Trail sits where the Columbia River meets the Kootenay region, and it’s got character that runs deeper than most BC towns its size. This isn’t your typical mountain community — it’s built on industry, shaped by one of North America’s largest zinc and lead smelters, and home to people who appreciate both steady work and world-class recreation.
The Teck smelter has anchored this town for over a century, creating a stability you don’t find everywhere. Sure, manufacturing dependency carries risks, but Trail’s workforce knows how to adapt. Healthcare employs 16% of residents, retail another 15%, and the median age of 49.6 years tells you something important: people stick around here.
What makes Trail different is how it balances industrial heritage with outdoor paradise. The Columbia River Trail draws cyclists from across North America — it’s part of the longest rail-to-trail conversion on the continent. Mountain biking, hiking, and year-round recreation keep residents active, while the warming climate (they’ve gained a full plant hardiness zone since the 1960s) makes outdoor living even more appealing.
Housing here is refreshingly straightforward: 70% single-family homes, reasonable prices, and a market that doesn’t swing wildly with Vancouver’s mood swings. The population has grown modestly but consistently, and with nearly 28% of residents over 65, there’s a retirement-friendly vibe that attracts people seeking affordability without isolation.
For brokers working with clients who need equity-based solutions, Trail offers solid fundamentals. Properties hold value, the community has staying power, and our 60% maximum LTV provides the safety margin that makes sense in a resource-dependent economy. Trail isn’t flashy, but it’s real — and that’s exactly what some borrowers need.
the Nearest Costco
Our Mortgage Products Available in Trail
| Mortgage Product Name | Max LTV | Key Notes for Trail |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Mortgages | 60.0% | Standard product terms |
| Credit Repair and Debt Consolidation | 60.0% | Standard product terms |
| Variable Income | 60.0% | Standard product terms |
| Bare Land and Unique Properties | 60.0% | Standard product terms |
| Bridge Financing/Fully Open Term | 60.0% | Standard product terms |
| Equity Lending | 60.0% | Standard product terms |
| Purchases | 60.0% | Standard product terms |
Detailed Mortgage Product Information
Construction Mortgages
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Construction Mortgages in Trail:
60.0 %
“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 ...
Credit Repair and Debt Consolidation
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Credit Repair and Debt Consolidation in Trail:
60.0 %
“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...
Variable Income
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Variable Income in Trail:
60.0 %
“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...
Bare Land and Unique Properties
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Bare Land and Unique Properties in Trail:
60.0 %
“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...
Bridge Financing/Fully Open Term
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Bridge Financing/Fully Open Term in Trail:
60.0 %
“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...
Equity Lending
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Equity Lending in Trail:
60.0 %
“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...
Purchases
Maximum Loan-to-Value (LTV) for Purchases in Trail:
60.0 %
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...