your preference? Listen to the podcast above or read the blog post below)

Did you know that most first-time investors are right under your nose?

There is a lot of media around the idea that investors are scooping up rental units and houses all across the province.


But what if I told you that on our side investors are not some lucrative big city investor with millions, millions of dollars?


What if I told you they're not people that are Uber wealthy, but they're actually the clients you’ve served over the past 24 months. 


In fact, our data shows that almost 80% of the clients we've served in the last two years are in a position since when they were first time homebuyers can now become first time investors.


And this is not a bad thing. 


The idea that a first time homebuyer can build their wealth, especially when many of them tend to be quite young, by buying a rental property is extraordinary.


And we do ourselves a disservice by not reaching out to our buyers in the last two years and seeing if instead of selling a house, we can help them buy their second home. 


Imagine if you can gain a whole book of clients without having your previous clients have to sell their home but having them keep what they have. 


The only thing stopping you from doing that is most clients don't even know where to start.


But with huge equity gains in the last 24 months, the majority of people have enough equity for us to leverage their current home to buy a rental property. 


With the increases in rental income being derived from most rental properties, it means that the vast majority of rental properties they will buy will more than cash will enable them to have a home that does not put any extra burden on their monthly family budget. 


In fact, it's almost as if they'll be able to get a rental unit for free while letting the long term appreciation over 10, 20 or 30 years allow them to be in a better position than ever before. 


This is a really about changing a family's financial position.


So who are these people we're talking about? 


The majority of people that we've helped the last two years are first time homebuyers that put 5% down. 


Now, they have enough equity to pull up to to pull enough equity out of their home by a refinance or adding a home equity line of credit. 


The situation or strategy we would do would depend on the client - taking the equity out not putting any additional cash in and using that money to buy another home. 


Now, another strategy can be looked at at this point, is a lot of people might think about that idea that they may have bought a condo or a townhouse and maybe now's the time to move to a single family home.  In that scenario, they may turn their existing home into a rental and actually only put 5% down on the next house.


So we're not even talking about a huge amount of equity having to be pulled out. 


In many cases, we could probably even see them get into a second home by putting 20 to $70,000 down depending on what they're buying and the market they're in. 


So if you'd like help, we are currently offering a program where we can reach out to your past clients and see if we can help them strategize and build a realistic strategy on getting into their very first rental property with a little bit of guidance. 


This is very, very easy for the vast majority of clients.


The other thing we're doing right now is that we are currently starting a newsletter based on hot investment properties around the province. 


Now we invite you to submit some properties that we could show to our database that ranges from Northern BC to Vancouver Island to the interior to the Lower Mainland, really all throughout the province. 


If you would submit those properties to us, we're putting them out in a weekly newsletter so they can be exposed to more and more people that may be looking for an ideal rental property strategy.


Additionally, we're setting this newsletter out to our existing clients and building even more clients that may be looking at it. 


So, if you're interested in maybe getting a hold of some of these leads, and maybe being part of some of these leads please reach out to us on that as well. 


As always, let us know any way we can help you.

A man with a beard and a suit is smiling for the camera.
Joel Olson
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Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Jan 28th, 2026

