01
Mortgage broker
The thought: are we ready?
Income, credit, down payment and debts reviewed against the federal mortgage stress test to set a realistic price range.
1One-stop home buying in BC
One point of contact for the whole purchase
From the first thought to the keys in your hand. One window.
Buying a home in BC takes a mortgage broker, a realtor, a real estate lawyer or notary public, a home inspector, an appraiser and an insurance advisor, usually in that order. Thought to Keys puts them behind one door, sequenced correctly, and starts with the question that decides everything else: what can you actually borrow?
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8steps, from first call to possession day
9professions coordinated through one office
300+lenders accessible through Asim Ali's brokerage
120days: the longest rate hold on a pre-approval
Why one window
How does one-window home buying work in BC?
Most purchases that fall apart in British Columbia fall apart because the steps happened in the wrong order: showings before a mortgage pre-approval, subject removal before written lender approval, a conveyancer booked the week of completion. One window fixes the order and keeps one office accountable for the whole file.
See every service and the process diagram- Financing firstA mortgage pre-approval sets your price range, deposit and subject period before you see a single home.
- The right professional at the right stageRealtor, inspector, lawyer or notary introduced when they add value, with your file already prepared.
- Licensed and verifiedEvery professional is regulated by their own body in BC and checked on the public register before an introduction.
- One file, start to finishThe mortgage broker is the only professional involved from the first call to funding and renewal, so that office coordinates everyone.
The journey
What are the stages of buying a home in BC?
Eight stages in the order they should happen. Each names the professional who leads it. Scroll sideways, or read the full stage-by-stage guide.
Stage one →
02
Mortgage broker
Mortgage pre-approval
Documents checked, credit pulled once, rate hold secured for up to 120 days, pre-approval letter issued.
03
Realtor
The search
A licensed buyer's agent shows homes, pulls comparable sales and gathers strata documents and title.
04
Realtor and home inspector
The offer and subject period
Contract of purchase and sale with subjects for financing, inspection, strata documents and insurance.
05
Mortgage broker and appraiser
Financing and approval
Full application, appraisal, mortgage default insurance if under 20 per cent down, lender commitment, subject removal.
06
Lawyer or notary public
Legal and closing
Title search, mortgage registration, property transfer tax, statement of adjustments, signing.
07
Realtor and lawyer or notary
Completion, possession and keys
Funds transfer and title registers on completion day; your realtor hands over the keys on possession day.
08
Mortgage broker
After the keys
Renewal review, refinancing, secondary suite or laneway financing, the next property.
The broker behind the window
Asim Ali, Mortgage Broker, Surrey BC
Asim Ali is a mortgage broker licensed in British Columbia and Alberta, working from Dominion Lending Centres A.I.M.I. Collective Mortgage Group in Surrey. His office arranges purchase, refinance, self-employed, construction, private and commercial mortgages through banks, credit unions, monoline and private lenders, and coordinates every other professional a buyer needs.
Canadian Mortgage Professional Top 75 Brokers, 2026Surrey, serving the Lower Mainland
About Asim and this site
Mortgage pre-approval before showingsSo the realtor works a real price range and the offer is credible.
Written lender approval before subject removalSo your deposit is never at risk on a verbal yes.
Lawyer or notary engaged weeks before completionSo funds, title and property transfer tax are ready on the day.
Renewal review six months before your term endsSo the whole market is compared, not just one lender's letter.
Guides
Answers buyers in BC search for
Straight answers to the questions that come up at each step, written by Asim Ali for Lower Mainland buyers and updated as rules change.
See all 21 answers
Step 1 · Mortgage broker
How much house can I afford in BC?
Short answer: A mortgage broker answers this in one conversation by reviewing income, credit, down payment and debts against the federal stress test, which qualifies you at the higher of 5.25 per cent or your contract rate plus 2 percentage points. The result is a realistic price range before you look at homes.
Find your number
Step 2 · Pre-approval
What documents do I need for a mortgage pre-approval in BC?
Government photo ID, recent pay stubs and T4s, or two years of tax returns and notices of assessment if you are self-employed, plus 90 days of statements showing your down payment or a gift letter. A broker checks them before any lender sees them.
Step 6 · Lawyer or notary
Lawyer or notary public for a BC home purchase?
Either. In British Columbia both real estate lawyers and notaries public can close a standard residential purchase. Choose a lawyer if the file involves a dispute, an estate, a separation or a private lender.
Step 7 · Key day
Completion date vs possession date: what is the difference?
On the completion date money transfers to the seller and title registers in your name at the Land Title Office. On the possession date, usually one or two days later, your realtor hands you the keys.
Updated 2 November 2026.
Open the window
Tell us where you are. We take it from there.
One short form. Asim Ali's office replies within one business day, confirms your stage, and lines up the next professional you need.
- No cost to you for using Thought to Keys.
- No obligation to use any professional we introduce.
- No rate quoted here; your rate, APR and term come in writing on your own application.
Thank you. Your message is in. Asim Ali's office will reach out within one business day. If you would rather call, the number is 604-591-3590.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about cost, choice and who you are dealing with.
Does it cost anything to use Thought to Keys?
No. Mortgage brokers in Canada are usually paid by the lender when a mortgage funds; where any fee would apply, for example on a private mortgage, it is disclosed in writing before you commit. The other professionals charge their own fees directly to you and quote them up front.
Do I have to use the professionals you introduce?
No. You can bring your own realtor, lawyer or inspector at any stage and we will coordinate with them. The introductions are there for people who do not already have someone they trust.
Who is my point of contact?
Asim Ali's office in Surrey. One phone number and one email for the whole journey, with each professional looped in at their stage.
Are you a real estate brokerage or a law firm?
No. Thought to Keys is operated by a licensed mortgage brokerage. Realtors, lawyers and notaries you meet through this site are independent, separately licensed businesses. We do not trade in real estate or give legal advice.
Why does the process start with a mortgage broker instead of a realtor?
Because the lender's answer sets your price range, your deposit, your subject period and sometimes which properties you can buy at all. Starting with a realtor means shopping for homes you may not be able to finance.
Which areas do you serve?
Asim Ali's office is in Surrey and works with buyers across the Lower Mainland and British Columbia, including Langley, Delta, White Rock, Abbotsford, Burnaby and Vancouver, and is also licensed in Alberta.
Let's get started
Realtor, lawyer, notary, inspector or appraiser?
Join the window. Referrals arrive financing-ready, with the client already at the right stage.
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