ANDREW MACRAE
Mortgage experience you can rely on
Creative Mortgage Solutions & Exceptional Service
Mortgage financing can be frustrating
It doesn't have to be with these 3 easy steps
Get started right away
The best place to start is to connect with me directly. The mortgage process is personal. My commitment is to listen to all your needs, assess your financial situation, and provide you with a clear plan forward.
Get a clear plan
Sorting through all the different mortgage lenders, rates, terms, and features can be overwhelming. Let me cut through the noise, I'll outline the best mortgage products available with your needs in mind.
Let me handle the details
When it comes time for arranging your mortgage, trust that I will make it happen. I'll make sure you know exactly where you stand at all times. No surprises. I've got you covered.
Everything you need, all in one place
As a trusted mortgage provider, I can help you with the following:
- Home Purchase
- Mortgage Refinance
- Mortgage Renewals
- First Time Home Buyers
Are you ready to buy a new home, refinance, or renew an existing mortgage? Start your application now.
Andrew Macrae
Founding Partner / Mortgage Expert
Thanks for visiting my website, I’m a partner and mortgage professional with Bluetree Mortgages WEST, working out of Kelowna since 2009. My office is located near the city centre on Clement Avenue however I’m also happy to assist you over the phone or by email, whatever is most convenient.
As a mortgage broker I can provide you with access to a wide range of lenders including banks, trust companies, credit unions and mortgage specific lenders. Once we decide on a structure, my team will source the best rates and terms for approval and coordinate all the lender paperwork on your behalf. In almost all scenarios the lender compensates me directly so you receive the advice and service of a licensed mortgage professional, access to the best available rates, all at no cost to you.
I look forward to helping you with your next mortgage!
What people say about
working with me
My wife and I worked with Andrew to purchase our second home. Not being the most experienced or savvy home buyer, I came with a lot of questions, and needed a great deal of guidance. Andrew always took the time to thoughtfully explain every aspect of the mortgage process. No question was too silly, and his recommendations were always in our best interest. There was never a moment where we didn’t feel completely cared for. Highly recommended. Thank you Andrew!
Brad Marshall
We’ve had the pleasure of dealing with Andrew for three mortgages. We wouldn’t even consider going elsewhere and certainly not to a bank. He works tirelessly to get us the best rate possible with the best possible terms. He’s professional, reliable, courteous, confidential, and efficient and as an added bonus when we sign papers we often get to snuggle with his coolest dog ever, Morten . We’ve been so confident working with Andrew we referred him to our kids who have also used his services twice! Thank you again Andrew for your excellent work!
Leslie and Barry Smith
My wife and I feel fortunate to have had Andrew broker several mortgage transactions for us. I recommend Andrew as a highly knowledgeable and competent mortgage broker. He is experienced, has strong relationships within his profession and understands the fine points of the real estate trends, market values and financing options. He is thorough and works hard to ensure his client`s interests are well looked after.
Calvin and Tamara Kettner
Articles
If you’re a homeowner looking to optimize your finances, consider taking advantage of your home’s equity to reposition any existing debts you may have. If you’ve accumulated consumer debt, the payments required to service these debts can make it difficult to manage your daily finances. A consolidation mortgage might be a great option for you! Simply put, debt repositioning or debt consolidation is when you combine your consumer debt with a mortgage secured to your home. To make this happen, you’ll borrow against your home’s equity. This can mean refinancing an existing mortgage, securing a home equity line of credit, or taking out a second mortgage. Each mortgage option has its advantages which are best outlined in discussion with an independent mortgage professional. Some of the types of debts that you can consolidate are: Credit Card Unsecured Line of Credit Car Loan Student Loans Personal or Payday Loans Most unsecured debt carries a high interest rate because the lender doesn't have any collateral to fall back on should you default on the loan. However, as a mortgage is secured to your home, the lender has collateral and can provide you with lower rates and more favourable terms. Debt consolidation makes sense because it allows you to take high-interest unsecured debts and reposition them into a single low payment. So, when considering the best mortgage for you, getting a low rate is important, but it’s not everything. Your goal should be to lower your overall cost of borrowing. A mortgage that allows for flexibility in prepayments helps with this. It’s not uncommon to find a mortgage at a great rate that allows you to increase your payments by 15% per payment, double your payments, or make a lump sum payment of up to 15% annually. As additional payments go directly to the principal repayment of the loan, once you’ve consolidated all your debts into a single payment, it’s smart to take advantage of your prepayment privileges by paying more than just your minimum required mortgage payment, as this will help you become debt-free sooner. While there is a lot to unpack here, if you’d like to discuss what using a mortgage to reposition your debts could look like for you, here’s a simple plan we can follow: First, we’ll assess your existing debt to income ratio. We’ll establish your home’s equity. We’ll consider all your mortgage options. Lastly, we’ll reposition your debts to help optimize your finances. If this sounds like the plan for you, the best place to start is to connect directly. It would be a pleasure to work with you.
