Welcome to Plan My Mortgage
by Katherine Martin
You Plan Your Home, I'll Plan Your Mortgage.
Katherine Martin
Hi, I’m Katherine, thanks for visiting my website. If you are looking for someone to help you arrange mortgage financing, look no further, I would love to help you plan your mortgage.
A little bit about me… I was born and raised in Montreal and after attending Concordia University I moved out west to Vancouver. Honestly, I have never looked back, I absolutely love it here. I spent 8 years in the mutual fund industry before starting my career as a mortgage broker in 2004. In 2005 I was voted “Rookie of the Year” and over the next 10+ years I have enjoyed helping my clients plan for the biggest investments of their lives!
I have a wonderful husband (I say wonderful because he truly is wonderful) and two children (who are also wonderful, but I didn’t want to sound too repetitive!), I have a career that inspires me and I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Life is good!
Mortgage Services
Home Purchase
If you are looking to purchase a property, understanding all the mortgage options available to you can seem overwhelming. That’s where I come in; I do this everyday and I love it. I will help you make sense of all the numbers and provide you with options that make sense to you and arrange the mortgage that suits your goals!
Preapproval
Before you go out and start shopping for a new house, you need a plan. It doesn’t matter if this is your first time buying a home or your hundredth, financial situations change, rules change, interest rates change. The best place to start is with a preapproval, so you know exactly how much buying power you have.
Professional Clients
Throughout my career I have been fortunate to have worked with many professional and self-employed clients. As such, I have developed relationships with lenders who offer exclusive products to high net worth and professional individuals. So if you are a young professional starting out in your career or if you are well established in the business community, I understand your specific needs and can accommodate them perfectly.
Refinance
Are you looking to access some of the equity built up in your property? Maybe you want to consolidate some debts, start a new business, buy a vacation or investment property or travel the world… regardless, I can discuss all your mortgage refinancing options with you!
Renewal
The best time to start looking at renewing your existing mortgage is 120 days before your maturity date. If your existing lender has sent you a renewal offer in the mail, the first thing you should do is send it to me so I can give you a second opinion. Never just sign the offer, there is always room to negotiate, and I am here to help you so that you don’t have to do those negotiations alone!
Contact Me Anytime!
Obviously there are a lot more services I can offer and a lot more information I can share with you. Consider this my invitation to contact me with your questions, I would love to work with you and help you figure out a plan not only to get you a mortgage, but to help you get rid of it. Talk soon!
Lenders
I have developed excellent relationships with lenders across the country; let's figure out which one has the best product for you.
I was introduced to Katherine through my financial planner 10 years ago and she has assisted me in the sometimes complex financing of several properties since that time. Her commitment to providing prompt service with responsible, comprehensive and professional service truly makes her stand out in the industry. To say she goes above and beyond what’s expected would be an understatement.
I have referred several friends to her with confidence that they will receive excellent personalized service and they have been equally impressed with her work.
I have referred several friends to her with confidence that they will receive excellent personalized service and they have been equally impressed with her work.
S. Fitzpatrick
Katherine has been an absolute SUPERSTAR for my family’s mortgage needs. We are thrilled with her professionalism, honesty, and knowledge. She has gone above and beyond to make sure that we always have a painless experience and don’t regret our decisions. It’s not just about the paperwork and phone calls with Katherine, it’s about her clients and guiding them through a huge life decision!
I would highly recommend Katherine to anyone who is looking for a mortgage Broker.
I would highly recommend Katherine to anyone who is looking for a mortgage Broker.
J. Bilodeau
Katherine took the time to get to know my individual financial situation and objectives, and gave me pragmatic and tailored advice based on those factors. She has always been very responsive and I have complete trust in her abilities to execute. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a mortgage broker with great client service delivery.
M. Stephens
Katherine has been our mortgage broker for 10 years now and has brokered 4 mortgages for us. We had a unique and challenging situation arise with our last renewal. Katherine’s expertise, confidence and tenacity was invaluable as she navigated us through the intricacies of this situation. She not only went to bat for us, she went above and beyond. Her knowledge, skill, support and guidance are greatly appreciated.
Katherine is a mortgage broker of the highest quality and integrity.
Thank you Katherine for your excellent service.
Katherine is a mortgage broker of the highest quality and integrity.
Thank you Katherine for your excellent service.
Lesli and Robert
Katherine is amazing to work with. As a first time home buyer I appreciated that she was there to answer any and all questions and concerns I had. She went above and beyond for me. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a mortgage broker.