By Joel Olson • January 28, 2026
Bank of Canada maintains policy rate at 2¼%. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Relations Ottawa, Ontario January 28, 2026 The Bank of Canada today held its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. The outlook for the global and Canadian economies is little changed relative to the projection in the October Monetary Policy Report (MPR). However, the outlook is vulnerable to unpredictable US trade policies and geopolitical risks. Economic growth in the United States continues to outpace expectations and is projected to remain solid, driven by AI-related investment and consumer spending. Tariffs are pushing up US inflation, although their effect is expected to fade gradually later this year. In the euro area, growth has been supported by activity in service sectors and will get additional support from fiscal policy. China’s GDP growth is expected to slow gradually, as weakening domestic demand offsets strength in exports. Overall, the Bank expects global growth to average about 3% over the projection horizon. Global financial conditions have remained accommodative overall. Recent weakness in the US dollar has pushed the Canadian dollar above 72 cents, roughly where it had been since the October MPR. Oil prices have been fluctuating in response to geopolitical events and, going forward, are assumed to be slightly below the levels in the October report. US trade restrictions and uncertainty continue to disrupt growth in Canada. After a strong third quarter, GDP growth in the fourth quarter likely stalled. Exports continue to be buffeted by US tariffs, while domestic demand appears to be picking up. Employment has risen in recent months. Still, the unemployment rate remains elevated at 6.8% and relatively few businesses say they plan to hire more workers. Economic growth is projected to be modest in the near term as population growth slows and Canada adjusts to US protectionism. In the projection, consumer spending holds up and business investment strengthens gradually, with fiscal policy providing some support. The Bank projects growth of 1.1% in 2026 and 1.5% in 2027, broadly in line with the October projection. A key source of uncertainty is the upcoming review of the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement. CPI inflation picked up in December to 2.4%, boosted by base-year effects linked to last winter’s GST/HST holiday. Excluding the effect of changes in taxes, inflation has been slowing since September. The Bank’s preferred measures of core inflation have eased from 3% in October to around 2½% in December. Inflation was 2.1% in 2025 and the Bank expects inflation to stay close to the 2% target over the projection period, with trade-related cost pressures offset by excess supply. Monetary policy is focused on keeping inflation close to the 2% target while helping the economy through this period of structural adjustment. Governing Council judges the current policy rate remains appropriate, conditional on the economy evolving broadly in line with the outlook we published today. However, uncertainty is heightened and we are monitoring risks closely. If the outlook changes, we are prepared to respond. The Bank is committed to ensuring that Canadians continue to have confidence in price stability through this period of global upheaval. Information note The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is March 18, 2026. The Bank’s next MPR will be released on April 29, 2026. Read the January 28th, 2026 Monetary Report

Collateral vs. Standard Mortgage: Pros and Cons Explained

By Joel Olson • January 20, 2026
Mortgage Registration 101: What You Need to Know About Standard vs. Collateral Charges When you’re setting up a mortgage, it’s easy to focus on the rate and monthly payment—but what about how your mortgage is registered? Most borrowers don’t realize this, but there are two common ways your lender can register your mortgage: as a standard charge or a collateral charge . And that choice can affect your flexibility, future borrowing power, and even your ability to switch lenders. Let’s break down what each option means—without the legal jargon. What Is a Standard Charge Mortgage? Think of this as the “traditional” mortgage. With a standard charge, your lender registers exactly what you’ve borrowed on the property title. Nothing more. Nothing hidden. Just the principal amount of your mortgage. Here’s why that matters: When your mortgage term is up, you can usually switch to another lender easily —often without legal fees, as long as your terms stay the same. If you want to borrow more money down the line (for example, for renovations or debt consolidation), you’ll need to requalify and break your current mortgage , which can come with penalties and legal costs. It’s straightforward, transparent, and offers more freedom to shop around at renewal time. What Is a Collateral Charge Mortgage? This is a more flexible—but also more complex—type of mortgage registration. Instead of registering just the amount you borrow, a collateral charge mortgage registers for a higher amount , often up to 100%–125% of your home’s value . Why? To allow you to borrow additional funds in the future without redoing your mortgage. Here’s the upside: If your home’s value goes up or you need access to funds, a collateral charge mortgage may let you re-borrow more easily (if you qualify). It can bundle other credit products—like a line of credit or personal loan—into one master agreement. But there are trade-offs: You can’t switch lenders at renewal without hiring a lawyer and paying legal fees to discharge the mortgage. It may limit your ability to get a second mortgage with another lender because the original lender is registered for a higher amount than you actually owe. Which One Should You Choose? The answer depends on what matters more to you: flexibility in future borrowing , or freedom to shop around for better rates at renewal. Why Talk to a Mortgage Broker? This kind of decision shouldn’t be made by default—or by what a single lender offers. An independent mortgage professional can help you: Understand how your mortgage is registered (most people never ask!) Compare lenders that offer both options Make sure your mortgage aligns with your future goals—not just today’s needs We look at your full financial picture and explain the fine print so you can move forward with confidence—not surprises. Have questions? Let’s talk. Whether you’re renewing, refinancing, or buying for the first time, I’m here to help you make smart, informed choices about your mortgage. No pressure—just answers.