Nova Scotia has launched a new 2% down payment pilot program for first-time homebuyers, and it’s making headlines across the mortgage industry.

But when you break down the math, does this actually help buyers… or does it increase long-term costs, tighten affordability through stress testing, and expose taxpayers to more risk?

In this episode, Ryan and Neal unpack:

• How the new 2% program compares to Nova Scotia’s existing 0% down program
• The impact of higher interest rates and stress testing
• Why monthly payments may be significantly higher than expected
• The provincial loss guarantee and what it means for lenders
• Whether buyers are better off waiting, renting, or using traditional insured mortgages

If you’re a broker, investor, lender, or first-time buyer in Atlantic Canada, this episode breaks down what actually matters behind the headlines.

Show Notes:

00:17 – Introduction & overview of the 2% down program

02:45 – Breakdown of Nova Scotia’s existing 0% down program

05:22 – Key details of the new 2% pilot (income caps, credit score, price limits)

09:46 – Why the hosts aren’t sold on the program

13:21 – Stress test implications and affordability challenges

19:49 – Real payment example: $400K purchase scenario

22:46 – What other provinces are doing differently

27:15 – Private lending implications

28:18 – The real issue: housing supply and subdivision barriers

32:38 – Final thoughts & call for industry feedback

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: ryan@keycap.ca

In this episode of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, Ryan and Neal sit down with Jack Cameron, 24-year mortgage veteran from The Way Home Mortgage at Premier Mortgage in Halifax.

Jack shares how he left the bank in 2002 with no ringing phone and built one of the most respected careers in Atlantic Canada’s broker space. We dive into:

• The evolution of broker market share in Atlantic Canada
• Why private lending took so long to develop in the East Coast
• The discipline behind building elite mortgage brokers
• Consumer spending, car debt, and financial blind spots
• The Nova Scotia Down Payment Assistance announcement
• Regulatory frustrations in Canada’s fragmented mortgage system
• And how judo and jiu-jitsu shaped Jack’s coaching philosophy

If you want to understand longevity, leadership, and how to build a real book of business that lasts decades, this episode is for you.

Show Notes:

00:00 – Introduction to Jack Cameron (24 years in the mortgage business)

00:30 – Leaving the bank in 2002 and starting from zero

01:48 – “Make the phone ring” — building a broker business from scratch

02:33 – Bank vs. broker: freedom, income & fear

04:40 – The move to Premier Mortgage (acquisition story)

07:49 – Mentoring Cyrus & developing high performers

10:04 – What Jack looks for in mentees (discipline & accountability)

14:17 – The early days of private lending in Atlantic Canada

16:35 – Why private lending lagged in the East Coast

18:05 – Broker market share growth (8% → 30–40%)

25:22 – Rental portfolio strategy & payment-first mindset

28:27 – Consumer debt, car culture & financial discipline

36:26 – Regulatory frustrations in Canadian mortgage brokering

40:12 – What’s next: coaching, leadership & “On the Mat with Jack”

42:11 – Judo, jiu-jitsu & the black belt mindset

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: ryan@keycap.ca

Jack Cameron:
Associate Mortgage Broker

• E-mail: jack@thewayhome.ca
• Website: www.thewayhome.ca
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.mortgage.guy/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayhome/

In Episode 120 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, Ryan and Neal sit down with Alex Lavender of the Clinton Wilkins Mortgage Team to unpack his journey of becoming one of Atlantic Canada’s top mortgage brokers.

Alex shares how starting with zero network in Halifax forced him to master alternative lending, why unbiased advice and client-first service became the foundation of his success, and how mentorship, marketing, and persistence shaped his career. The conversation also dives deep into Halifax’s real estate market, the renewal wave, private and alternative lending trends, and what investors should expect over the next few years.

This episode is packed with practical insights for brokers, lenders, investors, and anyone navigating today’s mortgage landscape.

Show Notes:

• 00:00 – Intro to Episode 120 and guest Alex Lavender
• 01:18 – Alex’s background and how he entered the mortgage industry
• 02:07 – Starting in the restaurant business at age 12
• 03:05 – Getting declined for a mortgage and discovering brokerage licensing
• 04:08 – Completing his first mortgage deal and early lessons learned
• 05:17 – Why Alex chose Halifax without ever visiting before
• 06:25 – Joining the Clinton Wilkins Mortgage Team with no local network
• 07:29 – The toughest early years and going months without income
• 08:22 – Why unbiased, honest advice became the core of his business
• 09:49 – The first “impossible” deal that shaped his career
• 10:55 – The importance of persistence over product knowledge
• 12:12 – Growth and evolution of the Clinton Wilkins team
• 15:23 – Boutique brokerage model vs. large-volume teams
• 18:41 – How alternative lending prepared Alex for today’s market
• 20:40 – Gaps in the lending market and challenges in rural areas
• 22:18 – The corner office story and hitting a massive production goal
• 24:41 – Halifax housing market outlook and price stability
• 27:12 – Multi-unit investing, supply concerns, and vacancy risk
• 33:15 – Mortgage renewals and why the “renewal wave” isn’t a crisis
• 36:16 – Marketing, credibility, and giving away free education
• 37:30 – Writing Mortgages for Millennials and educating clients
• 40:55 – One thing Alex would change about the mortgage industry

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: ryan@keycap.ca