Language

I am not talking about you being a potty mouth but the actual language and words that you use to communicate. More precisely I want to reference to what the US Fed chair Jerome Powell said at their most recent meeting this week. While Canada and the US are two distinct countries, we are pretty much joined at the hip economically.

When the US Federal Reserve met this week they increased their overnight lending rate by 75 basis points vs the 50 basis points increase from the Bank of Canada recently. The important part is what the Fed Chair said as part of his announcement, he said ” There is significant uncertainty around that level of interest rates & we still have some ways to go, and incoming data since our last meeting suggests that the ultimate level of interest rates will be higher than previously expected”.

So while the inflation rate in both are countries is dropping, we are currently at 6.9% here in Canada vs the high of 8.1% back in June and the US is at 8.2% vs their high of 9.1%. These are both off the target rate of 2%. The next key measure will be when the US announces their inflation rate for the month of November next Thursday. A large decrease will take the press of any oversized rate increases and if it still remains stubbornly high then more drastic measure may be in order.

While I love the flexibility of the variable rate, it may soon be time to lock in for some stability to prevent any future rate increases. Give me a call and see if it is something that you should consider.

Today I am thankful for a very productive week and all the great people I got to meet face to face, receiving great reviews online from my clients and for my Dad who always made sure that we used proper grammar as he said that proper use of language is important to being understood.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.

Patrick

p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.

p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2022-3000179) Broker (2022-3000180), Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here

Take your lumps

Well the Bank of Canada gave us our lumps yesterday, another rate increase of 50bps. It’s our medicine and we have to take it so we can start to win this war against inflation. The increase wasn’t as bad as many had expected, I don’t think that it was due to any outside political pressure but the fact that the inflation rate has been dropping. It is just not shrinking as quickly as the Bank needs it to as it is still quite the distance from the 2% target.

While it is true that many people survived the lock downs with much higher cash reserves and then went out and bought new homes and new cars and went on vacations. While so many did this it created a market frenzy and drove up prices on homes, back orders for vehicles and long lines at airports and passport offices. While much of this is now over, the results of all this activity which is prolonged inflation is still hanging with us.

The sooner that we can take our lumps and reduce our discretionary spending the faster the inflationary rate will return to normal. The truth is that spending money is so much easier than saving it, as we don’t get the same feeling when we are cutting back and saving as we do when we are putting the key in the door to our new home or driving off the lot with our new vehicle. However the satisfaction we will get when we all do our part will be worth it.

Today I am thankful for the run that was completed when I really didn’t want to do it today, lenders that go the extra mile so we can make things happen for clients and a little pain today for a long term gain.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.

Patrick

p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.

p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2021-3000179) Broker (2021-3000180), Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here

The Fine Print

The Bank of Canada will come out with their latest interest rate announcement at 10am eastern or 11am here in the Maritimes. While many of us are expecting at least a 75bps increase to the overnight lending rate, the real meat and potatoes will be in the press release from the meeting.

The devil truly is in the details, as the fourth quarter monetary policy is also announced today. The Bank will give details on whether it thinks that the current and past rate increases are doing what they were supposed to do and if more are necessary. While it is true that the overall inflationary rate is decreasing, it is just not coming down fast enough. It decreased by .1% to 6.9% this month, while the target rate is 2%. We still have a ways to go to get there.

Many economists are predicting a recession for 2023 and more rate increases will defiantly be pushing us in that direction. What we don’t know is the length or severity of the pull back to our economy and other major economies as well. We need to proactively cut back our discretionary spending before spending cuts and job losses are thrust upon us. What the Bank of Canada is doing is beyond our control but whether we decide to eat out or make supper at home is totally up to us.

Today I am thankful for the chance to connect with friends that I haven’t spoken with in months, new connections with new idea’s to improve my effectiveness and helping people see the best way forward.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.

Patrick

p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.

p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2021-3000179) Broker (2021-3000180), Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here

Expectations

Does the expectation of an unpleasant event make the experience worse? Does the boxer feel it less than the guy who got sucker punched at the bar? Having emergency surgery any less painful than the one that has been planned months in advance? Getting let go from your job that you have worked at for years any less painful than suddenly quitting?

