Rethink Your Mortgage Renewal for Wealth

✍️ By Debbie Balfour | WBN News | January 8, 2026 | Click HERE for your FREE Subscription to WBN News and/or to be a Contributor.

When your mortgage renewal is due, do you simply sign the paperwork and move on? In this week’s Let’s Talk Real Estate Investing podcast, Calgary mortgage broker and long-time real estate investor Keith Uthe explains why that could be one of the costliest financial mistakes Canadians make. With more than two decades in real estate and ten years as a broker, Keith urges homeowners to “Don’t just renew—rethink.”

Watch the full interview on YouTube here: Rethink Your Mortgage Renewal with Keith Uthe

Keith dives into a powerful yet often misunderstood wealth strategy known as The Smith Manoeuvre: a financial method that allows Canadians to convert non-deductible mortgage debt into tax-deductible investment debt. By reconfiguring how mortgage payments and equity are used, everyday homeowners can accelerate wealth creation instead of waiting until retirement to enjoy their hard-earned money.

The episode unpacks how traditional thinking, “pay off your mortgage and be debt-free,” may actually limit your financial potential. Keith emphasizes that while being mortgage-free sounds appealing, it often leaves retirees with a paid-off house but little liquid wealth. The Smith Manoeuvre flips that script by leveraging home equity to invest in income-producing assets, creating tax advantages and growing future wealth simultaneously.

Keith also breaks down five critical renewal options most borrowers overlook, from simply renewing with your existing lender to refinancing or restructuring your mortgage with a re-advanceable line of credit. He explains how these decisions can significantly affect cash flow, long-term wealth, and even retirement stability.

Perhaps most importantly, Keith stresses the need for professional guidance. Implementing advanced strategies like the Smith Manoeuvre or “cash damming” requires a coordinated effort between your mortgage broker, accountant, and financial advisor. Done right, it can transform your mortgage from a passive liability into an active wealth-building tool.

For Keith, it’s about more than numbers; it’s about helping people “live a life of opportunity.” His passion shines through as he shares real-world stories and practical steps Canadians can take to start using their mortgage strategically.

So before you renew that mortgage, take a moment to rethink your financial future. The right decision today could unlock the wealth you’ve been sitting on all along.

Debbie Balfour | Real Estate Investing Success Coach + Podcast Host
📍 Website: www.DebbieBalfour.com
📧 Email: Debbie@DebbieBalfour.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Debbie Balfour
▶️ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@DebbieBalfour

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