Wondering If Now’s the Right Time to Buy a Home? Start With These Questions Instead. Whether you're looking to buy your first home, move into something bigger, downsize, or find that perfect place to retire, it’s normal to feel unsure—especially with all the noise in the news about the economy and the housing market. The truth is, even in the most stable times, predicting the “perfect” time to buy a home is incredibly hard. The market will always have its ups and downs, and the headlines will never give you the full story. So instead of trying to time the market, here’s a different approach: Focus on your personal readiness—because that’s what truly matters. Here are some key questions to reflect on that can help bring clarity: Would owning a home right now put me in a stronger financial position in the long run? Can I comfortably afford a mortgage while maintaining the lifestyle I want? Is my job or income stable enough to support a new home? Do I have enough saved for a down payment, closing costs, and a little buffer? How long do I plan to stay in the property? If I had to sell earlier than planned, would I be financially okay? Will buying a home now support my long-term goals? Am I ready because I want to buy, or because I feel pressure to act quickly? Am I hesitating because of market fears, or do I have legitimate concerns? These are personal questions, not market ones—and that’s the point. The economy might change tomorrow, but your answers today can guide you toward a decision that actually fits your life. Here’s How I Can Help Buying a home doesn’t have to be stressful when you have a plan and someone to guide you through it. If you want to explore your options, talk through your goals, or just get a better sense of what’s possible, I’m here to help. The best place to start? A mortgage pre-approval . It’s free, it doesn’t lock you into anything, and it gives you a clear picture of what you can afford—so you can move forward with confidence, whether that means buying now or waiting. You don’t have to figure this out alone. If you’re curious, let’s talk. Together, we can map out a homebuying plan that works for you.
When arranging mortgage financing, your mortgage lender will register your mortgage in one of two ways. Either with a standard charge mortgage or a collateral charge mortgage. Let’s look at the differences between the two. Standard charge mortgage This is your good old-fashioned mortgage. A standard charge mortgage is the mortgage you most likely think about when you consider mortgage financing. Here, the amount you borrow from the lender is the amount that is registered against the title to protect the lender if you default on your mortgage. When your mortgage term is up, you can either renew your existing mortgage or, if it makes more financial sense, you can switch your mortgage to another lender. As long as you aren’t changing any of the fine print, the new lender will usually cover the cost of the switch. A standard charge mortgage has set terms and is non-advanceable. This means that if you need to borrow more money, you'll need to reapply and requalify for a new mortgage. So there will be costs associated with breaking your existing mortgage and costs to register a new one. Collateral charge mortgage A collateral charge mortgage is a mortgage that can have multiple parts, usually with a re-advanceable component. It can include many different financing options like a personal loan or line of credit. Your mortgage is registered against the title in a way that should you need to borrow more money down the line; you can do so fairly easily. A home equity line of credit is a good example of a collateral charge mortgage. Unlike a standard charge mortgage, here, your lender will register a higher amount than what you actually borrow. This could be for the property's full value, or some lenders will go up to 125% of your property's value. In the future, if the value of your property appreciates, with a collateral charge mortgage, you don't have to rewrite your existing mortgage to borrow more money (assuming you qualify). This will save you from any costs associated with breaking your existing mortgage and registering a new one. However, if you’re looking to switch your mortgage to another lender at the end of your term, you might be forced to discharge your mortgage and incur legal fees. Also, by registering your mortgage with a collateral charge, you potentially limit your ability to secure a second mortgage. So what’s a better option for you? Well, there are benefits and drawbacks to both. Finding the best option for you really depends on your financial situation and what you believe gives you the most flexibility. This is probably a question better handled in a conversation rather than in an article. With that said, undoubtedly, the best option is to work with an independent mortgage professional. It’s our job to understand the intricacies of mortgage financing, listen to and assess your needs, and recommend the best mortgage to meet your needs. As we work with many lenders, we can provide you with options. Don’t get stuck dealing with a single institution that may only offer you a collateral charge mortgage when what you need is a standard charge mortgage. So if you’d like to have a conversation about mortgage financing, please get in touch. It would be a pleasure to work with you and answer any questions you might have.
