Helping a Bike Rental Employee Qualify for a Mortgage in the Kootenays
“A real story about navigating bias, breaking assumptions, and securing homeownership through thoughtful strategy, smart financial structuring, and powerful storytelling.”
🧩 The Challenge
Our client had just relocated to the beautiful, rural Kootenays to start a new life. They landed a full-time role at a local bike rental company, and their letter of employment was spotless
🔘 No Probation Period 🔘 Full Time Hours 🔘 Stable Income Documented
However, when we submitted the mortgage file to a traditional lender, the response shocked us: REJECTED.
Why?
“How can a bike rental company operate year-round?” – Lender, after a quick Google search
This wasn’t about the client — it was about the perception of their industry. The lender doubted income potential simply based on the seasonal nature of biking and local business models.
📉 This is a common roadblock for:
Seasonal workers (ski resorts, bike rental shops, guides)
Small-town entrepreneurs
Non-traditional job roles
And it represents a flaw in how many lenders evaluate people: by numbers, not context.
The original mortgage structure included a 30-year amortization and no involvement from an insurer, which was intended to reduce monthly payments. However, this approach backfired with the first lender, who rejected the file based on assumptions about the client’s job stability.
To strengthen the application, we restructured the mortgage by reducing the amortization to 25 years and opting for a down payment under 20%. This allowed us to bring in a default mortgage insurer like CMHC or Sagen — which, although often seen as a last resort, actually added credibility to the file in the eyes of a more conservative lender.
We also shifted from an investor-funded lender to a balance-sheet lender, who was more open to context-driven applications. This strategic shift opened new doors and positioned the client in a more favorable light. In addition to technical changes, we focused heavily on storytelling.
We reframed the lender’s assumptions by providing real insight into the client’s work — explaining how fat biking supports winter tourism, how the rental shop is tied to local events and school partnerships, and how the client’s income was consistent year-round.
Rather than letting the paperwork speak for itself (and be misunderstood), we spoke on behalf of the client — making the case personal, contextual, and credible. This storytelling approach helped humanize the application, educate the lender, and ultimately rebuild trust in the client’s financial capacity.
💡 What You Can Learn from This
✅ Default insurers (like CMHC/Sagen) can strengthen your application — especially when facing lender skepticism.
✅ Tell your full story — don’t just rely on paperwork.
✅ Lenders don’t always understand your industry — it’s your broker’s job to advocate and educate.
📽️ Watch The Case Study Video
Mortgage with a seasonal Job 🏡
Helping a Bike Rental Employee Qualify for a Mortgage in the Kootenays - Watch How we can Help you at any place.
📞 Call to Action
Facing pushback due to your job or income style?
Let us help tell your story — and find the right mortgage solution for you.
📞604-809-3188
📧 paul.davidescu@mortgagepal.ca