Kamloops sits at the crossroads of two major highways and two rivers, which explains why it’s become BC’s unofficial “Tournament Capital of Canada.” The city hosts over 100 sporting events annually, from hockey championships to rodeos, creating a steady stream of visitors who often return as residents or property buyers.
The numbers tell a compelling story for mortgage professionals. With nearly 98,000 residents and 8.4% growth since 2016, Kamloops has the economic diversity that smaller BC communities often lack. Healthcare employs 15.6% of the workforce, retail trade another 13.6%, and construction rounds out the top three at 9%. This isn’t a one-industry town vulnerable to commodity price swings.
Thompson Rivers University anchors the local economy while Sun Peaks Resort—just 45 minutes away—drives vacation property demand. The ski hill attracts buyers from Vancouver and Calgary who want weekend retreats, creating a secondary market that supports property values year-round.
Here’s what makes Kamloops different: it’s large enough to have real amenities (multiple hospitals, shopping centers, cultural venues) but small enough that 42.5% of residents commute less than 15 minutes to work. The median household income of $88,000 supports a housing market where half the homes are single-detached houses, exactly what most borrowers want.
The climate’s improving too—literally. Kamloops moved up a full plant hardiness zone between 1990 and 2020, meaning longer growing seasons and more appealing weather for retirees fleeing harsher climates.
For mortgage brokers, Kamloops represents the sweet spot: big enough for steady deal flow, diverse enough for economic stability, and attractive enough for strong resale values. Our maximum LTV here is 70%, reflecting the city’s solid fundamentals and our confidence in the local market.
Mortgage Product Name | Max LTV | Key Notes for Kamloops |
---|---|---|
Construction Mortgages | 65.0% | Standard product terms |
Credit Repair and Debt Consolidation | 65.0% | Standard product terms |
Variable Income | 70.0% | Standard product terms |
Bare Land and Unique Properties | 65.0% | Standard product terms |
Bridge Financing/Fully Open Term | 70.0% | Standard product terms |
Commercial | 60.0% | Standard product terms |
Development/Subdivisions | 50.0% | Standard product terms |
Equity Lending | 70.0% | Standard product terms |
Purchases | 70.0% | Standard product terms |
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Construction Mortgages in Kamloops:
65.0 %
“Wait, you’re a MIC that actually does construction?”
Here’s something that makes brokers do a double-take. Yes, we do construction mortgages. No, that’s not a typo.
But before you start sending us your client with the 580 credit score who wants to build their dream home, let’s be clear: these aren’t your typical MIC deals. We only do construction for bankable clients. People the banks would ...
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Credit Repair and Debt Consolidation in Kamloops:
65.0 %
“Their credit report reads like a horror novel, but the house was just renovated and is worth a lot…”
Here’s what happens when life takes a wrong turn. A bad business venture. Workplace Injury. That divorce that dragged on for two years. Suddenly your credit score looks like a batting average and the banks won’t even return your calls.
But here’s the thing – none of that changes what your ho...
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Variable Income in Kamloops:
70.0 %
“Their income is all over the map, but there’s definitely income…”
Here’s a funny thing about lending based on Line 15000 of your Notice of Assessment: It’s a neat little box to underwrite against. Works great if you’re a salaried employee. Not so great if you’re running a fishing charter in Campbell River where thres fishing season, and the rest of the year.
We get it. Income isn’t always ti...
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Bare Land and Unique Properties in Kamloops:
65.0 %
“The appraisal came back as ‘property type: other’…”
Here’s a truth about real estate that nobody wants to admit: not everything fits in a box. Banks have boxes. Nice, tidy boxes labeled “single family home” and “condo” and “townhouse.” Their computer systems literally don’t have a dropdown menu option for “converted church with commercial kitchen” or “geodesic dome on 40 acres.”
We’ve funded...
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Bridge Financing/Fully Open Term in Kamloops:
70.0 %
“Subjects came off their current home last week but their new place closes Friday…”
Here’s a funny thing about bridge financing: everyone thinks it’s complicated. It’s not. Someone needs to close on their new house before their old house sells. Or their sale fell through after they removed subjects on their dream home. Or they found the perfect downsizer condo but haven’t listed the family hom...
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Commercial in Kamloops:
60.0 %
“We need a commercial mortgage, but we’re in Fort St. James…”
Here’s the thing about being a MIC that lends in tiny towns: sometimes commercial comes with the territory. The general store that’s been there since 1952. The six-plex that passes for high-density housing in Vanderhoof. The campground that’s also someone’s retirement plan.
We’re not going to pretend we love commercial lending. We ...
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Development/Subdivisions in Kamloops:
50.0 %
“Got a client with subdivision dreams? Unfortunately we’ll probably say no…”
Look, we know you’ve got that client. The one with 5 acres in Kamloops who’s convinced they’re sitting on a goldmine once it’s subdivided. They’ve got the sketches. They’ve done the math. They just need a lender who “gets it.”
We get it. We just don’t do it anymore.
After 20 years of funding subdivisions across rura...
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Equity Lending in Kamloops:
70.0 %
“They have tons of equity but don’t qualify under B20…”
Here’s the thing about equity lending: it exists because banks literally can’t do it. B20 guidelines require income verification. Full stop. No wiggle room. No common sense exceptions.
We’re provincially regulated. The funds we lend on come from individual investors, not the Bank of Canada. So when your client has 50% equity but their in...
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Purchases in Kamloops:
70.0 %
Moving is supposed to be exciting. New town, new job, new chapter. So why do banks act like you’re asking for their firstborn when you need a mortgage?
“You haven’t been at your new job for thre months”
“Your self-employment income doesn’t count in a new market.”
“We need to see established a year if you are part time contract - even if you’re working 40 hours under your new role”
Meanwhile...