Your Personal Shopper for Life’s Biggest Purchase

What mortgage broker Tanya Rogalczyk wants every woman to know before she buys her next home

Presented by Tanya Rogalczyk – Simply Mortgages with Maximal Mortgages Inc (DLC).

Interview by Rachel Stewart, Co-Founder & Content Director

It’s 10:00 AM on a rainy Friday morning, and Tanya Rogalczyk and I are already laughing. Unplanned, we’ve both shown up makeup-free, in comfy clothes, and cradling oversized mugs. We’re on Google Meet, and already, our meeting feels less like an interview and more like catching up with a friend. It was the kind of conversation where you lose track of time, and forget you had an agenda. 

Tanya is a mortgage broker and founder of Simply Mortgages with Dominion Lending Centres Maximal Mortgages, which means she spends her days helping people navigate one of the most loaded, emotionally charged financial decisions of their lives. But talking to her, you’d never feel the weight of that. She has a rare ability to make a fixed-rate versus variable conversation feel like something you’d actually want to have – preferably over a cup of tea. 

We came together to talk about the current housing market, mortgage myths, and why getting a mortgage might be simpler than you think. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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RACHEL:  You’ve been in the financial industry for over 20 years, moved from Ontario, are raising two boys, and are running your own business in Central Alberta. How’d you get here? 

TANYA: When I moved to Alberta, I got into the banking industry, working my way up through customer service management before pivoting into lending after a move from Calgary to Innisfail. When I was pregnant with our youngest, we were looking for our first home and I heard an ad for mortgage brokers. Something clicked. I wanted things to be less black and white. Just because the bank said no didn’t mean it made sense. By that time, I had learned more about how different files work, so I  became a Mortgage Broker , and eventually built Simply Mortgages , and never looked back. The goal from day one was to be home for my kids, and it’s worked out perfectly. 

RACHEL: What made you go all-in on mortgages specifically?

TANYA: I just love problem solving and finding solutions that make numbers work for people – making their payments more affordable or helping them get out of a situation that doesn’t feel like a fit for them. I could have stayed at the bank, but I knew there were more ways to help, more options, and more flexibility. That’s what the mortgage broker side gave me.

RACHEL: How do people know that it’s the right time to buy their first (or second!) property? 

TANYA: It really depends on the person. No two clients or two mortgages are alike. I think about housing as something that shifts with wherever you are in life. You might dream of a $600,000 home, but right now, a $300,000 starter home might be the smarter move because it gets your foot in the door, and builds equity that you can use to make your next purchase. On the flip side, I have clients who are ready to downsize now that the kids are gone and want less space and financial weight. That’s just as valid. That’s why every introduction call I have with a client starts with the same questions: what are your goals, and where do you see yourself in the next couple of years? Their answers shape everything, even which rate we choose. 

RACHEL: In your view, what’s happening in Alberta’s real estate market right now that people might not know about? 

TANYA: Home values have gone up considerably over the last couple of years, which means a lot of homeowners are sitting on equity they might not realize they have. I’m seeing clients who are locked in at 2% who are now worried about their renewal payments, but when we look at their equity, refinancing can be a smart strategy. We can lower their monthly payments and use that equity to pay off high-stress debt. And for buyers? It’s still a great time to get in, because values should keep growing. 

RACHEL: I imagine affordability comes up in almost every conversation. How do you navigate that? 

TANYA: I collect all the paperwork upfront, and from there we have a really open conversation about what’s realistic. The calculation is based on what income is coming in and what expenses are  going out. I always ask clients what they feel they can comfortably afford, because just because the numbers say you qualify for a $600,000 mortgage doesn’t mean that’s the right mortgage for you. If your goal is to travel and not be tied to a big payment every month, we need to know that. We always strategize to find options for each situation, even if it means revisiting the mortgage conversation in six months to a year. 

RACHEL: This takes me back to when I bought my Calgary apartment in 2018. I was just turning 30, single, and not entirely sure I could pull it off. Hearing my broker confirm I qualified on my own income was a very proud moment. (The man I’d marry showed up and moved in a few months later, but that’s another story). 

So many people are loyal to their bank, likely having had a checking account at the same place since they were teenagers. Why should they call you instead? 

TANYA: Think of me as your personal Mortgage shopper. I’m comparing rates across 50 lenders so you don’t have to go bank to bank. But it’s not always just about the rate, either. Different lenders have different guidelines , It’s about finding the lender that actually fits the client’s full financial picture. And beyond that, accessibility matters. Brokers don’t keep the stereotypical “9 to 5” hours that a bank does, and the whole process can be handled completely remotely if that’s what works for you. 

RACHEL: If your best friend texted you tomorrow and said “I think I want to buy a house, I have no idea where to start,” what would you say? 

TANYA: No problem, let’s get your paperwork together and get you prequalified. That first step matters more than people realize. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than a client who comes in thinking they make $100,000 a year, and when we run the actual numbers, it’s closer to $80,000. It happens more than you’d think. Getting an accurate preapproval number means you know exactly what your budget is so you can shop with confidence. 

