Creating A Pension Plan Part 2

Michael Hallett • May 31, 2016
Every good plan starts with building a foundation, the plan will rely on the foundation for years to come. Now that you have decided to pursue the acquisition of real estate (property #1 purchased and successfully rented...check!) as your vehicle to build wealth it's time to stay the course and add the next layer. We will continue on from Part 1 and build upon it. The information here can be duplicated for property #3, 4...and so on.

For this scenario we are considering the acquisition of property #2 at the end of year 3. Based on the estimated market value, the subject property will cost $245,863 to purchase and (in the perfect world) we are buying another one in the same building. Sticking with a simplistic scenario the current market value of property #1 is $245,863. The plan that had been laid out in the beginning comprised the combination of leveraging equity from other rental properties and savings to acquire the 'next' property.

End of Year 3

Estimated market value $245,863
Outstanding mortgage balance $167,227
Access to equity $49,172 (*80% of the market value of the subject property must remain unleveraged, determined by an appraisal)

New mortgage amount on P#1 $196,690
Funds leveraged from P#1 $29,463
Balance from own resources $19,710
20% down payment for P#2 $49,173

Early prepayment penalty P#1 $1,104 (3 months interest)

The balance of funds required were available because instead of making extra payments against your principal residence (up to a maximum of 20%) you were directing that amount into a 'rental property purchase' savings account. Over the past 3 years the account has ballooned to over $20,000.

Through the necessary qualifying process we have now established the new (re-financed) term on property #1 for $196,690 to assist with acquiring property #2. We will also utilize an economic rent letter to help service the debt unless there is an existing renter (and rental/lease agreement ) currently in place.

Purchase Price: $245,863
Down Payment: $49,172 (20% minimum, lender may request more)
Mortgage Amount: $196,690

Variable at 2.40% (P-0.30%) 5 year term CLOSED 30 year amortization
Monthly Mtg Payment: $765.77
Est. Monthly Strata: $250 (costs to operate have increased)
Est. Monthly Property Tax: $117 ($1,400/year)

TOTAL Monthly Payment: $1,132.77

Property Transfer Tax:
$2,917.26 (paid at completion, cannot be rolled into the mortgaged. It is calculated based on 1% of the 1st $200,000 and 2% on the remaining balance.) To calculate Property Transfer Tax use this calculator. 

Appraisal:
$300 (required to validate the purchase price because there is no mortgage insurer involved; CMHC, Genworth or Canada Guaranty).

Home Inspection:
$400 (highly recommended)

Title Insurance:
$200 (In short, title insurance is an assurance as to the state of title of a given property. In practical terms, it protects lenders and purchasers against loss or damage suffered due to survey problems, defects in title and other matters relating to title as specified in the policy.

Approx lawyer fees:
$1,500

The cost to acquire the property was $5,317.26

The act of buying rental properties should be treated as a business transaction. The thought of falling in LOVE with a potential property should be purged from your mind completely. When you are search for a desirable property do your homework; look into the Official Community Plan with the city, if you have a higher budget you might want to consider a 2 bedroom unit vs 1 bedroom, know what the rental restrictions are within the strata prior to buying and most importantly contact your Mortgage Broker prior to meeting with Realtor so that he/she can assist with the structuring as all lenders employ different ways of underwriting rental mortgage applications. The numbers have to make sense to give yourself a chance to build your real estate empire.

*Based on today's re-financing guidelines. Please check with your Mortgage Broker before executing your plan.

