AGENT LICENSE ID
M08000964
BROKERAGE LICENSE ID
10460
Margo Wynhofen
Mortgage Broker
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Address:
8 Christie Street, Grimsby, Ontario, L3M 4H4
One Mortgage Broker. Many Mortgage Solutions.
Since 1998, I have been providing expert mortgage advice to clients looking to purchase residential real estate, or for the renewal or refinance of an existing residential property mortgage. Much of my business is from repeat clients who have either moved, or refinanced for consolidation or future investment, or who have simply renewed a mortgage. From the twenty-something, anxious first-time homebuyer to the seventy-something, anxious reverse mortgage homebuyer, I cover it all!
Is your sole focus to find a low rate? I am confident that I can secure a competitive interest rate for you, but, when shopping for a mortgage, the biggest mistake that a consumer can make is to base the decision solely on the interest rate. Yes, the rate is important, but it should not be the only point you base your decision on.
Ask yourself the following questions before you commit to what you think is the "lowest rate" mortgage:
- What kind of service can I expect from my mortgage lender, and/or my mortgage broker once my mortgage has funded?
- How will I be treated at renewal time? Will I be offered competitive pricing then, and if not, how difficult will it be for me to transfer this mortgage to another institution?
- Do I understand the "fine print" of my mortgage contract - specifically, how the prepayment penalty is calculated?
- How difficult will it be to make changes to my mortgage mid-term, such as applying to transfer the mortgage if I need to move to another home, or to make a lump-sum prepayment, or to refinance my mortgage mid-term?
- Does my mortgage lender allow for me to obtain secondary financing elsewhere - for example, obtaining a home equity credit line elsewhere?
- If I have obtained my mortgage from a call-centre, how can I be assured that I am getting the best-available solution for my particular financial situation, and future needs?
My interest rates may not be that different from what you can find online or elsewhere, however, I am different. And, it is this important distinction that will ensure you are happy with your new mortgage!
BLOG / NEWS Updates
Is Canada’s housing policy working? Look at the outcomes for people, says new report from the National Housing Council
As the federal government launches a new drive to address Canadas housing crisis with Build Canada Homes, a new report released today by the National Housing Council (NHC) offers a comprehensive framework to assess the effectiveness of federal housing policy.
The report entitled Measuring What Matters: Proposing an Outcomes Framework for Federal Housing Policy, tackles a central question: how will Canadians know if housing policies are working?
Analysing the current health of Canadas housing system, the report finds that:
Affordability is declining: Home ownership is affordable in fewer than 20% of Canadian markets, and asking rents are unaffordable for most renters.
Housing transitions are stalling: Canadians face increasing barriers to moving through the housing system, from renting an apartment, to moving into ownership and from a first-owned home to a family-sized unit.
Equity gaps persist: Lower-income households, women, Indigenous people, racialized communities, and other equity-denied groups experience worse housing outcomes.
Supply challenges are growing: Rising costs of materials, land, labour, and municipal fees, along with approval delays and labour shortages, are driving a cost-of-delivery crisis.
Policy misalignment remains: Success is often measured by inputs and outputs - such as dollars spent and units built - rather than improvements in housing outcomes.
Grounded in the National Housing Strategy Act and the principles of the right to adequate housing, the report states that outcomes for people are what matter most when assessing if housing policies are working.
https://nhc-cnl.ca/news/post/is-canada-s-housing-policy-working-look-at-the-outcomes-for-people-says-new-report-from-the-national-housing-council-
CMHC: Unlocking housing supply: Why scale really matters
Canada can look to international examples where consolidating and scaling the housing system have helped sustain housing supply and affordability.
According to a 2016 McKinsey report, the construction industry remains one of the least digitized sectors. Out of 22 industries reviewed, construction ranked second to last just ahead ofhunting and agriculture. Nearly a decade later, little progress has been made in how we build homes.
Canadas housing sector feels stuck in an everlasting hunting-gathering era, resisting modernization. A large part of the solution to digitize our housing industry lies in scaling up to generate sufficient financial, human and technological resources to innovate.
Canada can learn from the Netherlands, which has achieved scale in the housing sector, including with not-for-profit affordable housing providers.
In 2024, Canada had 40,349 businesses that employed workers in the residential construction industry. Of these, only 6 businesses had more than 500 employees. The majority (69.5%) were micro businesses with just 1 to 4 employees.
The same trend applies to the real estate lease management industry. While specific data for residential leasing is not available through the Canadian Industry Statistics, broader data for the real estate leasing and management sector tell a clear story: Of the 30,099 businesses that employ workers, 81.4% had less than 5 employees. By comparison, 59.2% of businesses across the entire economy fall into the micro-business category.
https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/observer/2025/unlocking-housing-supply-why-scale-really-matters
CMHC: How common is “Missing Middle” housing development in Canada?
Highlights
Missing Middle is a broad term for gentle- to-medium-density housing types such as accessory suites, multiplexes, row homes, stacked townhouses and low-rise apartments. These housing types are often underrepresented in new supply.
Missing Middle housing starts across Canadas 6 major cities (Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montral) increased by an average of 5% per year between 2018 and 2023. This was followed by an exceptional 44% surge between 2023 and 2024.
Edmonton and Calgary lead the way in Missing Middle housing starts, supported by a lower regulatory burden, abundant land availability and favourable policy environments. Meanwhile, Toronto and Vancouver lag where denser forms of housing have historically been more feasible.
The prevalence, type and location of new Missing Middle housing construction projects vary widely across cities. Factors such as land costs, developer expertise and evolving local policies play a key role.
This report shares insights into the creation of Missing Middle housing options since 2018 in Canadas 6 major cities: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montral.
Missing Middle housing is important as it provides a layer of supply that can be delivered within existing neighbourhoods. It can often be faster to develop especially when rezoning isnt needed and requires less capital investment than larger projects. It broadens housing choices for families who cant afford single-detached homes and find high-rise apartments do not offer enough space for their needs.
Stakeholders, particularly policymakers at the municipal government level, working to encourage this kind of development, can benefit from understanding its prevalence in their communities. They can also gain insights into what built form it takes, its location and the reasons behind regional differences.
https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/observer/2025/how-common-missing-middle-housing-development-canada
