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Season two of Where Should I Invest? kicks off with a new voice in the room. After 10 years and more than a million downloads, Sarah Larbi welcomes co-host Ryan Sweda, a US-based investor with seven DIY renovation projects and 50 acres of timber in western New York under his belt. Their first guest together is a show favourite: Matt Pickering, Mortgage Specialist at National Bank.
Should you go fixed or variable today, and why? We dig into the questions you should be asking before making that decision.
We also discuss loans from National Bank at bank rates that you could be eligible for, potentially reducing how much of your own money you need to use.
What are these loans, and could you qualify?
And if you’re planning a BRRRR deal, a flip, or a renovation, you’ll want to hear what has changed. Getting an “as complete” appraisal upfront could help take some of the guesswork out of your property’s projected value after renovations.
But that’s just one piece of the conversation. You’ll need to listen to the full episode for the other financing insights and changes you should know before your next deal.
What could this mean for your numbers, your financing, and your next purchase?
🎧 Tune in to find out.
Matt breaks down why fixed rates have been jumpier than variable this year, why he still likes variable for investors who can handle some risk, and how locking in actually works. He also walks through National Bank’s renovation loan, which finances your project based on a guaranteed future value before you swing a hammer. And he explains how the bank lets investors scale to 40 units when most lenders cap out at 8 to 12.
“I’m not a no guy. I don’t wanna just say, ‘No, you don’t approve. See you later.’ It’s more, ‘Okay, this is what you want. Let’s look at qualification.'”
Matt Pickering, Mortgage Specialist, National Bank
This episode has been brought to you in part by:
Ryan Carson, Carson Law – https://www.carsonlaw.ca/ or email ryan@carsonlaw.ca
Connect with Matt Pickering:
- Phone/Text: 905-802-7788
- Email: matthew.pickering@nbc.ca
Key Highlights & Timestamps:
- [00:00] Season two begins: meet new co-host Ryan Sweda.
- [04:00] Matt’s read on the rate market heading into the end of 2026.
- [07:00] Variable vs fixed: who should choose which, and why first-time buyers may prefer a three-year fixed.
- [08:00] How locking a variable into a fixed rate works (and when it’s usually too late).
- [11:00] Why variable mortgages reward prepayments.
- [16:30] The renovation loan: financing based on a guaranteed after-repair value.
- [18:30] Why single-family to duplex conversions tend to return dollar for dollar or more.
- [21:00] Borrowing at 6.09% interest only with just 15% of the renovation cost on hand.
- [23:30] How National Bank counts ADUs in your total property value.
- [24:30] The 40-unit cap: four times the doors of most major banks.
- [27:00] Qualifying self-employed, incorporated investors on business net income.
- [29:30] Financing anywhere in Canada, plus options for permanent and temporary residents.
- [32:00] Matt’s number one piece of advice: start early.
- [36:30] Converting your current home into a rental and buying a new primary residence.
- [37:30] Why AI is a starting point, not a substitute for an expert.
Disclaimer: Content provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice.
