Tag Archive for: Halifax Mortgage Broker

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.

Speaking of booking things that matter — if getting into your first home, refinancing, or exploring your mortgage options has been on your list, that’s a call worth making. I pick up the phone, I ask the right questions, and I make the process a lot less stressful than a 27-minute wait on hold. Call me at 902-465-5533 or start your application at craigburn.com.

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

Brain Candy

When you spend most of your day hard at work what do you do to give your brain a break and just relax? We all need to rest, recharge and chill from time to time. Some people like television and find reality tv shows particularly appealing. Where they can just turn the brain off and watch. I have a cousin who loves to knit and finds it very relaxing. Everyone is different so what puts you in the zone and allows you to relax?

Exercise is my thing and I love the rush of endorphins from a great workout, but to really chill and relax I love to read. While the majority of books I read are non fiction and or personal development/business books. When I want to read but just to do it for fun I pick up a Robert B Parker mystery book. There is something about the style of writing, like the old fashion Dashiell Hammett type of sleuth that I find intriguing.

Today I am thankful for a great conversation that came as a result of a misdialed phone, my kids all back doing their studies remotely today and my 1st run of the year in shorts.

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

Pay the price

There is a cost for everything . You want to be in better shape, are you willing to pay the price of the hours of training and nutrition planning. You want to run a marathon, are you willing to do the training required to do that. You want a better ( or to be in a) relationship, are you willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to have a great relationship.

Free is for losers. You don’t want free, you want and the best of everything. There is a reason why it takes so many years to become a Doctor and only 3-4 for your average degree. Those people pursuing their doctorate are paying the price with their work ethic and their dedication.

The same applies to mortgage financing. Not everyone qualifies for the lowest rates. You must have above average credit scores to do that, and to get those you have to work at it. That is only one part of it as you also need the income required to qualify for that rate and that too requires work.

When you are willing to pay the price and put in the work almost anything becomes possible.

Today I am thankful for the rush of endorphins from a good workout, great conversations with people I am calling through the day and early morning sunrises when everyone is still asleep in my house.

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

The Three C’s

A while ago I wrote about the 5 C’s of credit, you can check out that post here. Today I want to talk about the 3 C’s, which are perhaps more meaningful towards your life as a whole.

Dale Carnegie wrote a monumental book called “How to win friends and influence people”. The long and the short of it is about how to be a better person. I have read it several times and attended several public speaking seminar’s put on by the company he founded. The one chapter that stands out is the 1st one which is called “Don’t criticize, condemn or complain”. It is the only chapter in the book with a negative title, but it is written that way for a reason.

You see we spend an inordinate amount of time criticizing, condemning or complaining. We often do it under the guise of being factual or saying we are just being a realist. Just think of how much better your life could be if you gave up the 3 C’s. You can’t complain your way to health, wealth and happiness. Author and speaker Will Bowen has created a challenge for people to go 21 days without uttering a since criticism, condemn or complaint. You never know how good your life can be until you try it. I know I need this.

Today I am thankful for long walks with my dog. The quiet of the early morning to meditate. The compassion and generosity of the leaders in the Canadian Mortgage Industry.

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

Gratitude

To say that we are in the midst of a challenging time in our lives is without question. However when you really think about it, there is still so much to be thankful for. My friend Steve Foran has a company called Gratitude at work. He works with companies helping them incorporate gratitude into their daily operations. He also sends out a wonderful day newsletter with new things to be thankful for everyday.

In no particular oder here are just a few things I am thankful for today:

I am thankful for the health of my family and friends specially during this challenging time.

I am thankful for the ability to work from home as well as my wife.

I am thankful for waking up to the sounds of the birds.

I am thankful for rewarding and meaningful work.

I am thankful for a 50K bike ride with friends on Saturday ( yes less than 5)

I am thankful for seeing such a large turnout for asymptomatic testing this weekend in Nova Scotia. All our family got tested. Together we can all do our part to beat this virus.

I am thankful that we do have vaccines that will help end this pandemic.

I am thankful for my dog, when ever I may not be in the best mood he always smiles and wags his tail at me.

I am thankful for kind and compassionate people that I have met in the mortgage finance industry here in Canada.

I am thankful for my clients who have entrusted me to help them finance their current home or their dream home.

I would love to hear what you are thankful for as well.

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).

Things you can still do during lockdown

As we enter our 3rd Covid-19 Lockdown here in Nova Scotia, no it’s not what we wanted but there is still lots for you to do while on lockdown.

You can still go for a walk, a run or even a bike ride. I just got back from a 50 ride on the rails to trails path and it was wonderful and there were plenty of people who had the same idea, however in groups of 5 or less.

You can read a new book. Check out goodreads for a few idea’s.

Even though you can’t travel, there is no better time than now to learn another language. Check out Dulingo and take a few lessons. It’s great.

Just because you can’t personally visit friends and family doesn’t mean that you can’t connect with them. There are plenty of video apps to use from FaceTime, Skype, Zoom or what I have now been using Zoho Meeting.

With in restaurant eating closed, you could also use this time to learn how to cook. Last year the grocery stores ran out of flower and yeast with all the people making bread at home. If you feel adventurous you may want to try your hand at sourdough bread. There are also plenty of how to video’s on Youtube.

I never said that this was going to be a top 10 list, so here is the last one for today. With the warmer weather arriving, one of the best things to do is gardening. Nothing improves the curb appeal of your home as much as a nicely manicured garden. Even though it’s still too early to plan annuals, it’s the perfect time to prepare your beds, aerate your lawn or cut back and trim out last years shrubs.

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).