Customer care is the cornerstone of my business.

Luisa’s career as a committed mortgage professional spans over 17 years during which time she has helped thousands of Canadians achieve homeownership. Having established a sound reputation for excellence and outstanding service, her astute and genuine approach has allowed her to build and cultivate a trusted clientele and quality referral network. 


During Luisa’s tenure and as co-founder of one of the most highly respected mortgage companies in Canada and the industry, Verico Xeva Mortgage, she has been instrumental in its continued growth and success through her drive and passion, as well as her solid work ethic and commitment to transparency. This has earned her multiple accolades over the years including Broker of The Year 2016 & 2021, Finalist-Broker of the Year 2013-2021 respectively, Top 75 Broker Nationally for 10 years consecutively, and CMP Magazine’s 2020 & 2021 Hot List. Lastly and most distinctly, by virtue of Luisa’s strong, inspiring leadership, supportive nature, and warm professional manner, she received the Women of Influence distinction in both 2018 & 2020 becoming a trailblazer for many women seeking to emulate the same achievements. As such, Luisa has been invited to share her best practices and collaborate at many different industry events continuously raising the bar and elevating the industry to higher standards. Luisa has helped shape Xeva Mortgage to include a solid infrastructure and unique underwriting center attributing to this consistent success and overall growth. 


It’s through Luisa’s resolute process of educating clients and having a great eye for detail, where she can focus on building her client’s financial journey and providing a professional service throughout the life of the mortgage, ultimately assisting Canadians in achieving their full financial goals. 

There have been countless changes industry-wide over recent years, notwithstanding, Luisa has been able to achieve a strong and healthy balance between work and family life. Ongoing investment in herself and her personal development is what she attributes to her success both personally and professionally. This has also allowed her to tap into her philanthropic side as she has an incredible passion for charitable endeavors and strongly desires to give back to many initiatives in need. Being a regular donor to the BC Children’s Hospital and her own Pay it Forward campaign, Luisa is also an active member of Habitat for Humanity, 100 Brokers Who Care, and Women of Options. Her shared compassion with 50 other top influential women in Surrey, BC supports the Women of Options Organization in securing affordable housing for women of varying age groups and demographics who may otherwise find themselves homeless. As Luisa continues to grow both professionally and personally, so too does her desire to continue helping those around her who are in need. 


Luisa continually inspires others,
has an innovative and open spirit for everyone to learn and share, allowing her to continue making connections with her fellow colleagues and industry leaders for years to come. 

Are you looking to buy a new home, refinance or renew an existing mortgage?


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Home Purchase

If you are looking to purchase a property in Vancouver or surrounding areas, understanding all the mortgage options available to you can seem overwhelming. The market is hot and having a clear plan is a must. 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 so you can shop with confidence. Contact me anytime!

Renewal or Refinance

Whether your mortgage is up for renewal within 120 days and you are looking to get the best available mortgage product for your next term or you are mid-term looking to access some of the equity in your property to start a new business, we should talk! If you already own a home and want to make sure you have the best mortgage in place, please contact me anytime! Regardless of your situation, I have the knowledge, experience and desire to make sure you are completely taken care of.

Repeat or New Clients

If you are an existing client of mine, I am excited to continue working with you in order to make sure you have the best mortgage product available to you at anytime; please drop a note in the contact box at the bottom of this page, even if it is just to say hello! However if you have never used my services, I am currently taking on new clients and would love to offer you the same level of service all my existing clients receive. To see what others have said about me, consider checking out the testimonials section below!

55+ and looking for solutions to enhance your lifestyle?

I offer multiple options including Reverse Mortgages, HELOC, standard and private financing to find the right retirement mortgage option for you.

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I keep my blog updated regularly so you can stay informed!


