Tag Archive for: Halifax Mortgage Broker

Teamwork

Your mortgage like most things in life takes a team to make happen. It is more than just you and me. Here are some of the players on our team.

Myself your broker- I help you complete the application and assist you in getting your documents together. Review all the supporting documents ( credit, income, down payment, purchase & sale and employment confirmation) to make sure that we have everything that is required. Present client mortgage & lender options. Submit to the lender for approval. Communicate with the lender & fulfilment specialist at the bank to make sure all the documents are signed off on for the loan request. Order your appraisal if necessary. Get your approval package prepared and signed by you the client. Make sure your file meets compliance standards. Touch base with your solicitor or notary to make sure they have received the closing documents.

Underwriter- reviews (& hopefully approves) your loan request to make sure it meets the lender’s guidelines for credit, income & location. All of which I would confirm in advance as well.

Fulfilment specialist- they review and sign off on all the supporting documents for the loan. This includes income, down payment, commitment and purchase & sale agreements. Conduct verbal employment confirmation with employers.

Reator- In this market they are superstars. Once you are official pre approved they then proceed to show you every available listing in your price range and then run you all over town & province if necessary to show you the properties. Present offers ( in this market clients have been know to have placed upwards of 15-20 offers before getting one to stick). The forward me the offer, listing cut, amendments and taxes once they have an accepted offer so I can get it approved. Assist coordinating the property inspection if necessary ( some are waiving this to secure the offer but I don’t think that is wise). Final walk through inspection with client prior to close.

Solicitor- Receive mortgage documents from the lender. Review with clients at signing appointment. Collect down payment, deed transfer and property taxes. Register the new mortgage.

I am sure I am leaving people and roles out of this process but I just wanted you to know the teamwork that is required to get your file across the finish line and into your dream or forever home.

Today I am thankful for all the great team players that I work with on a daily basis, the Realtors in this competitive market are really superstars for their work and patience and for the clients for persisting till they finely find a home. Thank You.

“None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.” – Mother Teresa

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, Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

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

Unfriend

The big issue I have with Social Media is that people tend to be surrounded by those with similar views. This is very insulating as the world in general does not operate this way. We should welcome those with different views into our lives as that is how we grow. However in this age of social media we are unfortunately responding to those with different opinions with insults and hatred.

Listen and ask questions without resorting to knee jerk reactions. Find out why they think that way and do so with an open mind. God forbid they may be right and you may be wrong. Having a different opinion does not make one a bad person. Being an ass hat because opinions differ will not win you any love or respect.

Going forward instead of unfriending those who see the world differently than you do, ask questions and find out why they see things the way that they do. Offer them your opinion and reasons behind it only if all parties can remain civil. You could be surprised as you may learn a thing or two.

Today I am thankful for all I have learned from my friends by keeping an open mind, for all my friends who have stayed in touch even with our difference of opinions and to those who have unfriended and left I wish you well.

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” ― Isaac Asimov

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, Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

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

Be Caring

In a very competitive fields like mortgage brokering, car sales, financial planning or real estate sales, where most of the established agents have a similar level of knowledge. Clients are attracted and retained not by how much you know as the playing field is pretty level after you have been doing it for a while but by how much you care.

I tell prospective clients upfront that I want them to be comfortable dealing with me. There are many choices in this marketplace and we all have access to similar rates and lenders but what truly separates us is how we care for our clients. This is why I treat my clients how I want to be treated, and have been very fortunate to work with those I have worked with and am thankful for all their 5 star google reviews.

Today I am thankful for all the kids and their costumes who came to visit us last night, my clients and all their great reviews and the bowl full of left over halloween candy.

“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” Theodore Roosevelt

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, Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

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

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween to all the parents and trick or treaters this year. I hope that you stat safe and dry this year and get lots of your favourite candy.

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, Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

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

Be Prepared

The Boy Scouts have this motto for a reason. Life is much easier if you are prepared for what is potentially coming your way. This also makes it much more manageable when challenges show up out of the blue. So plan for the best but be prepared for the worst as well.

You don’t typically sign up for a marathon having never run prior to the race. You put in the miles ( kilometres for the rest of us) and you train so that you are prepared. Have a big test coming up, you review your notes you took in class and you study so that you are prepared. Long trip coming up, you make sure that your car is all tuned up, check the tires, brakes, exhaust, engine and everything so you are prepared.

If you are in the market to purchase a house, you have to make sure that you are prepared. Long before you want to buy you start saving for your down payment. You manage your credit and make sure all your financial commitments are paid on time as better credit will get you better mortgage rates. Once you are finely ready you seek out a professional like myself and get pre-approved so you can start shopping with confidence.

Today I am thankful for the mortgage course I wrote and passed several years ago in preparation for the new licensing standards here in NS, the years that it has taken me to assemble a group of contacts that enabled me to solve a clients challenge rather quickly and preparing my day’s work in advance so I can enjoy the rest of the weekend.

“You can be absolutely certain that when you feel you are being most unfairly tested, you are being prepared for great achievement.” Napoleon Hill

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, Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

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

For the greater good

We should all act in the interest of the greater good. This pandemic has brought out so many random acts of kindness but it has also brought out the dark and selfish side of people. My Friday thought for you today is to do something for the greater good that you have no possible way of getting anything in return except for the warm feeling that you get as a result.

