Free Mortgage Tools and Guides
Flow's resources are free guides, calculators and a document checklist for people buying a home, renewing, refinancing or investing in rental property in BC and Alberta. Each guide covers one situation from start to finish, so the fastest way in is to pick the one that matches the decision in front of you.
Which mortgage guide should you start with?
Start with the guide that matches the decision you're making now. Each one explains how a lender looks at that situation before it gets into numbers, then walks through the choices in the order you'll face them, so you can read the section that fits where you are today and come back for the rest.
| If you're | Start with | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Buying your first home | First-time home buyer guide | Programs, incentives and the step-by-step process for buying your first home in Canada |
| Self-employed | Self-employed mortgage guide | How to qualify with non-traditional income, including stated income and alternative lenders |
| Buying or growing a rental portfolio | Investor mortgage guide | How lenders qualify rental properties, how portfolios scale and how to analyse a deal |
| Thinking about using your equity | Refinance and HELOC guide | Refinance or home equity line of credit, what breaking your term costs, and debt consolidation |
| Coming up for renewal | Mortgage renewal guide | Fixed or variable, switching lenders, how to negotiate, and a 120-day countdown |
What documents will you need to apply?
The mortgage document directory lists every document a Canadian lender can ask for, all 50 of them, grouped by category and by province. Each entry says what the document proves, where to get it and the mistakes that hold a file up, so you can gather everything before the lender asks.
Are Flow's mortgage calculators free?
Yes. The calculators cover qualification, closing costs, mortgage payments, penalties and more, and they're free with no signup. The qualification calculator estimates what a lender may approve you for, the closing cost calculator adds up what you'll pay on top of your down payment, and the penalty calculator estimates what breaking your term early could cost. Use them to test a number before you talk to anyone, then bring the result to a call if you want a second opinion on it.
What are Flow's mortgage frameworks?
Each framework is the step-by-step way Flow works through one kind of file. You'll see their names across the site and in the guides.
- R.E.A.D.Y. for buying a home
- B.O.S.S. for self-employed borrowers
- S.M.A.R.T. for mortgage renewals
- I.N.V.E.S.T. for investment property
- E.Q.U.I.T.Y. for accessing your equity
- P.R.E.P.A.R.E. for choosing between fixed and variable
A strategic renewal roadmap sits alongside them: 6 phases that start 12 months before your renewal date.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to sign up to use Flow's calculators?
- No. The calculators are free and need no signup, including the qualification, closing cost, mortgage payment and penalty calculators.
Where can I find a list of documents for a mortgage application?
- The mortgage document directory at getflowmortgage.ca/resources/documents lists all 50 documents a Canadian lender can ask for, with where to get each one and what holds files up. You can search it by category and filter it by province.
Which guide is for mortgage renewals?
- The mortgage renewal guide covers fixed or variable, switching lenders, how to negotiate and a 120-day countdown. The strategic renewal roadmap goes further back, starting 12 months before your renewal date.
Do the guides cover BC and Alberta?
- Yes. Flow works with clients in British Columbia and Alberta, and the guides and document directory note where the rules differ between the 2 provinces, such as BC's property transfer tax and Alberta's land titles fees.