RACHEL: What mortgage myth makes you want to flip a table? 

TANYA: One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that you automatically need 20% down to buy a second property. In reality, if the new property will be owner occupied, there are situations where buyers may qualify with as little as 5% down, even if they already own another home.

A lot of homeowners use this as a long term real estate strategy. Rather than selling their current home, they may choose to keep it as a rental and purchase their next home as their new primary residence. Over time, this can help them build equity and grow their real estate holdings gradually.

It’s also something first time buyers should think about early. Starting with a smaller starter home can create opportunities later on to move into a larger property while potentially keeping the original home as an investment, depending on their financial position and qualification at the time.

RACHEL: That’s the goal for this apartment, actually. My husband and I dream of a detached house with a guest room, a bigger kitchen, and a dog. He wants a Saint Bernard, so we’d like a yard, too. We’ll get there…

TANYA: And that’s exactly what I love about this job — hearing people’s goals and their dreams, and being able to say: let’s make it happen. When a dream is tied to finances, it can feel so much further away than it really is. 

I also talk to clients about how even when you get a bigger home, like a three-level split with a bedroom upstairs and a basement downstairs, you’re likely going to spend most of your time in the main area, so bigger isn’t necessarily better. At least that’s been my experience! Every home I’ve lived in, most of my time is spent on the main floor with my family. 

RACHEL: What about the myth that you have to use the mortgage broker that your realtor recommends?

TANYA: You don’t, but clients do feel that pressure. What I’d caution against is switching brokers mid-process without a good reason. If I’ve been working with a client and they suddenly move to a different broker, that new broker doesn’t know what we’ve already done, and now there are multiple people pulling their credit, which can actually hurt them. So: you have every right to choose your own broker, but choose early and stay consistent. 

RACHEL: And debt – do you need to be debt-free to quality?

TANYA: No. We factor all your payments into the equation. Sometimes if someone has a loan at $400 a month and it’s almost paid off, I’ll suggest taking a few months to clear it because it significantly increases their buying power. But sometimes carrying that debt alongside a mortgage is desired, and we figure out how to make it work. It’s always case by case.

I find people assume getting a mortgage, especially when you have debt, is harder than it is. The subject overall feels intimidating, so they avoid it altogether. But any property, whether you’re a landlord or not, is an investment. Everything I’ve been reading lately points to real estate as one of the best ways to build a legacy: as you pay it down, the value goes up, and there’s more money to be gained on the property. 

RACHEL: I’ll admit, I’m one of those intimidated people. Every time my mortgage comes up for renewal, I over-prepare, and the moment someone asks me something I don’t immediately know, I freeze. Why do you think it feels so daunting?

TANYA: I think it comes down to the fact that we just don’t talk about money in Canadian culture. So when a mortgage, new or renewed, comes up, this big, high-cost transaction, it feels like you’re supposed to already know everything, and you don’t. But that’s what I’m here for. You should be able to trust your mortgage broker the way you trust any other professional in your life. I wouldn’t be able to do your job, so why should you feel pressured to do mine? 

And if you forgot something, you could just text me and I’d remind you!

RACHEL: For the reader whose mortgage renewal is coming up, what do they need to know that they probably don’t? 

TANYA: Start earlier than you think you need to. At Simply Mortgages, we reach out to our clients seven months before their renewal, and the worst thing they can do is let those emails sit. Rates can shift dramatically in that window. No one expected the war in Iran earlier this year, and fixed rates went from 3.79% to 4.44% practically overnight. It can work the other way too and we might lock in at a higher rate, and then rates drop. We’re watching their file the entire time. No one can predict the future, but we can think about it.   

RACHEL: Imagine someone is reading ROSE Magazine over their morning coffee, and they think, “okay, I’m ready to take that next step”. What do you want her to know? 

TANYA: I’d want her to know that the first step is just a conversation. Reach out to me in whatever way feels comfortable. We have remote and in-person options, whatever works. I call it the introductory call: we get to know each other, talk through her goals, and take it from there. Simple as that. 

BIO

Tanya brings over 20 years of experience in the financial industry and a strong track record of success. Originally from Ontario, she now proudly calls Alberta home, where she and her husband stay busy raising their two boys. The family is active year-round — chasing their boys in golf.

Tanya’s career is marked by excellence, including recognition as one of the Top 50 Mortgage Professionals in Canada (Monthly Funded Mortgages, 2025), Top 2% Nationwide in 2025 , and a DLC Hall of Fame Award Recipient in 2024. Known for her in-depth knowledge of the mortgage market and client-first approach, Tanya is committed to making the mortgage process smooth, clear, and stress-free for every client.

IG – tanya.simplymortgages

Website: www.simply-mortgages.ca

Email: info@tanya-simplymortgages.ca

Book A Call: calendly.com/simplymortgages/30min