The economists have been talking the impending rate increase by the central bankers since the last big one in September. Will this make it any less painful if we expect at 75basis point increase vs it coming out of the blue! Will we feel any different about a recession if they have been talking about it for months?

Either way it will be best is we prepare for the worst case scenario. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Start now by cutting back your expenses, fund your emergency reserve and lower your debt payments as much as possible. The anxiety and expectation of a pending unfortunate event may be worse than the event itself but it’s still better to be prepared.

Today I am thankful for the sound of the rain when I got up this morning, the ability to be able to continue to share my thoughts with you and the opportunities of a new week ahead.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.

Patrick

p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.

p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2021-3000179) Broker (2021-3000180), Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here

Plan Ahead

Now that my annual filing is complete for my license here in NS, it’s time to shift the focus from the past and plan for a prosperous future. That’s not to say that the past year wasn’t good, it was, however like with anything in life the goal is to constantly improve.

The standards that the province put into place last year gave me a view of my business that I had not seen before. It was both startling and eye opening. It is sort of like when your doctor asks you to step on the scale during your annual check up. Part of you wants to know and part of you doesn’t.

The best way to plan for changes ahead is to get an accurate picture of exactly where you stand. You want to make more money then you should know how much you currently make, want to spend less then you need to know how much you are currently spending, want to lose weight then know what is your current weight, you want to improve your business then know exactly where you stand today regarding your current sales & expenses.

Knowing a clear picture of where you stand today is half the battle, then it’s up to you to decide how much you want to improve and be dedicated to the work that is required to get there. You can’t improve what you can’t measure. This is why I like digital marketing, you know exactly where your clicks or leads come from compared to your ad spend. You can’t get that from a billboard or a bus sign.

Today I am thankful for my persistent friend who got me out for a bike ride today, the four hours I spent yesterday getting my annual filing complete and receiving confirmation that I am now approved and ready to go for another year.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.

Patrick

p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.

p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2021-3000179) Broker (2021-3000180), Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here

To Stay or go?

Most of us are familiar with the classic song by The Clash ” Should I stay or should I go”. Well right now that applies to those of us in variable rate mortgages. There has been a lot of nervousness about staying in a variable rate and riding out the Bank of Canada rate announcements or bailing and going for a fixed rate.

There are a few things that you should look at if you are deciding to convert to a fixed rate.

  1. What is your current discount to the prime rate, and is the rate for a comparable fixed rate higher than what you are currently paying.
  2. Look at your mortgage statement and see if you are still paying interest & principal. If you’re not because of the recent rate increases it may be time to either increase your payments or consider the switch.
  3. Lastly it boils down to peace of mind. If you are comfortable with rate movements ( there may still be more) and you like the flexibility then stick with it. Otherwise if you are stressing about it then for your own good it may be time to convert to the fixed.

As with all the advise that I provide to my clients regarding mortgage financing, I can only provide the options for you to consider as at the end of the day it’s up to you decide what you want to do.

Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go, there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know…… 3rd verse from should I stay or should I go which is somehow appropriate when considering your mortgage options.

Today I am thankful for the warm and windy morning, colleagues who are available to help when challenges need to be brainstormed and early morning calls from my daughter telling us about her day.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.

Patrick

p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.

p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2021-3000179) Broker (2021-3000180), Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here

Market Place

Just this past week CBC Marketplace did an episode on mortgage fraud. To me it showed the lengths that some people would go to get a commission as the instances he demonstrated were initiated by the realtor in cahoots with a dishonest mortgage broker/bank mortgage specialist.

Just so everyone knows we are in a 100% commission business so we get compensated when our files close. If you are ever in a situation where someone in our industry ( realtor or mortgage) tries to show you a short cut then run in the other direction. I don’t personally need a commission bad enough that I would jeopardize my 20 year career.

I also want to offer a little clarity on fee’s. Yes there are times when it is necessary to charge a fee to successfully complete a mortgage transaction. However the majority of fee’s I charge are success fee’s, which means that the fee is only charged when the file has funded ( on alternative & commercial files). The other instance is for a complicated commercial file where a nominal fee may be charge upfront upon signing the fee’ agreement so the file can be prepared for the lender. That’s it, so if someone says they can help you but wants to be paid a substantial amount upfront then that is a clear sign to go the other direction.

