Track It

In today’s modern world there is data for everything, from your daily steps, calories consumed, money saved or spent, distance ran or biked to amount of sleep. It has often been said that you can’t change what you don’t track. This goes for everything from your weight, your finances, your fitness or your sleep.

If it is important to you then you should be keeping track of it on a regular basis. In order to improve yourself you first need to know where you stand today and the best way to do that is track your current and past results.

Want to improve your finances then you should be keeping track of how much you make and how you spend it. Start first with recording everything for a week, incoming and outgoing. For any change to happen you need to know your baseline. From there you will have the data necessary to make any needed changes.

When you think about it the successful people and companies are using data all the time to improve. From professional golfers, tennis players, baseball, basketball and hockey. They all surround themselves with data all the time, comparing where they are now in their training cycle to where they want to go. Companies do this as well so they know how well they are doing with the products and services they offer.

So for any change to happen in your life and have it last you first must track it, and use that data to improve your results going forward.

Today I am thankful for my daily reading habit, picking up new ideas and concepts on a daily basis from someone else’s experience and new data from my latest fitness effort on the weekend so I know where I have to improve.

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

Silver Lining

If you are like most people there is probably some part or someone in your life that doesn’t make you happy. If this is the case then it sounds like a little change in perspective is in order. It is so easy to think about all the things that make you mad, that in and of its self is unproductive and will take you toward a no win scenario.

So instead of continuing to think what you don’t like or what’s not working, focus on what you like and what you are grateful for and a whole world of opportunities will open up to you.

Out of shape, be grateful that you now realized this and that it is in your power to do something about it

Too much debt, talk with your creditors if you have to but also realize that you are not alone and plenty of people have been in the same situation and climbed their way out.

Less than ideal relationship with your spouse or kids, start making a list of what you love about them and focus on that instead.

Hate your job, find something that you like about it and focus on that and do it to the best of your ability.

Today I am thankful for a great early morning run with the neighbour after the rain had stopped, quiet house as my kids are all working today and the slower pace of Sunday’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

Self Care

No matter who you are, there all comes a point where we must take care of ourselves. You can’t help friends and family with money if you yourself are experiencing money problems. You can’t help others relax if you yourself are overly stressed. You can’t help friends and family with their health if you yourself are also in poor health.

When we take care of ourselves first, it makes it that much easier to take care of everyone else that is important in our lives. So take care of your money so you can help those you love if it is needed. The same goes for your health, both mental and physical health are equally important.

Don’t feel guilty about taking some time to take care of yourself, we all need to do that from time to time. Even those of us who place the needs of other before our own ( all the Mom’s out there) still need to take breaks to take care of yourself too.

Today I am thankful for a great massage therapy session this morning, expert contractors who are fixing the leak in my office and when my kids are all out of the house at work.

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

Surprise Visit

Would you be ready for a surprise visit to your home if someone showed up unexpectedly. It could be CRA, the local police or heaven forbid your in-laws. I always advise clients when an appraisal is necessary to have your home prepared as if you were having an open house as it will show pride of ownership.

So look around your home now, are there piles of laundry all about the place, dishes piled high in the kitchen and newspapers or periodicals scattered throughout the house. Are you filled with a sense of pride or a dread that anyone would see where you live. You may say that you are too busy to have a clean home or that you like your organized chaos. However there are lots of people who have plenty of kids, work a full time job and still manage to have a clean and tidy home.

I have had clients come to me for financing as they were in a tricky spot and when the lender saw the state of their home that the offer for financing was rescinded. We all have the same 86,000 seconds in a day, it is how we use them that matter the most. Your home does not have to be in a “Better Homes and Gardens” or “Architecture Digest” form, but it should present well enough to show that you care about where you live. This should not matter if you rent or own the property to have a place that you would feel comfortable showing your surprise guests.

Today I am thankful for night time temps that made it very conducive for sleeping, a surprise visit to a prominent citizen that made for very interesting news today and a quick fix for a recent automotive problem.

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

Dog days of Summer

According to the Almanac this is what they have to say about the dog days of summer.

“The term ” Dog Days ” traditionally refers to a period of particularly hot and humid weather occurring during the summer months of July and August in the Northern Hemisphere. In ancient Greece and Rome, the Dog Days were believed to be a time of drought, bad luck, and unrest, when dogs and men alike would be driven mad by the extreme heat!”

