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

In Episode 119 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, Ryan and Neal break down how mortgage renewals, higher rates, AI, open banking, fraud controls, and regulation are reshaping private and alternative lending across Canada. They explain why more borrowers are moving into private lending, how underwriting is evolving, and what lenders, brokers, and investors need to understand as they head into 2025–2026.

This episode covers:

• The mortgage renewal wave and rising payment shock

• Why the private lending market share is growing

• AI’s real role in underwriting and fraud detection

• Regulation, MICs, and institutional capital

• Construction financing and market volatility

• What the future borrower actually looks like

Ideal for mortgage brokers, private lenders, real estate investors, and anyone following Canadian housing and credit markets.

Show Chapters:

00:29 – Welcome to Episode 119

05:09 – What does the future of private lending look like?

05:48 – Why Canada’s banking system is vulnerable to disruption

06:15 – Alternative lending shifts beyond bad credit

07:39 – Traditional mortgages are becoming commoditized

08:09 – Will big banks acquire private lenders?

09:40 – Mortgage renewals are pushing borrowers into private lending

11:24 – Why high-LTV private lending is disappearing

12:42 – Renewal payment shock explained

15:29 – Private lending now makes up ~20% of Ontario mortgages

16:51 – Volatility as the engine of private lending growth

17:26 – Who the future private lending borrower is

19:11 – Private lending is a timing tool, not a credit issue

20:28 – Regulation is coming — what changes first

21:14 – FSRA, disclosures, and broker responsibility

25:39 – MICs, capital, and transparency expectations

28:43 – Will fraud reduction push borrowers into private lending?

31:14 – How AI actually fits into underwriting

32:20 – The end of “trust-me” lending

33:35 – Construction financing opportunities for private lenders

37:13 – Three future scenarios for private lending in Canada

39:11 – Final takeaways for lenders, brokers, and investors

39:58 – Closing remarks and compliance disclaimer

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 Episode 118 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, Ryan and Neal break down the latest Canadian jobs data and what rising unemployment means for interest rates and mortgage strategy heading into 2026.

They then turn their attention to a market that rarely gets the spotlight: Montreal. With home sales up, prices rising, and inventory remaining tight, Montreal is emerging as one of Canada’s most resilient major housing markets, especially when compared to Toronto and Vancouver.

The episode wraps with a deep dive into commercial real estate, exploring why office vacancies are finally declining, what’s driving the return-to-office trend, and how lenders and brokers should think about risk, repositioning, and rate structure across asset classes.

Show Notes:

• 03:17 – December jobs data, rising unemployment, and what it means for rates
• 07:28 – Fixed vs. variable mortgages: why sentiment is changing
• 11:59 – Why Montreal stands out in today’s housing market
• 13:04 – Quebec housing data: prices up, sales strong, inventory tight
• 17:31 – Toronto & Vancouver cooling: higher prices, weaker demand
• 20:24 – Calgary & Halifax normalize after post-COVID booms
• 24:52 – Office market comeback: falling vacancies and return-to-office trends
• 33:06 – Mortgage strategy heading into 2026: regional risk matters

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 Episode 117 of the Canadian Private Lenders' Podcast, hosts Ryan and Neal break down the five most common and costly mistakes private lenders make when scaling their businesses.

Drawing directly on their experience growing Keystone past $25 M in AUM, they unpack real-world lessons on infrastructure, software, deal quality, hiring, and recognizing early market cracks before they turn into serious problems.

This episode is a must-listen for:

• New and emerging private lenders
• Mortgage brokers working with private capital
• Investors evaluating lending platforms
• Anyone preparing for a shifting real estate market

Show Notes:

• 06:19 – Episode focus introduced: the 5 biggest scaling mistakes private lenders make
• 07:07 – Mistake #1: Scaling too fast without proper infrastructure
• 09:41 – Importance of deal flow quality and broker relationships
• 11:32 – Why Excel breaks down as loan books grow
• 14:47 – Mistake #2: Not using proper loan-management software
• 19:34 – How platforms like Mortgage Automator reduce operational risk
• 21:58 – Mistake #3: Chasing volume instead of improving deal quality
• 28:11 – Why better loans beat more loans in the long run
• 31:04 – Mistake #4: Waiting too long to hire and leverage a team
• 33:30 – Mistake #5: Ignoring early market cracks because defaults are still low
• 37:52 – Key takeaway: Risk shows up quietly — until it doesn’t
• 38:58 – Rapid-fire advice for lenders under $5M, $15M+, and investors
• 41:18 – Where to follow and watch the podcast (YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn)

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 Episode 116 of the Canadian Private Lender's Podcast Ryan and Neal break down what it really takes to scale a private lending business from $10M to $25M in assets under management in just over two years.

They go beyond surface-level growth talk and dive into the realities of scaling: operational strain, investor confidence, underwriting discipline, capital flow challenges, and why saying no becomes more important than saying yes. From team expansion and MIC structuring to managing risk in a shifting market, this episode is packed with practical insight for anyone serious about building a sustainable private lending operation.

Plus, some strong opinions on chocolate bars, Dairy Queen blizzards, and secret menus along the way.

Show Notes:

00:00 - Chocolate bars & holiday chaos

06:46 - Dairy Queen blizzards & secret menu

09:13 - Scaling from $10M to $25M AUM

12:46 - Team growth & admin pressure

16:00 - Raising capital & launching a MIC

19:59 - Product mix & construction lending

22:53 - Underwriting discipline at scale

26:02 - Risk awareness & saying no

29:59 - Admin, outsourcing & buying back time

33:36 - Podcast as credibility & deal flow

36:19 - Advice by AUM stage

41:16 - Final takeaways & sustainable growth

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

Welcome back to Episode 115 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast!

Ryan and Neal kick off 2026 by breaking down what fix-and-flip investing really looks like in today’s more balanced Canadian real estate market. With buyer behavior shifting, inventory rising, and exits becoming less predictable, this episode dives into where opportunities still exist, and where lenders and investors need to be far more conservative.

The conversation covers real-world market conditions in Halifax, the GTA, and Calgary, how underwriting standards should evolve in 2026, and why making money on the buy, not the market, matters more than ever.

Whether you’re a private lender, broker, or active real estate investor, this episode is a practical reset on risk, expectations, and disciplined deal analysis for the year ahead.

Show Notes:

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 115 & kicking off 2026

02:18 – Are fix & flips “back” in 2026? Setting the stage

03:54 – Halifax market update: inventory, pricing & buyer behavior

05:09 – Sold-to-list ratios signal a shift to a balanced market

07:11 – Where fix-and-flip opportunities are re-emerging on the buy side

09:27 – Off-market deals: what’s happening and where they still exist

11:38 – The biggest risk in 2026: uncertain exits & longer hold times

14:21 – Why cosmetic flips no longer work without real value-add

16:43 – Lender perspective: cutting losses before deals go sideways

17:03 – GTA market overview: nuance, sub-markets & investor vs end-user demand

18:34 – Why investment-grade properties are getting hit harder than single-family homes

23:45 – Calgary market insights: pricing, build costs & borrower strength

29:41 – Private lending structures: LTVs, draws, reserves & holdbacks

33:55 – Underwriting checklist: ARVs, contingencies & exit strategies

36:10 – Real Halifax case study: tight margins and stress-testing returns

38:19 – Final takeaways: disciplined underwriting wins in 2026

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