Tag Archive for: Halifax Mortgage Broker

Happiness

Yes Happiness! What does happiness mean to you? I know that we are in the midst of a challenging time however we can’t let outside events dictate our current emotional state. Don’t look for external stimuli to decide whether you are happy, sad, frustrated or angry. The one thing that you truly have control over is what you think. Decide now to just be happy, it’s not as difficult as you may imagine.

We all live in the perfect moment of now. The past is gone and the future hasn’t happened yet. Wouldn’t it be a lot better if you were happy, cheerful or ecstatic. This is what I was saying to myself as I ran yesterday, uphill and facing a headwind. It turned into a pretty good run after all.

Don’t wait to be happy till your mortgage is approved, when all conditions are met or even when you take possession of your dream home. Just decide to do it now. The life you create is based upon the decisions that you make, now is the time to make better decisions as we only get one shot at this.

Today I am thankful a great virtual meeting that I had almost forgotten about, a Peloton class with Jessica King who always makes me smile and teaching my son to lift this morning.

“Men are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by their option of the things that happen”. Epictetus

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 Mother’s Day

To all the Mom’s out there, Happy Mother’s Day. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. I lost my Mom to cancer in 2005 and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her. Her unconditional love and support helped make me into the person that I am today. If your Mom is still alive please give her a hug for me.

Today I am thankful for my wife and the wonderful Mother that she has become, Athens Restaurant for making our Mother’s Day feast and my daughter Georgia for making the Mother’s day desert.

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

Ripple to a Tsunami

Small problems left unchecked soon become catastrophic problems. You eat too many calories and miss too many workouts suddenly you realize that you’re overweight. Put off paying your bills too long and suddenly you wake up and your services have been cut off. Don’t let small problems go unchecked. Do something about them now while they are still manageable.

Here in Nova Scotia we are currently suffering through the Tsunami 3rd wave of the Corona Virus Pandemic. Last spring and summer when we were advised to stay home to stop the spread people listened. Now it seems that some are tired of complying with public health guidance. We have daily totals that are 5X what they were at our peak last year when most if not all people stayed home. Please for everyone’s sake please just listen and stay the hell home.

This is not an impossible task. We’ve done it before and we can do it again. Vaccines are rolling out quicker than ever and testing is happening at record levels. This is not an affront to your personal freedom’s this is necessary for the greater good. Go alone and you may go fast but together we go far.

Today I am thankful for a quiet morning to read while the rest of the house slept, my daughter working in my brother’s business doing what I did at her age and having all the amenities that one could need in our neighbourhood.

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

Sewing Seeds

Sales like any worthwhile objective is all about sewing seeds for a future harvest. Sure instant gratification would be nice but for things to actually turn out the way that you want it to turn out you must first put in the time. Doing that requires making the calls and building the relationships.

Look at it this way, most if not all of us want to be fitter, richer and happier. However how many of us are willing to invest the time and effort on a consistent basis to move us toward our desired result. Those six-pack abs don’t happen over night, unless you are willing to watch what you eat and put in the hours of training it’s never going to happen for you.

Somethings happen faster than others, but you must remain patient and above all else focus as if your end result has already happened for you. This will give you more joy about going through the process and bring you that much closer to the person you were meant to become. Think in 90 day blocks, as the results that you are harvesting today are a direct result of the culmination of the seeds that you have sewn from the past 90 days.

Today I am thankful for a great podcast interview from Tim Ferriss with an amazing woman, a refreshing power zone workout on Peloton and my Friday calls with my family.

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

It’s not about the mortgage!

Yes I am a mortgage broker and have been one for just over 19 years now. When clients come to me they aren’t just looking for a mortgage ( which translates to roughly death pledge from old french). In actuality they are not coming to me for an interest rate either, although some are steadfast that it is very important to them.

What they really want is access to capital to allow them to purchase or refinance a home. The mortgage is just a tool to make that happen. It’s similar to people who go to the hardware store looking for drills, they don’t really want a hand held machine but they really want is something to make holes of certain sizes.

The same can be said about the general public’s fixation on interest rates. Yes great rates are important, but isn’t what you care about the most is the amount of the payment coming out of your bank account? Amortization or the length of the life of your loan has a greater effect on the size of your payment that just the interest rate.

Financing your home is an important decision, don’t leave it up to people who may give you substandard advice. Talk with an expert who just does mortgages so you will get the best advice possible.

Today I am thankful for a dark raining morning where even the birds slept in, a quiet walk with my dog as most of the walker and runners took the day off and an ethernet adapter that arrived quickly from Apple.

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

Big Day!

We have “Big Day’s” throughout many stages of our lives. From our first steps, to our first day at kindergarten. They are achievements of us growing and moving forward. From our graduation to our 1st big job. They are achievements of our independence. From our marriage to the birth of our first child ( it was twins in our case). These are achievements of a loving relationship.

