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The Rahul Bedi Journal

Plain-language guides on Canadian mortgages — written for real people in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Alberta, and PEI, not for other brokers. Every post is based on files we actually close, not generic rate-aggregator filler.

We cover the questions clients ask most: how rates are moving, when to renew, what changed in the mortgage rules this quarter, and the small details (penalty math, qualifying rate, gifted down payments) that decide whether a deal works.

Latest articles

New to Canada7 min read

New to Canada Mortgage in Canada: The Complete 2026 Guide

The complete national playbook for newcomers buying in Canada in 2026. The three insurer newcomer programs (CMHC, Sagen, Canada Guaranty), what counts instead of Canadian credit, down payment tiers, the foreign-buyer ban exemptions, and the documents to have ready.

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Self-Employed8 min read

Self-Employed Mortgage in Canada: The Complete 2026 Guide

The complete national playbook for self-employed Canadians in 2026. The three lender tiers (A-lender BFS, alt-A, private), the income add-back math, stress-test rules, down payment tiers, and documents to have ready before you apply.

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Bad Credit & Rebuilding6 min read

Mortgage After Bankruptcy or Consumer Proposal in British Columbia (2026)

Filed a bankruptcy or consumer proposal and think you can't own a home in BC? In British Columbia in 2026 there's almost always a path. Here's how the timelines, lenders, and credit rebuild actually work.

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Bad Credit & Rebuilding6 min read

Mortgage After Bankruptcy or a Consumer Proposal in Alberta: Your Real Options (2026)

Filed a bankruptcy or consumer proposal and think you can't own a home? In Alberta in 2026 there's almost always a path. Here's how the timelines, lenders, and credit rebuild actually work.

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Bad Credit & Rebuilding6 min read

Mortgage After Bankruptcy or a Consumer Proposal in New Brunswick: Your Real Options (2026)

Filed a bankruptcy or consumer proposal and think you can't own a home? In New Brunswick in 2026 there's almost always a path. Here's how the timelines, lenders, and credit rebuild actually work.

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New to Canada6 min read

New to Canada? How to Buy Your First Home in British Columbia (Even Without Canadian Credit)

On a work permit or fresh PR in British Columbia? You don't need years of Canadian credit to buy. Here's how the New to Canada mortgage programs work in 2026 — down payment, documents, and how to qualify.

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New to Canada6 min read

New to Canada? How to Buy Your First Home in Alberta (Even Without Canadian Credit)

On a work permit or fresh PR in Alberta? You don't need years of Canadian credit to buy. Here's how the New to Canada mortgage programs work in 2026 — down payment, documents, and how to qualify.

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New to Canada6 min read

New to Canada? How to Buy Your First Home in New Brunswick (Even Without Canadian Credit)

On a work permit or fresh PR in New Brunswick? You don't need years of Canadian credit to buy. Here's how the New to Canada mortgage programs work in 2026 — down payment, documents, and how to qualify.

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Self-Employed7 min read

Self-Employed Mortgage in British Columbia: How to Get Approved in 2026

Self-employed in British Columbia and your bank said no? You're not unmortgageable — you're at the wrong lender. Here's how BFS approval actually works in 2026 for tech and film contractors, trades, tourism and hospitality operators, real-estate agents, and independent professionals across Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Burnaby, Kelowna, and Nanaimo.

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Self-Employed7 min read

Self-Employed Mortgage in Alberta: How to Get Approved in 2026

Self-employed in Alberta and your bank said no? You're not unmortgageable — you're at the wrong lender. Here's how BFS approval actually works in 2026 for energy-services contractors, trades, trucking owner-operators, farmers, and real-estate agents across Calgary, Edmonton, Airdrie, Red Deer, and Lethbridge.

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Self-Employed7 min read

Self-Employed Mortgage in New Brunswick: How to Get Approved in 2026

Self-employed in New Brunswick and your bank said no? You're not unmortgageable — you're at the wrong lender. Here's how BFS approval actually works in 2026 for tradespeople, fishers, hospitality operators, healthcare contractors, and bilingual remote workers in Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, Dieppe and Riverview.

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Bad Credit & Rebuilding6 min read

Mortgage After Bankruptcy or a Consumer Proposal in Nova Scotia: Your Real Options (2026)

Filed a bankruptcy or consumer proposal and think you can't own a home? In Nova Scotia in 2026 there's almost always a path. Here's how the timelines, lenders, and credit rebuild actually work.

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New to Canada6 min read

New to Canada? How to Buy Your First Home in Nova Scotia (Even Without Canadian Credit)

On a work permit or fresh PR in Nova Scotia? You don't need years of Canadian credit to buy. Here's how the New to Canada mortgage programs work in 2026 — down payment, documents, and how to qualify.

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Rate strategy6 min read

5-Year vs 3-Year Fixed Mortgages in 2026

With the Bank of Canada finally easing, the spread between 3- and 5-year fixed terms has narrowed to historic lows. We break down which term wins in three rate scenarios — and why the answer is rarely the cheapest sticker rate.

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Qualifying7 min read

The Mortgage Stress Test, Explained Plainly

Why a $600K pre-approval becomes a $520K approval the moment you walk into a bank. We cover the qualifying rate math (contract + 2% vs 5.25%), which lenders escape it, and how to plan around it.

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First-time buyers5 min read

FHSA vs RRSP Home Buyers' Plan: Which Comes First?

Tax deduction on the way in, tax-free on the way out, no repayment — the FHSA is the most powerful first-home savings vehicle Canada has ever had. Here's how to stack it with the $60K RRSP HBP for a bigger down payment.

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Refinance8 min read

Refinancing to Pay Off Debt: When the Math Actually Works

Trading 22% credit card debt for a 4.5% mortgage looks like a no-brainer — until you factor in penalties, longer amortization, and the risk of running the cards back up. We walk through three real client scenarios where it worked, and one where it didn't.

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Renewal6 min read

Five Mortgage Renewal Mistakes That Cost Atlantic Canadians Thousands

Auto-signing the bank's letter is the obvious one. But the four other mistakes — waiting too long to shop, ignoring collateral charges, picking the wrong term, and rolling new debt into a switch — quietly cost just as much. Avoid all five.

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First-time buyers10 min read

The First-Time Home Buyer Playbook: Step by Step

From the first FHSA deposit to the day the keys are in your hand — a complete walkthrough of pre-approval, house hunting, offer, conditions, lawyers, insurance, and closing costs. Written for buyers in NS, NB, and PEI.

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Topics we cover

More articles publish regularly on these topics:

  • Mortgage renewals
  • First-time buyers
  • Stress test explained
  • Self-employed mortgages
  • Refinancing
  • FHSA & RRSP Home Buyers' Plan
  • Rate comparisons

Can't find what you're looking for?

New posts go up regularly. In the meantime, if you have a specific question, the fastest answer is usually a 15-minute call — text Rahul at 902-223-8003 or book a free consultation.