Hello!
I’m Kara,
a licensed Mortgage Broker, mom, wife, dog lover, and the friend who’ll always give it to you straight. I believe your mortgage shouldn’t just be a debt; it should be a tool that builds your wealth and protects your future. I’ll be by your side from the first number crunch through closing and beyond.
With over 5 years experience, I love being able to add value to what can otherwise be a stressful experience. My brokerage, Vine Group, is an asset in terms of strong lender relationship and unparalleled service and support, which in turn benefits you. Need a Realtor, insurance agent, lawyer, or appraiser? I’ve built relationships with some of the best in their respective fields, and we are all ready to help you accomplish your real-estate goals.
I can’t wait to work with you!
Get to know me
Currently obsessed with
financial literacy
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my son's giggles
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supporting local
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your success
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financial literacy · my son's giggles · supporting local · your success ·
Morning fuel
strong chai latte
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rockstar pure zero punched
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green tea
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london fog
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anything but coffee
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strong chai latte · rockstar pure zero punched · green tea · london fog · anything but coffee ·
Always in my bag
a good pen
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boring old aquaphor lip balm
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snacks (toddler mom life)
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my phone for quick mortgage magic
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gum
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a good pen · boring old aquaphor lip balm · snacks (toddler mom life) · my phone for quick mortgage magic · gum ·
Causes I support
Brokers Who Care
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CC Rez Qs dog rescue
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Caitlyn's Crusaders
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Regina Humane Society
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Catherine's Cause
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Brokers Who Care · CC Rez Qs dog rescue · Caitlyn's Crusaders · Regina Humane Society · Catherine's Cause ·
Outside of work, you’ll find me
camping
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tackling home improvement projects
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fishing
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immersed in a good book
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camping · tackling home improvement projects · fishing · immersed in a good book ·
Best part of my job
empowering my clients to feel confident, prepared, and excited about their mortgage instead of overwhelmed
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empowering my clients to feel confident, prepared, and excited about their mortgage instead of overwhelmed ·
FAQs
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In most cases, my services are completely free to you. I’m paid by the lender who has the best deal for you - a “finder’s fee” for bringing your business to them. Because I’m an independent broker, that payment doesn’t change the rate or terms you get. The only time a fee might apply is in situations requiring private lending, and I’ll always tell you upfront if that’s the case.
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You can put as little as 5% down on any owner-occupied or secondary home purchase in Canada - of course as long as you qualify for the monthly mortgage payment associated with that home. 20% down is required for a rental property purchase, or if you want to amortize over 30 years but are neither a first time home buyer or under contract for a new construction property.
Any home purchase with less than 20% down, however, is subject to mortgage default insurance. This is rolled into your mortgage, and it insures the lender against the risk of you defaulting on your mortgage payments.
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A pre-qualification is a rough estimate of what you might be able to afford. It involves no review of documents and is not to be relied on when setting your budget.
A pre-approval is basically a dry-run of applying for mortgage approval. It involves a full review of your income, employment, credit, down payment source, and your personal goals and needs. The goal here is to get you as close to approved as we can get without having a property under contract.
Full mortgage approval is what we apply for when you have an accepted offer on a home, and this involves the lender reviewing you as the borrower, as well as the property as the security for the mortgage.
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Usually yes, but penalties and fees will almost certainly apply. I’ll help you calculate if the savings outweigh the costs.
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Because loyalty can cost you thousands. I’ll compare offers from multiple lenders to make sure you get the best deal for your next term, and that your mortgage is structured in a way that supports your next five years.
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Refinancing can lower your payments, consolidate debt, fund renovations, or free up cash for investments. The key is doing it in a way that supports your long-term goals.