Buying a home Canada feels impossible until someone sits down and actually runs the numbers with you. Jessica Moorhouse starts with the wishlist, then the mortgage broker, then the reality check.

The first trap she names is the forever home. The belief that the first place has to be permanent and perfect, Moorhouse says, puts too much pressure on a decision that doesn't have to carry that weight. Her rule: find something you'll stay in for at least five years, improve it, and move up from there.

The bigger risk is becoming house poor. Put everything into the home and there's nothing left for retirement, emergencies, or breathing room. The comparison trap, where you buy for what looks right to others instead of what is right for you, is where most financial mistakes start.

Topics: buying a home Canada, forever home myth, house poor, mortgage tips Canada, first home buyer advice

GUEST: Jessica Moorhouse | jessicamoorhouse.com

Originally aired on 2026-05-11