Taylor

Let’s talk about Taylor, British Columbia—a small town with a big personality tucked away in the Peace River region. This isn’t your typical bustling city or cookie-cutter suburb. Taylor’s a place where the landscape is as rugged as the folks who call it home, and for mortgage brokers and borrowers alike, it’s a hidden gem worth understanding if you’re navigating alternative financing in BC’s smaller communities.

First off, what makes Taylor stand out? It’s got a tight-knit vibe with just over 1,300 residents, nestled along the Peace River with views that’ll make you pause mid-conversation. Think Peace Island Park, a local spot where families gather for picnics and fishing, soaking in the raw beauty of the area. But beyond the scenery, Taylor’s got a unique housing mix—nearly half the dwellings here are movable homes, which isn’t something you see everywhere. For borrowers, this can mean affordable entry points into homeownership, especially if you’re eyeing something unconventional. And for brokers, it’s a heads-up that deals here might need a lender like Tekamar Mortgage Fund who gets creative with property types.

Now, let’s get real about the numbers without drowning in them. Taylor’s median household income is solid, sitting around $105,000, with resource industries like oil, gas, and forestry driving the local economy. But here’s the catch—unemployment hovers higher than you’d like at over 12%. That volatility means borrowers might face income hiccups, making equity lending a lifeline for those who don’t tick every box at a traditional bank. Brokers, this is where we shine at Tekamar. With our focus on equity over income testing, we’re often the “yes” when others say “no”—especially in towns like Taylor where we cap our loan-to-value at a cautious 50% to keep risks in check.

Why the conservative LTV? It’s simple. Taylor’s market isn’t as liquid as, say, Kelowna. If a property goes into distress, selling could take 6-9 months, sometimes longer, with discounts eating into recovery. We’ve seen it happen in resource-heavy towns—when the economy wobbles, so does real estate. But that’s exactly why we exist. Our tagline, “We’ll lend where other MICs won’t,” isn’t just a catchy phrase. We’re built for places like Taylor, steering clear of Vancouver’s overcooked markets to focus on smaller communities across BC. We’re not chasing flashy; we’re chasing safe exits with clear refinance potential for borrowers down the line.

Another thing to chew on: Taylor’s climate is, well, brutal. With a plant hardiness zone of 3b, it’s not exactly a retiree’s paradise. That shapes who buys here—mostly younger, working families tied to local industries, not vacation home hunters. For borrowers, that means less competition for properties, potentially snagging a deal. Brokers, it also means your clients might need a lender who understands niche markets and isn’t scared off by a little frost.

So, whether you’re a borrower looking to plant roots in Taylor or a broker hunting for a flexible MIC, we’ve got your back at Tekamar. We’ve been at this for over 20 years, lending in towns without stoplights, and we’re ready to chat about your next deal. Taylor’s not for everyone, but for the right fit, it’s a place—and a market—with serious potential.