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.

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Joel Olson
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Mortgage Advice to Help You Through a Separation

By Joel Olson • September 9, 2025
With the latest stats claiming that about half of marriages end in divorce and with around three-quarters of Canadians being homeowners, it’s important to know how to handle your mortgage if you decide to separate. Here’s a quick list of things to consider. Keep making your payments. A mortgage is a legally binding contract between you and the lender. It doesn’t take marriage into account. If your name appears on the mortgage, you're responsible for making sure the regular payments are made. A marital breakdown does not give you an excuse not to make your mortgage payments. If, during your marriage, you've relied on your spouse to make the mortgage payments and you aren’t certain payments are being made after separating, it's in your best interest to contact the lender directly to verify your mortgage is being paid. If payments aren't being made, it could affect your credit score or worse; the lender could start foreclosure proceedings. There is always a financial cost to break your mortgage. When working through how to split your finances, you decided to either refinance your mortgage, remove someone from the title, or sell the property, keep in mind that you will incur legal costs. If you’re in the middle of a term, the penalty for breaking your mortgage might be significant, especially if you have a fixed-rate mortgage. It’s certainly worth contacting your mortgage lender directly to verify the cost of breaking your mortgage. Having that information accessible when writing out your separation agreement will provide increased clarity. Listing your marital status as separated or divorced. When completing a mortgage application for securing new mortgage financing, when you list your marital status as separated or divorced, you can expect that a lender will want to see your legal separation agreement or your divorce papers. The lender wants to make sure you aren’t responsible for support payments. So if you haven’t finalized the paperwork, expect delays in securing mortgage financing. It could be harder to qualify for a new mortgage. With the separation of assets also comes the separation of incomes. If you qualified for your existing mortgage on a double income, you might find it hard to maintain the same quality of lifestyle post-separation. This is where careful planning comes in. Working closely with your independent mortgage professional will ensure you understand exactly where you stand. You’ll want to put together a plan for how to handle the mortgage on the matrimonial home. Purchasing the matrimonial home from your ex. There are special considerations given to people going through a separation to buy out the matrimonial home. Instead of looking at the transaction like a refinance where you can only borrow up to 80% of the property’s value, lenders will consider one spouse buying out the other up to a 95% loan to value ratio. This comes in handy when dividing assets and liabilities. Navigating the ins and outs of mortgage financing isn’t something you have to do alone. If you're going through a separation and you’d like to discuss all your mortgage options, please connect anytime. It would be a pleasure to walk you through the process.

From Summer Shine to Fall Fine: Smart Home Projects to Tackle Before the First Frost

By Joel Olson • August 28, 2025
As patios wind down and pumpkin spice ramps up, fall is the perfect reset for your home—and your homeowner game plan. These quick wins boost comfort, curb appeal, and efficiency now, and set you up for a low-stress winter (and a strong spring market). 1) Safety & “silent leak” checks (Weekend-ready) Clean gutters & downspouts. Add leaf guards where trees overhang. Roof scan. Look for lifted shingles, cracked flashings, or moss. Seal the shell. Re-caulk window/door trim; replace weatherstripping. Test alarms. New batteries for smoke/CO detectors; add one near bedrooms. Why it matters: Prevent water intrusion and heat loss before storms roll in. 2) Heat smarter, not harder Furnace/boiler tune-up and filter change. Smart thermostat with schedules and geofencing. Draft hunt. Foam gaskets behind outlets, door sweeps on exterior doors. ROI tip: Efficiency upgrades lower monthly bills and can improve lender ratios if you’re eyeing a refinance later. 3) Fall-proof your yard (so spring you says “thanks”) Aerate + overseed + fall fertilize for thicker turf next year. Trim trees/shrubs away from siding and power lines. Mulch perennials and plant spring bulbs now. Shut off/bleed exterior taps and store hoses to avoid burst pipes. 4) Extend outdoor season (cozy edition) Portable fire pit or propane heater + layered blankets. Path/step lighting for darker evenings (solar or low-voltage). Weather-resistant storage for cushions/tools to preserve value. Neighborhood curb appeal: Warm lighting and tidy beds make a big first impression if you list in shoulder season. 5) Water management = winter peace of mind Re-grade low spots and add downspout extensions (2–3+ metres). Check sump pump (and backup). Look for efflorescence or damp corners in the basement. 6) Mini-renos that punch above their weight Entry/mudroom upgrade: hooks, bench, boot trays, closed storage. Laundry room tune-up: counter over machines, sorting bins, task lighting. Kitchen refresh: new hardware, tap, and under-cabinet lighting in one afternoon. Budget guide: Many of these land under a micro-reno budget—perfect for a modest line of credit. 7) Indoor air quality tune-up Deep clean vents and dryers (including the rigid duct). Add door mats (exterior + interior) to catch grit/salt. Houseplants or HEPA purifier for closed-window months. Fast Timeline (pin this to the fridge) Late August–September Gutters/downspouts, roof/caulking, HVAC service, lawn care, plant bulbs, exterior tap shut-off plan, path lighting. October Weatherstripping/sweeps, fire pit setup, organize mudroom/garage, test alarms, sump check, downspout extensions, dryer vent cleaning. Financing smarter: make your mortgage work for your home Annual mortgage check-in. As rates, income, and goals evolve, a quick review can free up cash flow or open options for a small fall project budget. HELOC vs. top-up refinance. For bite-size projects, a HELOC can be flexible. For bigger renos you plan to pay down, a top-up refi might make more sense. Bundle & prioritize. Knock out the high-impact, low-cost items first (air sealing, safety, water management) before the cosmetic upgrades. Not sure which route fits your fall plans? We’ll run the numbers and map the best financing path for your specific budget and goals. Quick Checklist (copy/paste) ☐ Clean gutters/downspouts; add guards ☐ Roof & flashing visual check ☐ Re-caulk, weatherstrip, add door sweeps ☐ HVAC service + new filter ☐ Aerate/overseed/fertilize; trim trees; plant bulbs ☐ Path & entry lighting ☐ Drain/bleed outdoor taps; store hoses ☐ Downspout extensions; sump test ☐ Dryer vent cleaning ☐ Mudroom/garage organization ☐ Schedule mortgage review / discuss HELOC vs refi Ready to make fall your low-stress season? Book a quick fall mortgage check-up—15 minutes to see if a small credit line or a tweak to your current mortgage could cover your priority projects without straining cash flow.