However if you really think about it almost any day could be a big special day in your life. It could be a simple as a great phone call with an old friend or walk in nature where you let go all the worries of the day and just enjoyed the sights and sounds or your surroundings. The trick is to not to wait for something special to occur to decide to make it a “Big Day”.

I help people create big days all the time with the financing of the purchase of their first home. Don’t just wait for these events in life to create “Big Day’s” for you. My mom who I lost to cancer in 2005 use to say that ever day above ground is a great day. Find the reasons to celebrate and smile today and to make it even better pass that smile along to someone else as it will make your day even more magical.

Today I am thankful for the smiles and waves along the trail during my morning run, the deer family that lives in our neighbourhood and the technology that makes working and studying at home possible.

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

Book’em Danno!

I got a text from my cousin just after 9am today to say that Nova Scotia has opened up vaccine appointments to our age group. Logged on to the site to book my appointment, health card in hand. After an initial 27 minute wait, witch went by very quickly I was in and registered. Minutes later my wife was also registered. Please do your part to help end this pandemic by getting your shot as soon as possible. Afterwards we were talking that it felt like we got through to the hotline to secure U2 tickets, which is what we had to do years ago when we saw them in Montréal.

Today I am thankful for a speedy stress free vaccine appointment, my kids all doing their classes at home and that a pharmacy that was open at 7am today when I needed it.

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-Do-Have

You often hear it said that people will BE happy when they are DOING important work and they HAVE the perfect relationship, successful business or super fit body. Incase you have not heard it before, this is backwards. Don’t delay happiness or gratification until some unknown future event. Be freeking happy now. Fall in love with what you are already doing and you will suddenly realize that you may already have everything you have ever wished for.

We get one trip on this rock. There are no resets or do over’s. The past is long gone and the future hasn’t happened yet. All we have is this one magically moment called the present. Once you realize that the present moment is already perfect then you will start to see wonderful things happening in your life.

It all starts with the conversations that we have with ourselves. If you want to be in better shape start talking with yourself as if you were already a runner or someone who trains for life. Runner’s don’t force themselves to run, runner’s run. Superfit people train regularly they don’t hit snooze and say that they will do it another day. You train for life, that’s all there is to it.

If you want to improve your self, you become a sponge to knowledge. You don’t watch 5-6 hours of TV a day, you read, meditate and work on being better today that you were yesterday. I don’t force myself to read, I am a voracious reader and soak up new material willingly and regularly.

This will also apply if you want to be a homeowner. If you are currently renting, what are the traits that people who have become homeowners have? They live well within their means, they are excellent at managing their credit and are great saver’s.

Today I am thankful for a wonderful morning run with a great pacer, a dog who is always happy to see me and my daughter enjoying working outside in a garden centre.

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

No Surprises!

Let’s face it there are people who like surprises and those who don’t. There are also good surprises and then there are bad surprises. Good ones include surprise birthday parties, surprise gifts, promotions and winning lotto tickets. The bad ones include but are not limited to larger than normal power bills, flat tire on your car the day or your big interview, in-laws showing up un announced and the worst one in my industry is mortgage discharge penalty surprises.

The best way to avoid these bad surprises is to be prepared. Have an account with 3 months pay for emergency expenses like your surprise power bill or your flat tire ( sorry I can’t help you with the in-laws). Now as for your mortgage discharge penalty. The best way to avoid an interest rate differential penalty is to have a variable rate mortgage as they come with only a 3 month interest penalty. In declining rate market like we have been for the last 10 years or so you are more often than not be hit with an interest rate differential penalty when going to break your fixed rate mortgage.

To lessen the blow of a whopping high penalty stay in touch with your lender leading up to a potential break of your fixed mortgage as IRD penalties will change from month to month. But as I have said if possible go variable so you can protect yourself from any potential sudden surprises when you need to break that mortgage.

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

Essential Services

During our current 3rd wave lockdown, the government has ordered most businesses closed except for those deemed essential service. Such as grocery, hardware stores, pharmacies, gas stations, pet supplies, computer & cell phone and garden centre’s. While not surprised, I am relieved to see the last one included. To me and most people who love gardening it is essential to our mental health and well being.

So along those lines here are some of the benefits of gardening.

  1. Gardening makes you feel better. Studies have shown that when you make time to work in your garden, your stress and anxiety levels decrease and you develop an improved sense of well being.
  2. Gardening can improve your immune system. We need this now more than ever. The time you spend outside tending your plants, helps you take in more of that great vitamin D. This helps you strengthen your bones and improves your immune system.
  3. Gardening is a great workout. From mowing your lawn to raking the leaves, and digging and shovelling. Gardening is a great way to get some light to moderate exercise.
  4. Gardening can help you eat better. Growing your own vegetables are one of the best ways to improve what you eat. As an added bonus by growing your own you can be sure they are pesticide and herbicide free. Organic all the way baby.
  5. Gardening is very zen like. There is lots of talk about mindfulness lately and gardening certainly helps you focus on the present moment.

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