Coquitlam Mortgage Broker | Tania Kalinich

Q: How much down payment do I need to buy in Coquitlam?

The minimum down payment is 5% on the first $500,000 and 10% on the portion between $500,000 and $1.5 million. On a $700,000 City Centre condo that is $45,000 total. Homes at $1.5 million or more, common on Burke Mountain and Westwood Plateau, require at least 20% down. First-time buyers can use the First Home Savings Account and RRSP Home Buyers' Plan.

Q: What should I know about financing a City Centre condo?

Condo towers around Coquitlam Central, Lincoln and Lafarge Lake–Douglas offer walk-to-SkyTrain access. Lenders underwrite the building as well as the borrower, reviewing the strata depreciation report, contingency reserve and special-assessment history. Reading the strata package before firming up avoids financing surprises at subject removal.

Q: Can I refinance my Coquitlam home to access equity?

Yes. A refinance can access up to 80% of the home's appraised value minus the existing mortgage balance. Coquitlam owners use this to fund renovations, consolidate higher-interest debt into one lower payment, or fund an investment property. Any prepayment penalty should be weighed against the equity unlocked.

Coquitlam Real Estate Market

A Coquitlam Mortgage Broker Who Knows the City

Coquitlam is the biggest of the Tri-Cities, and its housing stock spans nearly the full range of what a buyer can want. Burke Mountain has become one of the region's most active new-construction detached markets, drawing move-up families to newer homes on the city's northern slopes. Westwood Plateau offers established hillside detached homes wrapped around a golf course and mountain views. Down in City Centre, the towers rising around Coquitlam Central, Lincoln and Lafarge Lake–Douglas stations have turned the Town Centre area into a genuine high-density, transit-connected hub. And communities like Maillardville — the oldest francophone community in Western Canada — Austin Heights, Como Lake and Ranch Park hold the character homes and mid-century lots that anchor the city's older neighbourhoods.

That breadth is exactly why lender selection matters so much in Coquitlam. A Burke Mountain new build, a City Centre pre-sale or resale condo, and a Westwood Plateau detached home each carry different down-payment math, different appraisal considerations and different lender appetites. New construction can involve deposit structures, completion timelines and rate-hold windows that a bank branch rarely manages well. High-density condos bring strata scrutiny — depreciation reports, contingency reserves, special-assessment history — that lenders now read closely. I match the lender to the property type and the timeline, not the other way around.

As a local Tri-Cities mortgage broker, I bring context an out-of-area bank specialist can't. I understand how a Burke Mountain completion date affects your rate hold, how City Centre strata packages get underwritten, and how to position a Westwood Plateau file when it sits above the insured-mortgage threshold. And when timing gets tight — a competing offer near Coquitlam Centre, a subject-removal deadline, a renewal coming due — being right here in the Tri-Cities means you reach me directly, not an 800 number routed to a call centre.

Neighbourhoods We Serve

Every Corner of Coquitlam

From Burke Mountain new builds to City Centre towers and the character streets of Maillardville — I've helped buyers and owners across Coquitlam.

Burke Mountain Westwood Plateau City Centre Maillardville Austin Heights Como Lake Eagle Ridge River Springs Ranch Park Chineside Cape Horn Scott Creek

Mortgage Services in Coquitlam

How I Help Coquitlam Buyers & Owners

Whether you're a first-time buyer looking at a City Centre condo or a Westwood Plateau homeowner tapping equity, here's how I can help.

First-Time Buyers

City Centre condos near SkyTrain offer strong entry points into the market

New Construction

Burke Mountain new builds with deposit and completion-date financing

Refinancing

Access Coquitlam home equity for renovations, investment or debt consolidation

Mortgage Renewals

Don't auto-renew with your bank — let me shop all 50+ lenders for you

Pre-Approvals

Know your budget before you compete on Burke Mountain or in City Centre

Self-Employed

Flexible income verification for Coquitlam business owners and contractors

Coquitlam Mortgage Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment do I need to buy in Coquitlam?

The minimum down payment in Canada is 5% on the first $500,000 of the price and 10% on the portion between $500,000 and $1.5 million. On a $700,000 City Centre condo, that's $25,000 plus $20,000 — $45,000 total. Homes priced at $1.5 million or more (common on Burke Mountain and Westwood Plateau) require at least 20% down, since mortgage default insurance isn't available above that threshold. First-time buyers can build their down payment faster with the First Home Savings Account and RRSP Home Buyers' Plan — I'll walk you through both at no cost.

How does financing a Burke Mountain new build work?

New construction on Burke Mountain often involves a deposit structure and a completion date months down the road, which changes how financing is arranged. You'll want a lender with a long enough rate hold to cover the completion timeline, and a pre-approval that accounts for the final purchase price and any builder adjustments. For a newly built home, first-time buyers can also access a 30-year amortization on an insured mortgage. I coordinate the rate hold, the appraisal and the timing so your financing is ready when the home is.

What should I know about financing a City Centre condo?

The condo towers around Coquitlam Central, Lincoln and Lafarge Lake–Douglas are popular with first-time buyers and investors for their walk-to-SkyTrain access. Lenders underwrite the building as well as the borrower, so they review the strata's depreciation report, contingency reserve and any special-assessment history. I read the strata package before we firm up — so a fee increase or a pending assessment doesn't become a financing surprise at subject removal.

How do I finance a detached home on Westwood Plateau?

Detached homes on Westwood Plateau and Burke Mountain frequently trade above the $1.5 million insured-mortgage cap, which means at least 20% down and a conventional (uninsured) mortgage. Those files reward shopping the market: I compare fixed and variable options across 50+ lenders, structure the right term and prepayment privileges, and make sure the appraisal supports the value. If you're moving up within Coquitlam, I'll also check whether porting your current mortgage avoids a prepayment penalty.

Can I refinance my Coquitlam home to access equity?

Yes. A refinance lets you access up to 80% of your home's appraised value, minus your existing mortgage balance. For example, if your home appraises at $1.3M and you owe $600K, you could access up to $440K (80% of $1.3M is $1.04M, less the $600K balance). Coquitlam owners use this to fund renovations, consolidate higher-interest debt into one lower payment, or put a down payment on an investment property. I'll weigh any prepayment penalty against the equity you'd unlock so you see the true break-even first.

Do you work with buyers who have bruised or limited credit?

Yes — this is where an independent broker adds real value over a single bank. Banks decline anyone outside their prime credit box. I have access to credit unions, trust companies and alternative lenders who serve buyers with recent credit challenges, discharged bankruptcies (typically 2+ years) or short Canadian credit histories. Rates are higher than prime, but in many cases we build a 12–18 month plan to strengthen your profile and refinance you onto a prime rate. I'll be transparent about every rate and fee up front.

What areas near Coquitlam do you also serve?

Coquitlam is one of my core Tri-Cities markets. I regularly help buyers and owners in Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby, and back home in Maple Ridge. As a licensed BC mortgage broker there's no geographic restriction — wherever you're buying in the province, I can source the best financing from my network of 50+ lenders.

Tania Kalinich

Your Coquitlam Mortgage Broker

Serving the Tri-Cities since 2006. The Mortgage Centre — Right Way Mortgage. 50+ lenders, one trusted advisor.

4.9 rating (90 reviews)

Book Free Consultation Call (604) 376-4997

Coquitlam Mortgage Broker — From Burke Mountain New Builds to City Centre Towers.

A Coquitlam Mortgage Broker Who Knows the City

Every Corner of Coquitlam

How I Help Coquitlam Buyers & Owners

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Talk Mortgages With a Local Coquitlam Broker?

Nearby Communities