Keys and Capital

Jonah Hoyos & Zack Brittain
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A smarter conversation about real estate, mortgages, and wealth building. Co-hosted by Mortgage Strategy Specialist Jonah Hoyos and investment-focused Realtor Zack Brittain, Keys & Capital shows you how to put the equity you already have to work, turning your home and your next property into a long-term wealth engine instead of just a monthly payment. Practical strategies, real scenarios, and clear guidance for Ontario homeowners and investors ready to build.

  1. 1d ago

    The Ultimate Smith Manoeuvre Q&A: Every Question Homeowners Actually Ask

    Have a specific scenario you want mapped out? Book a free call at www.chatwithjonah.com Get your own personalized Smith Manoeuvre report: https://www.smithmancalculator.ca/start/x6foe1wwwyiik7b8vqjztiexttd8rwc4 Reach Zack directly at Zack@phippsbrittain.com Most Smith Manoeuvre content skips the basics and jumps straight to the net worth numbers. Not this one. In this episode of the Keys and Capital Show, Zack Brittain puts me on the hot plate and works through the strategy from absolute zero, asking the questions homeowners actually have rather than the ones that make for a clean pitch. We start with "what exactly is it" and only get to the calculator at the 30-minute mark. Here's what we cover: What the Smith Manoeuvre actually is, and why Canadians can't deduct primary residence mortgage interest the way Americans canThe amortization reality: why a 30-year mortgage doesn't hit a 50/50 interest-to-principal split until year 15What a $500,000 mortgage really costs: $412,000 in interest, $912,000 in total payments, and roughly $1.6 million in earned income to cover itReadvanceable mortgages explained, including why having a mortgage and a HELOC is not the same thing as having a readvanceable mortgageThe credit card analogy that makes readvancing clickWhy your real cost of borrowing is closer to 2.3 to 2.5% rather than the 4.95% on the lineThe full loop: refund, prepay, reborrow, reinvestWhy the strategy is fully self-servicing, walked through month by month with the actual dollar figures so you can see the increasing efficiency of the mortgage paymentZack's worst-case scenario question: what happens if the portfolio does nothing at allWhy this isn't an either/or decision against your RRSP or TFSAHow much admin this actually takes once it's running, and which lenders automate the interest on the lineWhy Fraser Smith developed this in the 1980s when rates were in the double digits, and why higher rates scale your refundWhere people don't qualify: the 20% equity minimum and why insured mortgages are outWhether it's reversible, what breaking the mortgage costs, and the risk of selling into a declining marketLive calculator walkthrough on a $520,000 mortgage: 21 years to convert, $130,000 in tax savings, $924,000 portfolio, $404,000 net worth increaseCash flow diversion: how $1,000 a month you're already saving drops conversion from 21 years to 14Rental cash damming: how adding a rental's income and expenses drops it all the way to 6.4 yearsUsing a fully deductible line in retirement to extend the life of your portfolio and offset RRIF income Assumptions in the calculator scenario: 43% marginal tax rate, 7% average annual return, 4.5% rate, 25-year amortization. Jonah Hoyos is a Smith Manoeuvre Certified Professional and mortgage agent Level 1 with Tango Financial, FSRA licence #13691. Zack Brittain is a real estate sales representative with Flux Realty Brokerage in Kitchener, Ontario. This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal, financial, tax, or investment advice. Always consult a professional for advice tailored to your circumstances.

  2. Sep 3

    Every Smith Manoeuvre Accelerator Strategy RANKED (S to D Tier)

    If you’re considering the Smith Manoeuvre and want to understand what it could look like with your own mortgage and financial situation, and would like me to run your own numbers, you can access the Smith Manoeuvre Certified Professional Calculator Here: https://www.smithmancalculator.ca/start/x6foe1wwwyiik7b8vqjztiexttd8rwc4 Not all Smith Manoeuvre accelerator strategies are created equal. In this video, I’m ranking some of the most common Smith Manoeuvre strategies from S Tier to D Tier based on how powerful, practical, and efficient I believe they can be. We cover: • The Plain Jane Smith Manoeuvre • Business Cash Flow Damming • Smith Manoeuvre Light • Dividend Prepayment & Reinvestment (DRIP) • The Debt Swap • Rental Cash Damming • Cash Flow Diversion • Prime the Pump I break down how each strategy works, where I think it makes sense, and some of the trade-offs to consider. Some strategies simply redirect cash flow you already have. Others can involve additional leverage and significantly more risk. And one strategy in particular gets my S Tier ranking because of just how quickly it can potentially accelerate the conversion of non-deductible mortgage debt into deductible investment debt. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial, investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Speak with the appropriate licensed professionals before implementing any strategy discussed. Jonah Hoyos | Smith Manoeuvre Certified Professional | Tango Financial Lic. 13691 Mortgage Agent Lvl. 1