The good news is that we only have 3 days left according to them as they normally last from July 3rd to August 11th. I love the hot days but could do with some cool nights.

Today I am thankful for the repair work that is finally happening on my home office, people who show up on time and as promised and finishing a run this morning when all I wanted to do what quit.

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

Be the hero

Be the hero instead of the victim in your own story. Shit happens to all of us, but don’t dwell on it nor focus on it. Acknowledge that it happened, learn from it and move on with your life. Instead focus where you want to go rather than what happened or who hurt you.

People are drawn to those who have a clear vision of where they want to go and what they want to do. Nobody wants to hang around with a woe is me or someone is is constantly the victim. Be the hero and take charge of your own life, make things happen and don’t worry or focus on the things that you can not control or events or circumstances that happened in the past.

Today I am thankful for a great early morning run before it got too hot, an unexpected trip to the valley and last minute change of plans for lunch that turned out to be the best meal out that we have had for a very long time.

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

Challenge Accepted

What I always tell my clients is that, where there is a will there will be a way. There is nothing like the satisfaction from closing a challenging file. I have had many in my years as a broker and they always feel good when you can get them to close. It could be unique and challenging credit situation, particular location or type of property, a unusual income confirmation or any number of things.

I will try any and all legal and ethical ways to get clients files to close. When these challenging files close, irregardless of the mortgage amount there is always a celebration and sigh of relief. There have been commercial files that have take 18 months to close and residential files that have had multiple declines, approvals or submissions before we found one that worked with everyone involved.

Each file is as unique as the people it represents. So solutions have to be tailors to your wants, needs and expectations. The advantage of dealing with a broker is that we have a wide pool of options from many different lenders for our diverse and different clients.

Today I am thankful for the cool breeze that is blowing through my house, the feeling of relief when a challenging file finely closes and the lessons learned by taking on files that make me work harder.

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

Start over

When things aren’t going your way, take this as an opportunity to start over rather than quit. Not everything goes according to plan the first time around and the most successful people in life realize this and are persistent as a result. Learn from what was not working and keep trying until you achieve your desired result.

Also what if anything did you learn if it went well the first time? Not much really, as you learn more from when it didn’t work out and you had to start over and try again. So do not think of all these attempts as failures but rather as learning experiences that make you better and better each day till you finely achieve what you set out for in the first place.

Today I am thankful for all the times I have failed and had to start over, for everything that I have learned along the way that has made me into there person I am today and for those around me who never gave up on me.

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

Better late than never

The good things in life take time. As much as we would like there are no real quick fixes to most of our major challenges in life. There is no pill to take to make you skinny or smarter, and buying lotto tickets is not part of the ideal long term financial plan.

That good month you are having now at work can be traced back to months and months of prospecting and cold calls. The same for your current level of fitness, the early morning workouts that you did even though you didn’t want to get out of bed paid dividends.

So appreciate the fruits of your labours when they finely arrive as you put in the work and you deserve it. When people call you an overnight success they are discounting all the work that you put in to get you were you are today. You did this and good for you.

It takes years of saving to build up an amount for a down payment on a home, and that alone you should celebrate as getting to be a homeowner is better late than never.

Today I am thankful for workmen finely showing at my house to demo my office, my son loving his basketball camp and yes the beautiful summer weather that we are experiencing now even the heat.

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

Jack of all trades

The old expression goes ” jack of all trades, master of none”. Yes there are the rare few among us who are polymaths but they are more the exception than the rule. When your issue is important and specific it is best to deal with a specialist.

There are those in the big 5 branches who do much more than just mortgages, they also open accounts for you, your investments, your insurance and credit cards. If your question is a general one, these may be great people to seek out. However when it is something more specific then it is time to seek out the advise of someone who is a specialist in that field.

The same applies in the mortgage broker channel. Given the diversity of the types of product available there are brokers who do mostly AAA files, those who do alternative or B lenders, private lending and commercial. Someone who does AAA clients may do the occasional other file, however if you need is specific and important it is best to seek out the expertise of someone who deals mostly in that area.

Today I am thankful for the ability to work outside on my back deck on this beautiful summer day, that I fit a workout in between appointments and watching and hearing the birds while I get some work done.

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