Today I am thankful for the people in my industry who are honest and hardworking, CBC Marketplace for doing a great job on sensitive topic and that my referral partners and clients a top notch honest people.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.

Patrick

p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.

p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2021-3000179) Broker (2021-3000180), Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here

Market Mimic

Canada and the United Stated are pretty much joined at the hip economically. Whatever happens to our neighbours can soon be mimicked in our economy. So while their overall inflationary rate decreased to 8.2 in Sept from 8.3 in August, when you take out the two largest contributors which are energy & food you get core inflation which is now at 6.3% or the highest rate since 1982.

What this means is that the central bankers are pretty much locked in to rate increases in Nov & Dec. Predictions at this point at 75 basis points for each, however sometimes we don’t know the result till it actually happens. So as I have been saying in my recent posts, it’s time to tighten your belts and reign in your excess spending so you can limit the effects of the impending recession.

Just so you know for some reference, when core inflation is stabilized it is running just over 2%. We have a ways to go to there and most economists are predicting a bumpy road to get to that desired result.

Today I am thankful for a great week home with my girls, an energizing garage workout this morning and finding common ground with a new contact immediately upon meeting.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.

Patrick

p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.

p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2021-3000179) Broker (2021-3000180), Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here

Recession Proof

With all the talk about an upcoming recession in 2023, now is the best time to prepare for the effects of a shrinking economy. While there may not be much you can do to influence the overall economy, there is plenty that you can do to influence your own personal finances.

  • Make sure that you have an emergency fund of at least 90 days of your personal expenses in the event of employment interruption. The best way to do this is to be using YNAB.
  • Sorry to those who work in restaurants & hospitality, but cut back or eliminate unneeded trips and meals out.
  • Trim back or eliminate streaming services that you no longer use, sorry Netflix.
  • Workouts at home were all the rage during the lockdown and may soon be again once people cut back on time spent at the gym.
  • Keep your credit score high by making sure that all your obligations are paid in full and on time.
  • Diversifying your income by taking on a side hustle if possible
  • Keep your debts to a minimum
  • Update your skills so that you are more desirable in the workforce
  • If self employed then 10X your efforts to grow your business by radically increasing your prospecting and client management.

We don’t all feel the same effects of an economic downturn, but if you’re prepared then the effects will be much less severe on you personally. The economy is constantly changing and a downturn next year may also be followed by economic growth the following year. Be prepared for the changes ahead so you can adjust accordingly.

Today I am thankful for the 5K run with my neighbour when I really didn’t feel like going, that my wife is an amazing home cook and that some of the best food I have ever eaten was here at home.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.

Patrick

p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.

p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2021-3000179) Broker (2021-3000180), Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here

Spoiled Rotten

We have been spoiled rotten with the rock bottom low interest rates that we have had for the past 15 or so years. I am reminded of this fact now that the five year discounted rate is 5.14%. However this sill pales in comparison to high rates of the mid 80’s at 16 or 17%.

People keep asking me when do I see rates coming back down. Well if you listen to the central bankers like Tif Macklem who is the head of the Bank of Canada, it’s going to keep going up before it comes back down. This is because our overall inflation rate is till too high. With the last monthly report from August which had us at 7%. Yes it is coming back down from it’s record high this summer, it’s just not coming back to earth fast enough.

All this means that we will have to suffer out with higher interest rates until the inflation rate comes back down. So the sooner we can reduce our spending, the less action the Bank of Canada will have to take to force us to tighten our belts. Buckle up, it may be a bumpy ride for the next 6-12 months.

Today I am thankful for a trip to the valley with my wife and daughters yesterday to celebrate their birthday, having them home during their reading week from university and the perspective that things are not as out of control as they were in the 80’s.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to your mortgage needs.

Patrick

p.s- You can click on this link to start the process whenever you are ready. Schedule your meeting with me here.

p.s.s- I should tell you that I am licensed in Nova Scotia Brokerage (2021-3000179) Broker (2021-3000180), Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

p.s.s.s You can download my new mortgage app here