By Luisa Hough 16 Oct, 2024
Chances are, buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make in your life. And as mortgage financing can be somewhat confusing at the best of times, to alleviate some of the stress and to ensure your home purchase goes as smoothly as possible, here are six very high-level steps you should follow. While it might seem like the best place to start the home buying process is to browse MLS on your phone and then contact a Realtor to go out and look at properties, it’s not. First, you’re going to want to work with a licensed independent mortgage professional. When you work with an independent mortgage professional, instead of working with a single bank, you’ll be working with someone who has your best interest in mind and can present you with mortgage options from several financial institutions. The second step in the home buying process is to put together a mortgage plan. Unless you have enough money in the bank to buy a home with cash, you’re going to need a mortgage. And as mortgage financing can be challenging and not so straightforward, the best time to start planning for a mortgage is right now. Don’t make another move until you discuss your financial situation with an independent mortgage professional. It’s never too early to start planning. As part of your mortgage plan, you’ll want to figure out what you can afford on paper, assess your credit score, run some financial scenarios, calculate mortgage payments, and have a clear picture of exactly how much money is required for a downpayment and closing costs. You’ll also be able to discuss which mortgage product is best for you, considering different mortgage terms, types, amortizations, and features. Now, what you qualify to borrow on paper doesn’t necessarily mean you can actually afford the payments in real life. You need to consider your lifestyle and what you spend your money on. Understanding your cash flow is the key. Make a budget to verify you can actually afford your proposed mortgage payments and that you have enough funds to close on the mortgage. No one wants to be house-poor or left scrambling to come up with funds to close at the last minute. If everything looks good at this point, the next step will be to get a preapproval in place. Now, a pre-approval is more than just typing some numbers into a form or online calculator; you need to complete a mortgage application and submit all the documents requested by your mortgage professional. Only proceed with looking at properties when you’ve been given the green light from your mortgage professional. When you’ve found a property to purchase, you’ll work very closely with your mortgage professional to arrange mortgage financing in a short period of time. This is where being prepared pays off. As you’ve already collected and submitted many documents upfront during the preapproval process, you should be set up for success. However, remain flexible and provide any additional documentation required by the lender to secure mortgage financing. Once you have firm lender approval and you’ve removed conditions on the purchase agreement, don’t change anything about your financial situation until you have the keys. Don’t quit your job, don’t take out a new loan, or don’t make a large withdrawal from your bank account. Put your life into a holding pattern until you take possession of your new home. So there you have it, six steps to ensuring a smooth home purchase: Work with an independent mortgage professional. Put together a mortgage plan. Figure out what you can actually afford. Get a pre-approval. Provide the necessary documentation. Don’t change anything about your financial situation until you take possession. If you’d like to discuss your personal financial situation and find the best mortgage product for you, let’s work together. We can figure out a plan to buy a home as stress-free as possible. Please connect anytime; it would be a pleasure to work with you.
By Luisa Hough 09 Oct, 2024
As the name implies, a cashback mortgage is similar to a standard mortgage, except that you receive a lump sum of cash upon closing. This lump sum will either be a fixed amount of money or a percentage of the mortgage amount, usually between 1-7%, depending on the mortgage term selected. How you use the cash is entirely up to you. Some of the most common reasons to secure a cashback mortgage are to: Cover closing costs. Buy new furniture. Renovate your property. Supplement cashflow. Consolidate higher-interest debt. Really, you can use the cash for anything you like. It’s tax-free and paid to you directly once the mortgage closes. Understanding the cost of a cashback mortgage. Now, while it might appear like a cashback mortgage is a great way to get some free money, it’s not. Banks aren’t altruistic; they’re in the business of making money by lending money. Securing a mortgage that provides you with cash back at closing will cost you a higher interest rate over your mortgage term. A cashback mortgage is like getting a fixed loan rolled into your mortgage. Your interest rate is increased to cover the additional funds being lent. Now, with so many different cashback options available and with interest rates constantly changing, it's nearly impossible to run through specific calculations on a simple article to outline how much more you’d pay over the term. So, if you'd like to identify the true cost of securing a cashback mortgage, the best place to start is to discuss your financial situation with an independent mortgage professional. When you work with an independent mortgage professional instead of a single bank, you receive unbiased advice, more financing options, and a clear picture of the cost associated with securing a mortgage. Getting cashback at closing is a mortgage feature that makes the bank more money at your expense. