First-time buyers3 min read
The First-Time Home Buyer's Roadmap: From Saving to Keys in Toronto
A step-by-step walk through what actually happens between deciding to buy and moving in, including the costs most first-time buyers forget.
Toronto mortgage agent, Level 2
Mortgages explained clearly. Decisions made confidently.
I'm Chad. For the past 5 years I've helped first-time buyers, homeowners renewing or refinancing, and investors across the GTA find the right mortgage, with every option explained in plain language.
- Brokered by Mortgageville
- Access to 27 lenders
- No cost for a consultation
5+
Years guiding buyers
- 5+
- Years helping clients
- 27
- Lenders to choose from
- 120
- Day rate holds
- $0
- Cost for a consultation
Lenders available through Mortgageville include
- TD
- Scotiabank
- BMO
- National Bank
- CWB
- Desjardins
- Meridian
- DUCA
- First National
- MCAP
- CMLS
- RFA
- MERIX
- Lendwise
- Strive
- Radius Financial
- Equitable Bank
- Home Trust
- Haventree Bank
- Community Trust
- Effort Trust
- IC Savings
- B2B Bank
- Manulife
- Bridgewater Bank
- Wealth One
- Vault
How I can help
The right mortgage for where you are right now
Whether you're buying your first place, renewing, refinancing, or building a portfolio, the approach is the same: understand your goals, show you the real numbers, and find the lender that fits.
First-time home buyers
From pre-approval to keys in hand, with every step explained.
Learn moreRefinancing
Unlock equity, consolidate debt, or restructure your mortgage.
Learn moreRenewals and switches
Don't just sign the renewal letter. Make your lender compete.
Learn moreInvestment properties
Build a rental portfolio with financing structured to scale.
Learn moreHow it works
Simple, transparent, and never rushed
Most clients are surprised by how straightforward the process is when someone actually walks them through it.
- 01
A quick conversation
We talk through your goals, timeline, and situation. Twenty minutes is usually enough to know what's realistic and what to do next.
- 02
Your numbers, mapped out
Chad reviews your income, credit, and down payment, then builds tailored scenarios so you can see what different choices actually cost.
- 03
The right lender, not just any lender
With access to banks, credit unions, and monoline lenders, your application goes where it fits best on rate, terms, and flexibility.
- 04
Supported through closing and beyond
From approval to funding, every document is explained before you sign. And Chad stays in touch so your renewal is never a surprise.
Case studies
Three situations that come up every week
Composite scenarios that show how a good plan looks in practice. Yours is probably one of these, or close to it.
First-time buyers
A first condo with 5% down, six months sooner than they expected
A couple renting in Scarborough assumed they needed 20% down. Combining an FHSA, a family gift, and first-time buyer rebates put keys in their hands with a fraction of that.
- 5%
- Down payment
- Under $4,500
- Land transfer tax after rebates
Approved after the bank said no: a freelancer with strong revenue and a lean tax return
A sole-proprietor designer had years of steady contracts but wrote off enough expenses that her bank saw a thin income line. The answer was a lender that looks at the business, not just line 15000.
- 20%
- Down payment
- About 0.5 points
- Rate premium versus the bank
The renewal letter said one thing. The market said another.
A homeowner in East York almost signed the renewal offer that arrived in the mail. A ten-minute comparison found a better rate, and the new lender paid the switch costs.
- 0.45 points
- Rate improvement
- Roughly $9,000
- Interest saved over the term
About Chad
Communication, transparency, and education. That's the whole approach.
I got into this work because too many people sign the biggest financial document of their lives without really understanding it. My job is to change that: explain the options, answer every question, and build tailored scenarios so you can make a decision that fits your goals, not someone else's sales target.
I'm a Level 2 mortgage agent with Mortgageville, which means I can place your mortgage with major banks, credit unions, and lenders you can't reach on your own.
Free tools
Do the math before you make the call
Built for Canadian mortgages, with the real rules baked in. Use them as much as you like.
Four calculators
Payment, affordability, closing costs with land transfer tax, and how fast extra payments pay you off.
Open calculatorsGet pre-qualified
Four quick questions, no credit check. Chad replies with what's realistic and what to do first.
Start nowRenewal reminder
Put the day your review window opens in your calendar, so your next renewal is a choice, not a default.
Set a reminderDocument checklist
A free PDF of every document lenders ask for, whether you're buying, renewing, or self-employed.
Get the checklistClient stories
What it's like to work together
“We had no idea where to start and Chad never once made us feel that way. He explained our pre-approval, what the stress test meant for us, and what closing costs to budget for. When we found our place he moved fast and kept us calm.”
“My bank sent a renewal letter and I almost signed it. Chad found a better rate elsewhere and the new lender covered the switch costs. It took two emails on my part.”
“I wanted to consolidate debt and finish our basement. Chad ran the numbers with the penalty included and told me exactly what I would save. Honest, direct, and quick to respond.”
From the blog
Straight answers on buying, renewing, and refinancing
Rates and terms2 min read
Fixed or Variable? How to Actually Decide
The honest trade-offs between fixed and variable rates, and the questions that matter more than guessing where rates are headed.
Renewals2 min read
Your Renewal Letter Arrived. Here's Why You Shouldn't Just Sign It.
Lenders count on renewal customers accepting the first offer. A little effort in the last 120 days of your term can save you thousands.
Common questions
Things people ask before their first call
A mortgage agent shops your application across many lenders (banks, credit unions, and monoline lenders) to find the best fit on rate, terms, and flexibility, then manages the process through to funding. For most residential mortgages there is no fee to you: the lender pays the brokerage once your mortgage funds. If a fee ever applies, such as on some private or alternative lending files, it is disclosed in writing before you commit.
The minimum is 5% of the first $500,000 of the purchase price and 10% of the portion above that, up to the insured price cap. Above the cap, 20% is required. With less than 20% down, mortgage default insurance is added to your mortgage. Chad can show you exactly what each down payment level means for your payment and your insurance premium. Rules do change, so always confirm the current thresholds.
Federally regulated lenders must qualify you at the higher of your contract rate plus 2% or a set floor rate. It doesn't change what you pay; it limits how much you can borrow so you have room if rates rise. Some lenders, such as credit unions, are not bound by the same rule, which can matter for certain borrowers.
With your documents ready, a pre-approval can often be completed within a couple of business days. Most lenders hold the rate for up to 120 days. If rates fall before you buy, you get the lower rate; if they rise, you're protected.
Ready to talk through your options?
A 20-minute call is usually enough to map out what you qualify for, what it will cost, and what to do next. No pressure, no jargon.