  3. Aug 30

    Every Legitimate Way to Fund Your Next Down Payment (Some You've Never Heard Of)

    Have a scenario you want run before you commit? Book a free call at www.chatwithjonah.com Reach Zack directly at Zack@phippsbrittain.com Not enough cash for your down payment does not mean you're out of options. In this episode of the Keys and Capital Show, Zack Brittain and I walk through the full menu of legitimate ways investors are funding down payments in Canada, starting with the simple stuff and working down to the strategies most people have never considered. Here's what we cover: Cash savings and the 90-day history rule lenders actually requireFHSA: $8,000 per year and $40,000 lifetime per person, no repayment required, RRSP-style deduction going in with TFSA flexibility coming out, and why house hacking still qualifiesRRSP Home Buyers' Plan: up to $60,000 per person with a 15-year repayment scheduleTFSA withdrawals and why there are no strings attached from a lending perspectiveGifted funds: who counts as immediate family, why the gift letter matters, and the sneaky variance between lenders on aunts and unclesWhy a loan from mom and dad will not work as a down payment, and what would have to change for it toHELOC vs. refinance explained: cost, structure, rate premium, why HELOCs are always variable, and the interest-only trade-offThe refinance ladder that larger multifamily investors use to keep acquiringThe mistake investors make when borrowing their down payment: forgetting to underwrite the HELOC interest as an expense on the new dealWhy borrowing your down payment means you're 100% financing the property, and why you need a repayment plan before you closeDeductibility of HELOC interest when funds are used to acquire an income-producing asset, and the tracing rules that matterPersonal loans and lines of credit: technically possible, but how they hit your ratiosVendor takebacks: what they are, how to structure them, why they're rare on MLS, and the seller profiles most open to itJoint ventures: how the four contributions (capital, lending, finding the deal, managing the deal) determine who gets what percentageZack's biggest piece of advice: talk to your mortgage broker before you negotiate with your JV partners or spend a couple thousand dollars on a refinance you may not be able to use. Run both scenarios, project them out five to ten years, and pick based on your actual risk tolerance and the deal you want. Jonah Hoyos is a Smith Manoeuvre Certified Professional and mortgage agent Level 1 with Tango Financial, FSRA licence #13691. Zack Brittain is a real estate sales representative with Flux Realty Brokerage in Kitchener, Ontario. This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always consult a professional for advice tailored to your circumstances.

  4. Aug 8

    You Don't Need 20% Down to Buy an Investment Property in Canada (Here's the Real Math)

    Have a specific scenario you want run? Book a free call at www.chatwithjonah.com Reach Zack directly at Zack@phippsbrittain.com If you think you're stuck because you don't have 20% down for an investment property, that assumption might be costing you your next deal. Most new investors either overestimate what they need and stay on the sidelines, or underestimate and get blindsided at closing. In this episode of the Keys and Capital Show, Zack Brittain and I break down exactly how much cash you actually need, using a real $700,000 duplex in Waterloo Region run through three different financing scenarios side by side. Jonah Hoyos is a Smith Manoeuvre Certified Professional and mortgage agent Level 1 with Tango Financial, FSRA licence #13691. Zack Brittain is a real estate sales representative with Flux Realty Brokerage in Kitchener, Ontario. This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always consult a professional for advice tailored to your circumstances.

  5. Jul 28

    Every Type of Real Estate Investment Explained (And How to Finance Each One)

    Want to know what you can actually qualify for on your next investment property? Book a free call at www.chatwithjonah.com Reach Zack directly at Zack@phippsbrittain.com Most people have one picture in their head when they hear "investment property." A single family home, or maybe a pre-construction condo downtown. But there's a whole menu, and the asset type you choose determines your down payment, your cash flow, and how far you can scale, before you even write the offer. In this episode of the Keys and Capital Show, Zack Brittain and I walk the entire ladder from single family rentals all the way to infill development projects. Zack covers the pros and cons from a realtor, investor, and owner-operator perspective, and I break down what the financing actually looks like at each rung.

  6. Jul 21

    Baby Steps to Buying Your First Rental Property: Home Equity, Financing & Deals That Cash Flow

    Most people think you need a big pile of cash to buy your first rental property. You don't, especially if you already own a home in Ontario. Realtor Zack Brittain and mortgage agent Jonah Hoyas break down the baby steps to your first door: how to unlock your down payment with a HELOC, refinance, or readvanceable mortgage; how debt service ratios really work (and why $600/month in payments can cost you ~$80–100K in borrowing power); the "First Date" strategy for narrowing your property search; why a 7/10 property in a 10/10 location beats the shiny listing; and how to run the numbers so your first deal actually cash flows. Plus: the properties lenders love (and the ones they won't touch), what happens between accepted offer and closing, and the three non-negotiable rules for your first investment property. Questions about your first door? Book a call with Jonah at www.chatwithjonah.com or email Zack at Zack@phippsbrittain.com. Zack Brittain is a real estate sales representative with Flux Realty Brokerage in Kitchener, Ontario. Jonah Hoyas is a Smith Manoeuvre certified professional and mortgage agent (Level 1) with Tango Financial, FSRA licence #13691. This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always consult a professional for advice tailored to your unique circumstances.

