TL;DR: Waiting for a lower rate can cost more than acting quickly. In real estate investing, speed and liquidity drive opportunity. Real estate investors who stay active and keep their capital working are the ones who scale fastest. Low down payment mortgage solutions from Calvert Home Mortgage help you move quickly, fund renovations, and grow your portfolio without missing deals.
Many real estate investors start out focused on getting the lowest rate. But those who grow quickly learn that timing and access to capital can matter more. When financing delays cause you to miss an opportunity, your real cost of borrowing can rise dramatically.
In real estate investing, time is an investment lever. The faster you acquire, renovate, and resell or refinance, the more you can maximize your opportunities, and the less you risk losing momentum. That’s why speed, not rate, can be a powerful driver of results.
The Cost of Waiting
When real estate investors hold off on buying until they can save a larger down payment to secure a slightly lower rate, they often end up losing more than they gain.
While you’re waiting, the market moves – and opportunities pass by. Prices rise, deals get scooped up, and your capital sits idle instead of working for you. In many cases, the time spent “waiting for the right rate” costs more than the higher rate itself.
Every month you don’t invest is a month of missed opportunities and slower portfolio growth. In real estate investing, hesitation has a cost – and it compounds.
If you’re focused on finding the right opportunities, learn how to identify undervalued properties in our guide on spotting hidden value in distressed properties, or explore practical deal sourcing tips for Alberta and Ontario.
Liquidity as Leverage: Why $10K Down Can Beat a Lower Rate
Real estate investors across Alberta and Ontario are using Calvert Home Mortgage’s low down payment options – starting at just $10,000 – to stay liquid and ready for the next opportunity. And yes, that typically come with a higher interest rate.
But here’s what many real estate investors overlook: a slightly higher rate can actually create more opportunity, not less.
By keeping more cash in your own pocket, you maintain control of your liquidity – money that can be used to:
- Fund renovations and value-add improvements.
- Cover carrying costs while projects are in progress.
- Act quickly on the next deal instead of waiting months to rebuild capital.
Saving for a larger down payment just to secure a lower rate often delays your next project, meaning you’re missing out on potential profits* that far outweigh the small difference in interest.
In other words, the lowest rate doesn’t always mean the highest return, especially when liquidity fuels momentum.
For a deeper look at how low down payments can unlock growth, read our article: Why Low Down Payments Are a Game-Changer for Real Estate Investors.
Case Study: Scaling Faster by Keeping Capital in Motion
For many real estate investors, the biggest barrier to growth isn’t interest rates – it’s having too much capital tied up in a single project. Large down payments limit flexibility and slow your ability to act on new opportunities when they arise.
One Calgary-based real estate investor strategically leveraged Calvert Home Mortgage’s low down payment options to expand faster, completing three flips over 15 months with a total of just $75,000 in down payments.
By leveraging $10,000 down on the first two properties and $55,000 on the third, they acquired more than $1.7 million in real estate and achieved $155,000 in total profit* – all while keeping capital free for renovations, carrying costs, and the next project.
The result wasn’t just strong performance – it was momentum. By keeping money working instead of waiting to save larger down payments, this real estate investor grew faster and built a repeatable model for success.
Read the full case study here.
When Paying a Higher Rate Makes Sense
For real estate investors focused on growth, the right question isn’t “What’s your rate?” It’s “How fast can we close, and how far can my capital go?”
A lower rate might look appealing on paper, but if it hinders your ability to act, it can ultimately cost more in missed opportunities. A slightly higher rate that keeps your capital moving can help you scale faster, complete more projects, and seize deals others can’t.
This trade-off is especially important when investing in competitive markets, where speed can determine whether a deal is fundable or gone by the end of the day.
Learn more about how we structure fast, flexible mortgages for flip and BRRR (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance) projects in our Real Estate Investor’s Guide to Flip/BRRR Mortgages.
Why Speed Wins
Speed gives real estate investors more control – to negotiate better, close confidently, and start adding value right away.
Calvert Home Mortgage’s process is built for real estate investor advantage:
- Commitment letters in as little as 1 business day.
- In-house valuations,saving you time and money.
- Funding in as little as 1-3 business days upon receiving all required documents.
- Pre-approvals that let you shop with confidence, knowing exactly what you can offer. (Click here to see how our pre-approvals work.)
- Fully open terms, giving you the flexibility to refinance or sell when the timing is right.
When deals move this quickly, your capital stays in motion, and that momentum compounds over time.
If you want to learn more about how fast approvals can help you secure deals, read our post on fast mortgage approvals with Calvert Home Mortgage.
Move Faster. Grow Smarter.
When every day matters, real estate investors win by partnering with lenders who move as fast as they do, protecting their deals, liquidity, and momentum.
At Calvert Home Mortgage, our promise is simple: fast flexible, and transparent financing that helps real estate investors move quickly when the right opportunities arise.
Ready to see how speed and liquidity can amplify your investment potential?
Speak with our team about your next deal today.
For Alberta inquiries, contact Kaelan Nelson.
Email: kaelan@chmic.ca
Cell: 587-585-4571
Office Phone: 403-278-0249
Book a meeting here.
For Ontario inquiries, contact Katarina Jarossy and Dan Werner.
Based in the GTA?
Email: katarina.jarossy@chmic.ca
Cell: 416-799-2553
Office Phone:1-888-752-4642
Book a meeting here.
Anywhere else in Ontario:
Email: dan.werner@chmic.ca
Cell: 416-316-5336
Office Phone: 1-888-752-4642
Book a meeting here.
*Net profits are not guaranteed and will vary depending on the project.
FAQs: The Real Cost of Waiting
Q: Is it better to wait for lower mortgage rates before investing?
A: Not always. Market opportunities can change more rapidly than interest rates do. Waiting often means missing opportunities or losing valuable time that could be spent building your portfolio.
Q: How fast can Calvert Home Mortgage fund a deal?
A: Commitment letters are often issued within one business day, with funding in as little as one to three business days, upon receiving all required documents.
Q: What types of mortgages does Calvert Home Mortgage fund?
Calvert Home Mortgage funds flip and BRRR projects, Interim Purchases, Bridges, and other short-term real estate investments in Alberta and Ontario.