Here are a few idea’s, volunteer your time to a good cause in the community. Here is a link for a few opportunities here in Halifax. Check in on a friend or family member that you have not heard from in a while. Give a sincere complement to someone you meet today. Help your neighbour clean up the fallen leaves. Bring some of your clothes that you are not using to charity. Pay for the car behind you in the drive through. Lastly but certainly not least, call Canadian Blood services and make an appointment to donate blood or plasma.

While we don’t receive anything back to us directly from these generous acts, the feeling that you have done something wonderful more than makes up for it. I gave blood again yesterday and as a O- I feel like it is a personal responsibility as well. The blood supply was there when I needed it a few years ago and each time I donate I think of all the people it is helping.

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.” CS Lewis

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, Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

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

Get up, Stand up and Show up!

Get up early and be proactive and plan you day. Know your targets and work towards them. Putting fires out all day and reacting to everything around you is not how to do it. Nothing great has ever been achieved by those who sleep till noon every day. Getting up at 5am and in bed by 9pm is not that difficult when you prioritize what is actually important.

Stand up and move your body. Exercise really is good for the soul. I’ve discovered no better mood booster than a quick intense workout. Also stand up for your self. Don’t let others push you around, yet don’t be a bully yourself. Also stand up for the rights and freedoms of those around you. When you strip away everything we all human and all the same and should all be treated equally.

Lastly and equally important, show up! Show up on time for your job, arriving exactly when your job starts at 9 means that you are late. 10-15 minutes early is actually on time. Show up for your appointments on time, not valuing someone times is a huge mark of disrespect. Showing up is a key component to success, so show up for company trainings, show up for trade shows, show up for conference calls and show up for your family. At the end of our time here we don’t want to say that we wished that we spent more time at the office.

Today I am thankful getting up early today to do my stretching and walk my dog, for my morning run even though the conditions were not ideal but runners run and for showing up for commitments every day and looking back at all the progress that has been made.

“Showing up is essential. Showing up consistently is powerful. Showing up consistently with a positive outlook is even more powerful.” Jeff Olson

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, Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

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

Sink or swim

We are either treading water trying not to sink in life or we are swimming towards our goals. There is only one or the other. I became all too familiar with this recently as I was dealing with a challenge that came up unexpectedly. I was making progress for several months in a row and felt like I was on a roll. Then the challenge appeared and my progress came to a screeching halt.

As much as we would like to think that we can multi-task, sometimes it is much easier said than done. It’s hard to hit home runs if all you are thinking about is not striking out. It is also hard to save for a down payment if all you keep thinking about is paying your rent and keeping food on the table.

Changing your focus creates magic in your life. I will confirm that, as soon as the challenge was overcome the progress returned 10 fold. Don’t think about trying to make some progress, become steadfast in your approach and heed what Yoda said and “Do or do not, there is no try.”

“Mulit-tasking is merely the opportunity to screw up more than one thing at a time.” Gary W Keller

Today I am thankful for the lessons learned from challenges and the feeling of relief of over coming them, that extra hour of sleep as it felt good at the time and friendly reminders for overdue tasks.

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, Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

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

All said and done

When all is said and done then you can put your guard down and celebrate. However beware of premature elation. You financing is not complete when the vendor accepts your offer. It’s not complete when your mortgage request has been approved. It’s not complete when all financing conditions have been approved.

It is only complete when your solicitor/lawyer/notary has received the funds from the lender and dispersed them and you have received the keys. Only then can you finely celebrate and then look at getting the new car that you have been putting off or the appliances that you needed. Not before.

This is because there have been so many horror stories about clients going and financing a new car after they have gone firm on their home purchase thinking all was said and done. Only to find out the the lender does a second credit check just prior to closing and now their debt service was out of whack. Don’t let this happen to you.

Today I am thankful for seeing deer for the 2nd morning in a row on our morning walks, calls from friends overseas just as my day was starting and their’s was finishing and what was perceived as a mountain of a problem turned into a molehill.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ~ John Quincy Adams

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, Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

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

Make One Change

What if I told that you that you only had to make one change that it would exponentially improve your odds of success would you do it? It’s not the latest app or gadget and anyone can do this. It is the building block of all achievement, it is the belief that you can do it. You see with belief you are willing to try new things and persist through the failures until you succeed.

I though about this one fact while watching a few minutes of the Tampa Bay Bucks game against the Chicago Bears last night. I will admit that I am not a football fan and would readily watch any other sport but their quick reversal of fortune intrigued me.

You see prior to Tom Brady joining the Bucks last year Tampa had a record of 5-11 in 2018 and 7-9 in 2019. Finishing out of the playoffs both years. Then with the addition of Brady and his proven track record of winning they finished last year 11-5 and won the Super Bowl. However I think it was more than the addition of this Hall of Fame player, it was him also instilling in them the belief that they could do it.

Wouldn’t you agree that we always have performed better when someone intensely believes in us. In fact there are countless movies where just the addition of a teacher or coach who has profound belief in his/her students/athletes immediately effects their results. Henry Ford said it best when he said ” whether you think you can or can’t you’re still right”. With that in mind make this one change and see how your life changes.

“If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning.” Mahatma Gandhi

Today I am thankful for the two deer that greeted me and my dog on our walk this morning, great chats with old friends and the optimism for a great 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, Ontario(M18001555) & in British Columbia(BCFSA #504098).

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