Introduction
Welcome to Mortgage Prof.
A Consistent Approach to Continuous Learning.
Buying a home. Renewing a mortgage. Refinancing. Investing in real estate.
These are among the largest financial decisions most Canadians will ever make.
Yet many people are expected to make those decisions after only a few conversations, a few online calculators, and a handful of mortgage quotes.
I believe Canadians deserve better.
Welcome to Mortgage Prof. an educational resource dedicated to helping you understand mortgages, home financing, and the financial decisions that come with home ownership.
For more than three decades I have worked in finance, education, and professional training. As a retired Professor of Finance and Accounting, and as an MBA, CFA charterholder, and retired CPA and CFP professional, my passion has always been helping people become more expert learners.
My philosophy is simple:
- Education builds confidence.
- Confidence builds trust.
- Trust builds long-term relationships.
My goal is to help you understand what you need o know whether you’re:
- Buying your first home
- Renewing your mortgage
- Considering switching lenders
- Building a cottage or vacation property
- Refinancing to improve cash flow
- Learning how mortgage qualification really works
Throughout this website you’ll find educational articles, infographics, calculators, videos, planning tools, and practical guides designed to help you make informed decisions.
- No confusing jargon.
- No unnecessary pressure.
- Just clear explanations, thoughtful analysis, and practical advice.
Whether we eventually work together or you simply leave this website feeling more informed than when you arrived, then Mortgage Prof has accomplished its mission.
Thank you for visiting. I look forward to helping you learn, plan, and move confidently toward your homeownership goals.
Ted Stephenson, MBA, CFA
Mortgage Prof.
Retired Professor of Finance & Accounting
(CMA, CPA & CFP Retired)
Choosing a Mortgage That is Right for You
21 Leaning Cards in PDF - (38K KB)
These 21 Learning Cards are a good overview of the 17 Government of Canada Topic Areas from Choosing a mortgage that is right for you to Mortgages: Know your Rights.
The Government of Canada website does a pretty good job explaining the basics, but the info cards generated help to show example scenarios with real numbers.
Mortgage Market Map and Ecosystem
Recall from the Introduction: Buying a home. Renewing a mortgage. Refinancing. Investing in real estate. These are among the largest financial decisions most Canadians will ever make. Yet many people are expected to make those decisions after only a few conversations, a few online calculators, and a handful of mortgage quotes.
One may see from the curation of topics above, that there are many moving parts in the mortgage industry.
You need not be at the expert level to buy a house. But you do want confidence that the people you are doing business with are specialists and experts in their field.
CFA Institute has identified five important factors to consider when engaging a financial professional:
- Competence is more important than personality to the determination and delivery of valuable wealth advice.
- Quality advisers view technology as a friend, not a foe.
- Clear communication, integrity, and professionalism are all imperative.
- Best-in-class advisers balance IQ (technical expertise) and EQ (emotional intelligence) with a solid grounding in behavioural finance.
- Credentials matter. Professional qualifications make a difference in competence and expertise.
As I said in my Forbes Middle East Article in April 2018:
Credibility + Professionalism = Trust and Value
No advisor or specialist can guarantee a specific result, but they should have the expertise and professional acumen to educate you on realistic outcomes so as to minimize the gap between expectations and reality in achieving your financial goals.
You should be confident that your advisor represents the right blend of industry competence and professional integrity.
You should be certain that you are being counselled —and not sold.
🍁 Can’t Find What You’re Looking For?
The Mortgage Prof has a growing library of educational resources designed to help Canadians make informed mortgage decisions.
Whether you’re buying your first home, renewing your mortgage, refinancing, investing in property, or simply trying to understand the process, there’s probably a guide already available.
Just ask.
More Free Resources
Looking for something specific?
Not every guide, calculator, infographic, or workbook is posted on this website. Contact the Mortgage Prof if you’d like complimentary copies of:
🏠 Mortgage Learning Guides
- Mortgage Basics 101
- First-Time Home Buyer Guide
- Mortgage Renewal Guide
- Mortgage Switching Guide
- Cottage & Vacation Property Financing
- Investment Property Mortgages
- Reverse Mortgages Explained
- Mortgage Insurance (CMHC, Sagen & Canada Guaranty)
📊 Mortgage Calculators & Worksheets
- Affordability Worksheets
- Mortgage Payment Tables
- Prepayment Savings Calculator
- Land Transfer Tax Calculator
- Closing Cost Worksheet
- Mortgage Comparison Worksheet
🎓 Mortgage Prof Academy
- Learning Cards
- Case Studies
- Excel Examples
- Practical Mortgage Scenarios
- Seminar Notes
- Homeowner Academy Resources
👥 For REALTORS®, Financial Planners & Professionals
- Client Handouts
- Presentation Slides
- Seminar Materials
- Co-branded Educational Resources
- Home Buyer Workshop Materials
🎥 Media
- Infographics
- Short Videos
- Blog Articles
- Checklists
- Downloadable PDFs