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; the key is to be informed of the costs involved so you can make a good decision. Eligibility for a cashback mortgage. Simply put, a cashback mortgage isn’t for everyone. This is a mortgage product that has tougher qualifications than standard mortgage financing. Any lender willing to offer a cashback mortgage will want to see that you have stable employment, a fabulous credit score, and healthy debt service ratios. If your mortgage application is in any way “unique,” the chances of qualifying for a cashback mortgage are pretty slim. Breaking your mortgage term early. In addition to paying a higher interest rate to cover the cost of receiving the cashback at closing, a cashback mortgage also limits your options down the line. If your life circumstances change and you need to break your mortgage mid-term, depending on the conditions set out in your mortgage contract, you’ll most likely be required to either pay all of the cashback received or at least a portion, depending on how long you’ve had the mortgage. As all cashback mortgages are tied to fixed-rate terms, so in addition to repaying the cashback, you’d also be required to pay the interest rate differential penalty; or 3 months interest, whichever is greater for breaking your mortgage term early. Sufficed to say, should you need to pay out your mortgage early, breaking your cashback mortgage will be costly. Certainly, this is something to consider when assessing the suitability of this mortgage product. Get independent mortgage advice. Understanding the intricacies of mortgage financing can be difficult at the best of times. With all the different terms, rates, and mortgage products available, it’s hard to know which mortgage is best for you. So while a mortgage that offers a cash incentive upon closing might initially seem like an attractive offer, make sure you seek out the guidance of an independent mortgage professional to help you navigate the costs associated with a cashback mortgage. While it might be a great option for you, there might be other mortgage options that better suit your needs. It's worth a conversation for sure! If you’d like to discuss what a cashback mortgage or any other mortgage product would look like for you, please get in touch. It would be a pleasure to work with you.
By Luisa Hough 02 Oct, 2024
If you’ve been thinking about buying a second property and you’re looking to put some of the pieces together, you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re looking to buy a vacation property, start a rental portfolio, or help accommodate a family member, there are many reasons to buy a second property (while keeping your existing property), which might make sense for you! Now, while there are many great reasons to buy a second property, there is also a lot to know as you walk through the process. The key here is to have absolute clarity around your why. Ask yourself, why do you want to buy a second property? This isn’t a decision to be taken lightly or one that should be made too quickly. Buying a second property should be a strategic decision that allows you to accomplish your goals, and it should include an assessment of your overall financial health. So with clear goals in mind, the best place to start the process is to have a conversation with an independent mortgage professional. This will allow you to assess your financial situation, outline the costs, and put together a plan to make it happen. While purchasing a second property is similar to buying a primary residence, there are some key differences. Just because you’ve qualified in the past for your existing mortgage doesn’t mean you’ll qualify to purchase a second property. One key difference is the amount of downpayment you might be required to come up with. A property that is owner-occupied or occupied by a family member on a rent-free basis will require less of a downpayment than if the second property will be used to generate an income. So, depending on the property's intended use, you might have to come up with as much as 25%-35% down. This is where strategic planning comes in. Consider unlocking the equity in your existing home to finance the downpayment to purchase your second home. Here are a few ways you can go about doing that: Securing a new mortgage if you own your property clear title Refinancing your existing mortgage to access additional funds Securing a home equity line of credit (HELOC) Getting a second mortgage behind your existing first mortgage Securing a reverse mortgage The conversation about buying a second property should include assessing your overall financial health, leveraging your existing assets to lower your overall cost of borrowing, and figuring out the best way to accomplish your goals. And as it's impossible to outline every scenario in a simple blog post, if you’d like to discuss your goals and put a plan together to finance a second property, connect anytime. It would be a pleasure to work with you.
MORE FROM THE BLOG

Videos

If you are new to the mortgage process, here are a couple of videos to help you get started.


Awards


Recent Awards

  • 2021 Canadian Mortgage Awards Winner- Mortgage Broker of the Year
  • 2020 Canadian Mortgage Awards Finalist - Mortgage Broker of the Year
  • 2019 Canadian Mortgage Awards Finalist - Mortgage Broker of the Year
  • 2016 Canadian Mortgage Awards Finalist - Mortgage Broker of the Year
  • 2015 Canadian Mortgage Awards Winner Xeva – Best Newcomer Brokerage
  • 2014 Best of Now Magazine – Readers Choice Best Mortgage Broker Winner
  • 2013 Vancouver 5 Star Mortgage Professional
  • 2013 First National Financial LP Outstanding Achievement Award
  • 2013 Vancouver Magazine – Top Mortgage Professionals
  • 2012 CMP Awards – Syndicate Mortgages Mortgage Broker of the Year Fewer than 25 Employees
  • 2011 CMP Awards – “Broker of the Year” Finalist
  • 2010 CMP Magazine Top 50 Brokers in Canada by volume. Rank 30th


I am proud to have developed incredible working relationships with several Canadian mortgage lenders. Let's find out which one has the best mortgage product for you!

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