This Month

Before the Holiday Bills Hit — A Smart Move for Homeowners

Hi there,

November. The holiday spending is about to start, and if you're already carrying debt from the past year, now is the time to get ahead of it — before December adds another layer.

This month: a strategy that's saving homeowners hundreds a month, a message for anyone self-employed, and a thank you heading into the holiday season.

Here's a pattern I see every single year: families carry $20K, $30K, $40K in high-interest debt through the fall, then holiday shopping pushes it even higher. By January, they're drowning in minimum payments and the stress is overwhelming.

The math is brutal. Credit cards charge 20-22%. A car loan might be 7%. A line of credit at 8%. You're making multiple payments every month, and the majority goes straight to interest — not principal. You're treading water.

A debt consolidation refinance takes all of those balances and rolls them into your mortgage at one low rate — often under 5%. One payment. One rate. Immediate relief.

With the BoC rate at 2.25% and mortgage rates at their lowest in years, right now is one of the best times to make this move. If your home has equity, you likely have options. A 15-minute conversation is all it takes to find out.

If you're self-employed in Alberta, you already know the frustration. You earn good money. You pay your bills. You have excellent credit. But when you walk into a bank and apply for a mortgage, they look at your tax returns and say "sorry, you don't qualify."

Here's why: if you're smart about your taxes (and you should be), you're writing off expenses to reduce your taxable income. That's good tax planning. But to a bank, your declared income on paper looks lower than what you actually earn — and they base their approval on what's on paper.

I have lenders who understand this. They offer stated-income programs designed specifically for self-employed borrowers. Instead of just looking at line 15000 on your tax return, they consider your full financial picture — bank statements, contracts, business revenue, assets.

I've been arranging mortgages for self-employed Albertans for 25 years. If your bank turned you down, don't give up — call me before you walk away. There's almost always a path forward.

As we head into the holiday season, I want to take a moment to say something I don't say often enough.

Thank you.

2025 has been a big year for me. Moving the office to High River. Watching rates come down from 5% to 2.25%. Helping families buy their first homes, save thousands on renewals, and get out from under crushing debt. Every single one of those conversations started because someone like you trusted me enough to pick up the phone — or trusted me enough to give my name to someone they care about.

That trust is everything. It's how I've built this business over 25 years, and it's something I will never take for granted.

If there's anything I can help with before year-end — a renewal, a refinance, a question about the FHSA deadline, anything at all — I'm here. That's what I'm here for.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season.

— Shawn

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