  7. Jun 26

    Smith Manoeuvre Accelerators: The Strategies That Compress a 25-Year Mortgage Into 10 (Part 2)

    Want to know if the Smith Manoeuvre works for your numbers? Book a free call at www.chatwithjonah.com The basic Smith Manoeuvre works. But on its own it takes 15 to 20 years to fully convert your mortgage. In this video I show you how to compress that timeline dramatically, including one accelerator that can take a 25-year mortgage down to under 10. I also cover the part that almost nobody explains correctly: the lender rules that decide whether this strategy even works for you. Get this wrong and the whole thing quietly stalls. This is Part 2 of my three-part Smith Manoeuvre series. If you haven't seen Part 1, watch that first. Link is in the description. Here's what we cover in this video: The debt swap: how to instantly convert dormant savings or a paid-up GIC into tax deductible investment debt without changing your budgetCash flow diversion: how to reroute existing monthly savings through your mortgage first so your deductions grow every month without spending an extra dollarCash damming: how landlords and business owners can use rental income to vaporize a 25-year personal mortgage in under 10 yearsThe DRIP accelerator: how to make your dividends do two jobs at oncePrime the pump: the one true leverage move in this strategy and why it requires eyes wide openThe OSFI 65% rule: the government-imposed cap that throttles your readvancing and why most people don't know it existsWhy picking the right lender is not a detail, it is the strategy, and how different lenders handle readvancing above the threshold in completely different waysThe traceability rule: why your Smith Manoeuvre investments need a dedicated account that does one thing and one thing onlyThe registered account trap: why moving your Smith Manoeuvre portfolio into a TFSA or RRSP will cost you your deductions and trigger a deemed dispositionSmith Manoeuvre Light: the decelerator for anyone who wants to ease into this without going all inThe Fraser Finagle: the final move named after the man who created the strategy and why it keeps compounding at a lower cost of borrowing In Part 3 I stop talking theory and run a real case study live in the Smith Manoeuvre calculator so you can see exactly how the timeline, the tax refunds, and the ending net worth play out. I'm Jonah Hoyos, a Smith Manoeuvre Certified Professional and mortgage agent with Tango Financial in Ontario.

  8. Jun 26

    The Smith Manoeuvre Explained: Pay Off Your Mortgage and Build Wealth at the Same Time (Part 1)

    Want to know if the Smith Manoeuvre makes sense for your situation? Book a free call at www.chatwithjonah.com Two neighbors. Same street. Same income. Same house. Same mortgage paid off at the same time. At 65, one is sitting across from a bank rep talking about a reverse mortgage just to cover groceries. The other is sitting on an $840,000 investment portfolio. And the second neighbor never spent a single extra dollar a month to get there. That gap is the Smith Manoeuvre. And this is Part 1 of a three-part series where I break the whole thing down, starting with the foundation, all the way to a live walkthrough of the Smith Manoeuvre calculator in Part 3. Here's what we cover in this video: Why the average Canadian family pays 43.5% of their income in taxes and what that means for building wealthWhy the traditional "pay off the house first, then save" approach quietly sets most Canadians up to fail in retirementThe mindset shift the wealthy use: optimizing debt instead of running from itWhat a readvanceable mortgage is and why it is the required vehicle to make this strategy workThe two bucket analogy: how you convert bad non-deductible mortgage debt into good tax-deductible investment debt without adding a single dollar of new debtWhy this is debt conversion, not leverage, and why that distinction mattersHow the tax refund snowball works: refund, repay, reborrow, invest, repeatThe real cost of borrowing math: why your investments only need to beat 2.4% to come out ahead when your marginal tax rate is 40% and your rate is 4% In Part 2 I cover how to accelerate the strategy so it does not take 20 years, the lender rules that determine whether this even works for you, and the part almost nobody explains correctly. I'm Jonah Hoyos, a Smith Manoeuvre Certified Professional and mortgage agent with Tango Financial in Ontario. This channel is about paying down your mortgage faster while building wealth at the same time, without sacrificing your lifestyle or choosing one over the other.

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About

A smarter conversation about real estate, mortgages, and wealth building. Co-hosted by Mortgage Strategy Specialist Jonah Hoyos and investment-focused Realtor Zack Brittain, Keys & Capital shows you how to put the equity you already have to work, turning your home and your next property into a long-term wealth engine instead of just a monthly payment. Practical strategies, real scenarios, and clear guidance for Ontario homeowners and investors ready to build.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonah Hoyos & Zack Brittain
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jonah Hoyos & Zack Brittain
  • Show Website
    Keys and Capital

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