T. Holbeche
Mortgage Blog
This is the main education hub on my website, have a look around, let me know if you have questions!
Can’t Find the Right Home After You’re Pre-Approved? There’s Another Option The best place to start any home purchase is with a mortgage pre-approval. It gives you clarity around your budget and lets you shop with confidence. But what happens when you’ve been pre-approved, you know where you want to live—and nothing suitable fits your price range? This is a common challenge, especially for first-time homebuyers. Before buyer fatigue sets in, it may be worth considering a different approach: buying a home that needs work and financing the renovations as part of your mortgage . What Is a Purchase Plus Improvements Mortgage? A purchase plus improvements program allows you to buy a property and include the cost of approved renovations directly in your mortgage. This can be a great solution if: You can’t find a move-in-ready home within budget You’re open to renovations You want to customize the home from the start It opens up more options and can help you get into a location or property that would otherwise be out of reach. How the Process Works While the idea is straightforward, the process itself is structured and requires planning. Here’s a high-level overview: Renovation quotes are required upfront You’ll need detailed quotes for the work you want completed before final mortgage approval. Renovations must add value The lender must be satisfied that the improvements will increase the property’s value accordingly. Funds are reimbursed, not advanced You pay for the renovations initially. Once the work is completed and verified by an appraiser, the lender reimburses you and adds the cost to your mortgage. With the right guidance, this process is very manageable—but it’s important to understand the steps before committing. Is This Program Right for You? Purchase plus improvements isn’t for everyone. Buying a home is already a big undertaking, and adding renovations can increase stress—especially if timelines, budgets, or contractors become challenging. That said, if you’re financially prepared and like the idea of shaping the home to fit your needs, this program can be an excellent way to get more value and flexibility from your purchase. Final Thoughts If you’re struggling to find the right home after being pre-approved, you may not need to lower your expectations—you may just need a different strategy. If you’d like to explore whether a purchase plus improvements mortgage makes sense for you, feel free to connect. I’d be happy to walk you through the process and outline exactly what this option would look like in your situation.
On October 28, 2026, the Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate by 0.25%, bringing it to 2.5%. If you have a mortgage, are shopping for a home, or have a renewal coming up, this decision matters. Here is a plain-language look at what changed, why it happened, and what it could mean for you.
Missed a Credit Card or Line of Credit Payment? Here’s What to Do If you’ve missed a payment on a credit card or line of credit and you’re worried about how it might affect your credit—or your future mortgage—this is for you. First things first: 👉 If you currently have an overdue balance, log in and make the minimum payment now. Seriously. Do that first. Everything else can wait. If You’re Only a Few Days Late Here’s the good news: Credit bureaus don’t record late payments until they reach 30 days past due. So if you missed a due date by a few days and paid it as soon as you noticed, it typically won’t show up on your credit report as a late payment—as long as you’re under the 30-day mark. That said, it never hurts to double-check. You can call your credit card company, explain what happened, and confirm the account is back in good standing. If you normally pay on time, they may even reverse the interest charged. It doesn’t hurt to ask. If You’re 30, 60, or 90 Days Behind If payments have gone past 30 days, your credit has likely been impacted—but the situation is still fixable. The most important step is to: Bring all accounts current as soon as possible Make at least the minimum payment on every account The faster you catch up, the more you limit the damage. Ignoring missed payments only makes things worse. If Cash Flow Is Tight If you’re struggling to make payments, communication matters. Contact your lender and keep them informed—even if you can’t pay right away. Lenders are far more willing to work with you when you’re transparent. What hurts your credit most is silence . If lenders don’t hear from you after repeated missed payments, they may write the balance off as bad debt and send it to collections. Collections can significantly impact your credit and stay on your report for years. How This Affects Mortgage Qualification Repeated missed payments can make qualifying for a mortgage more difficult—but timing matters. Once you’re back to making regular, on-time payments: Your credit can improve over time The impact of past mistakes becomes less significant If you’re planning to buy a home in the next couple of years, addressing credit issues early gives you far more options later. Final Thoughts Missing a payment doesn’t mean you’re “bad with money,” and it doesn’t mean homeownership is off the table. What matters most is how quickly you respond and how consistent you are going forward . If you’d like help reviewing your credit report or understanding where you stand from a mortgage perspective, feel free to connect. I’d be happy to walk through it with you and help you create a clear path forward.
