About This Glossary Wiki
What We Do
This free wiki provides clear, standardized definitions for residential renovation, construction, mortgage, tax and real estate investment terms targeted at United States and Canadian residents. All explanations are based on official industry and government public documents.
We split all glossary entries into two core categories: home renovation & construction terms, and mortgage & property tax finance terms. Every entry supports print and PDF export for offline reference.
Who We Are
WikEst is operated by Northwood Financial Studio, a Calgary-based independent media and consulting collective founded in 2023. Our studio combines financial expertise, real estate insight, and multimedia storytelling to create trusted resources for North American homeowners, investors, and contractors.
Studio Address: 1750 29 Street SW, Unit 1208, Calgary, AB T3E 2H3
Phone: +1 (403) 264-8597
Our Team
Zhanghua Chen
Senior Financial Real Estate Agent
Zhanghua brings over 15 years of experience in North American real estate and financial consulting. A licensed REALTOR® in both Alberta and California, he has helped hundreds of clients navigate cross-border property investments and understand the tax implications of real estate transactions. Zhanghua holds a Master's in Finance from the University of Calgary and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
Berry Kim
Media Director & Content Strategist
Berry is a former financial journalist with a decade of experience covering personal finance and tax policy for major publications including The Financial Post and MoneySense Magazine. As our Media Director, she ensures our content is accurate, accessible, and engaging for readers of all backgrounds.
Alex Chen
Tax Analyst & CPA
Alex is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with specialization in both US and Canadian tax law. Prior to joining Northwood Financial Studio, he worked for a Big Four accounting firm where he advised multinational corporations on cross-border tax compliance.
Lisa Wang
Software Engineer & UX Designer
Lisa is a full-stack developer with a background in both computer science and economics. She designs calculators that balance mathematical precision with user-friendly interfaces, with expertise in building privacy-first applications.
Our Target Audience
- Homeowners planning renovation or property purchase
- House flip investors & rental property landlords
- Residential contractors, construction workers & interior designers
- Immigrant residents (English, Spanish, French, Chinese Simplified & Traditional support)
Reference Standards & Data Sources
All term definitions refer to public official resources including NAHB, IRS, CMHC, local US state housing departments and Canadian provincial construction regulations. You can view full source list on our Sources page.
Check Full Reference Sources