Buying a Home
Buying Your First Home
Understand the home-buying process, minimum down payment requirements, closing costs, and what to expect before making your first offer.
Explore Guide
Mortgage Guides
Understand the bigger picture before you make the next move.
These guides walk through the bigger mortgage decisions involved in buying, renewing, and refinancing so you can see how the pieces fit together before deciding what comes next.
Choose Your Guide
Start with the decision in front of you.
Each guide walks through a larger part of the mortgage process from beginning to end. Choose the one that best matches where you are now and see what comes next.
Free Planning Guide
BC Home Buyer Planning Guide
Work through the questions, costs, documents, and decisions that often come before making an offer, all in one practical guide.
View the Planning Guide
Mortgage Tools
See what the numbers could look like.
Use the tools that match what you're working through, whether you're planning a purchase, comparing payments, estimating closing costs, or considering a refinance.
These tools provide estimates for planning purposes. Your actual mortgage options will depend on your complete financial situation, the property, and lender requirements.
See All Mortgage ToolsDown Payment Calculator
Estimate the minimum down payment for a purchase price, mortgage default insurance, and the resulting mortgage amount.
Mortgage Payment Calculator
Compare mortgage payments using different amounts, amortizations, interest rates, and payment schedules.
Closing Costs Calculator
Estimate property transfer tax, legal fees, and other common costs you may need beyond the down payment.
Refinance Planner
Compare your current mortgage with a possible refinance and see how the change could affect your payment, cash flow, equity, and longer-term costs.
Do I really need 20% down to buy a home?
First-Time Home Buyers4 min
How much money do I need to buy a home?
First-Time Home Buyers5 min
What is mortgage default insurance?
First-Time Home Buyers4 min
What is a mortgage pre-approval?
First-Time Home Buyers5 min
How much house can I afford?
Buying a Home6 min
Fixed or variable mortgage: What’s the difference?
Understanding Mortgages6 min
Mortgage Minutes
Have one question on your mind?
Start there. Mortgage Minutes give you a clear answer without asking you to read a complete guide.
Each answer connects to related guides and planning tools when you want more detail or need to run the numbers.
See All Mortgage MinutesNeed a Little Direction?
Not sure which guide fits your situation?
Tell me what you're trying to figure out. I can help you work out where to start, or you can see Mortgage Solutions for a broader look at the paths available.