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MICHAEL HALLETT
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By Michael Hallett October 8, 2025
Credit. The ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that you will make payments in the future. When you borrow money to buy a property, you’ll be required to prove that you have a good history of managing your credit. That is, making good on all your payments. But what exactly is a “good history of managing credit”? What are lenders looking at when they assess your credit report? If you’re new to managing your credit, an easy way to remember the minimum credit requirements for mortgage financing is the 2/2/2 rule. Two active trade lines established over a minimum period of two years, with a minimum limit of two thousand dollars, is what lenders are looking for. A trade line could be a credit card, an instalment loan, a car loan, or a line of credit; basically, anytime a lender extends credit to you. Your repayment history is kept on your credit report and generates a credit score. For a tradeline to be considered active, you must have used it for at least one month and then once every three months. To build a good credit history, both of your tradelines need to be used for at least two years. This history gives the lender confidence that you’ve established good credit habits over a decent length of time. Two thousand dollars is the bare minimum limit required on your trade lines. So if you have a credit card with a $1000 limit and a line of credit with a $2500 limit, you would be okay as your limit would be $3500. If you’re managing your credit well, chances are you will be offered a limit increase. It’s a good idea to take it. Mortgage Lenders want to know that you can handle borrowing money. Now, don’t confuse the limit with the balance. You don’t have to carry a balance on your trade lines for them to be considered active. To build credit, it’s best to use your tradelines but pay them off in full every month in the case of credit cards and make all your loan payments on time. A great way to use your credit is to pay your bills via direct withdrawal from your credit card, then set up a regular transfer from your bank account to pay off the credit card in full every month. Automation becomes your best friend. Just make sure you keep on top of your banking to ensure everything works as it should. Now, you might be thinking, what about my credit score, isn’t that important when talking about building a credit profile to secure a mortgage? Well, your credit score is important, but if you have two tradelines, reporting for two years, with a minimum limit of two thousand dollars, without missing any payments, your credit score will take care of itself, and you should have no worries. With that said, it never hurts to take a look at your credit every once and a while to ensure no errors are reported on your credit bureau. So, if you’re thinking about buying a property in the next couple of years and want to make sure that you have good enough credit to qualify, let’s talk. Connect anytime; it would be a pleasure to work with you and help you to understand better how your credit impacts mortgage qualification.
By Michael Hallett October 3, 2025
Buying and selling a home at the same time can feel overwhelming. Between closing dates, possession dates, and getting access to your money, it can quickly become stressful. A client recently emailed me with this very common question: "We want to buy a new home, but our down payment is tied up in our current home. If we can’t get that money until the sale closes, how are we supposed to make an offer on a new place? Do we have to rent for a month or longer? We’re confused about how this works." This situation comes up more often than you might think. The solution is something called a bridge loan . What is a Bridge Loan? A bridge loan lets you use the equity in your current home as a down payment on your new home, even before your old home officially closes. This way, you don’t have to delay your purchase or move into a rental while you wait for funds to be released. How Long Can You Use a Bridge Loan? Most lenders in Canada offer bridge loans for up to 45–60 days , though some may allow longer in special cases. The cost includes a daily interest rate (often Prime + 2% to 4%) plus a small administration fee (usually $200–$500). What Do You Need to Qualify? Lenders will need proof that your current home has sold. To set up the bridge loan, you’ll provide: A signed purchase and sale agreement for the home you’re selling The subject removal addendum, to confirm the sale is firm and binding A recent mortgage statement on your current property With this, the lender can confirm your sale price, subtract closing costs and real estate commissions, and verify how much equity is available for your down payment. Example: Current home sale: $900,000 (closes Dec 14) Mortgage balance: $400,000 Net proceeds/down payment: $500,000 New home purchase: closes Nov 30 Because the sale money isn’t available until Dec 14, you would borrow the $500,000 through a bridge loan for those 14 days. Cost of borrowing: $500,000 × 4.70% ÷ 365 = $92/day 14 days = $1,288 in interest Admin fee = $250 Total = $1,538 Key Updates About Bridge Loans Today Not every lender offers bridge financing—some limit it to clients with both mortgages at the same institution. Longer bridge periods (over 60 days) may require special approval and could have higher costs. In competitive housing markets, bridge loans are used more often to help buyers secure a property quickly without waiting for funds. If your purchase and sale close on the same day, a bridge loan usually isn’t needed—your lawyer can transfer funds directly. The Bottom Line A bridge loan is a short-term, practical, and relatively low-cost way to unlock the equity in your home. It helps you move forward with confidence, without the stress of waiting for funds or finding a temporary rental. Always talk with your mortgage professional to make sure timing, costs, and paperwork are handled properly. A good plan can save you time, money, and headaches.