Tag Archive for: mortgage broker

Comfort zone

One of the worst places to possibly be is in the comfort zone. This means that you have settled and that you are more or less just going though the motions. When you are comfortable you don’t push yourself to improve or get better, you are just happy doing what you are doing and not taking any chances.

While I am not saying that you should quit your job or terminate your relationships all to give you some challenges in your life. You should always have something that you are striving to achieve as this makes you driven and motivated to keep improving and moving your life forward.

Today I am thankful for the challenges that I face on a regular basis that keep me moving forward, for a fun afternoon canoeing with my son and the start of an exciting week ahead with beautiful weather.

“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” Brian Tracy

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

5 to 10 basis points

This amounts to .5 to .10 of a percentage point as a basis point is essentially 1/100th of a percentage point. I bring this up as consumers will shop their mortgage business and leave an existing relationship at the last minute for perceived deal of 5 one hundreds of a percent.

So here is some mortgage math for you. Let’s take the average current mortgage balance of 400,000, taken over 5 year term and 25 year amortization. At current 5 year fixed rates of 2.09% that would give you a mortgage payment of 1,711 per month. There are also some no frills quick close deals at 1.99% giving you a monthly payment of 1,692 per month. This amounts to a savings of $19 a month or $1,140 over the 5 years. Or $5 per hundred thousand mortgage balance.

Remember not all products are created equal. Some products are locked in closed for the term, meaning that the only way to break it is with the power of sale. Some have reduced pre payment privileges or no portability features. Make sure that you look at everything as there is more to consider than just the rate.

Today I am thankful for a warm and refreshing run this morning before it got too hot, a delicious burger delivered right to my door yesterday and that my dog recovered quickly from overheating on Friday night.

“Do not let Sunday be taken from you. If your soul has no Sunday, it becomes an orphan.” – Albert Schweitzer

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

Beach Day!

Some weeks the accomplishment is just making it to Friday. If this is you, I feel your pain. However with the warm humid weather we are having it will be a great time to head to the beach. One of the things we are blessed with here in Nova Scotia is lots and lots of beaches. We have over 90 beaches and 7,500 km of coastline you are guaranteed to find one that you like.

Although our summer’s are typically short and now that the hot humid weather is here, a day at the beach could be a great idea. With the hot air temperature and cool water make a perfect combination to refresh and recharge. Here is a link to find the perfect beach for you so you can enjoy a perfect day by the water.

Today I am thankful for the relatively cool nights that have accompanied these warm days, having several beaches to choose from which are only a short drive away from home and friends with pools on warm hot summer days.

“Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

Approved or qualified

There is a vast difference between getting pre-approved for a mortgage and getting pre-qualified. One holds your rate for up to 120 days and allows you to go house hunting and the other just gives you rough idea of what you can afford. Yes getting a pre-approval will take some time but it is worth it in the end. There is nothing worse for you realtor than finding out after you have been house hunting that you in-fact can’t get the financing for the house you want cause you didn’t take the time to go through the formal pre-approval process.

In this hyper competitive housing market it is absolutely necessary to get pre-approved BEFORE you start house hunting. Here are the steps to take, complete the mortgage application and submit all necessary supporting documents with the application. Together we will review your credit, income and down payment then discuss the various mortgage options. Once you have settled on what you like, we will submit your file for a pre approval rate hold. The banks are very busy so it may take a few days to get it back. Once it is back then go shopping with confidence.

Today I am thankful for my internal alarm clock waking me up at the perfect time, First time clients closing on their home today and kids up early and out of the house with their friends.

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

Stressed?

What do you do to when you’re feeling stressed? We don’t all have the perfect lives and things don’t always go according to plan so you should have structures in place to help you cope. Some of the great strategies I use are starting my day with a 20 min meditation thanks to the Headspace app and other than it’s regular daily exercise. A nice 5K run or 30 clean & jerks for time are great ways to clear my head. I also find that listing to classical music particularly relaxing when going for a run is not possible, and who doesn’t live a great piece by Rossini???

Whatever you do to cope with life’s stresses just make sure it’s constructive and doesn’t make your life overall worse. Chances are someone has already gone though what you currently find yourself struggling with. Having friends or family members to speak with always helps as well.

Today I am thankful for the fact that my teenaged girls have summer jobs to get them out of the house, great friends and family who are there to check in with when the road seems rough and the delayed onset muscle soreness from a great workout.

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” William James

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

Square pegs into round holes

They say that trying to get someone to do something that they didn’t intend on doing is like trying to fit square pegs into round holes. I view my position as a mortgage broker the same way. I am not doing this to convince you to get a mortgage or heck to even convince you to work with me. Both of these things you must decide to do on your own.

Lots of people ( less now actually given the price of real estate) buy homes with out mortgages, and there are plenty of other people doing the same thing I am doing. My role as I see it is to provide the potential clients with the best information possible so they can make an informed decision about this process. If they decide that they need a mortgage and they want to work with me then fantastic otherwise I am off to help the next clients.

Today I am thankful for the support and encouragement of close friends as I faced a surprising challenge recently, for seeing deer on my walk with the dog last night in the middle of Halifax and for always having options for solutions to current problems.

“Defeat is a state of mind; no one is ever defeated until defeat is accepted as a reality.” Bruce Lee

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

Learning

If things went right the 1st time you did them how would you ever learn. We crawl before we walk, and walk before we run and frequently we fall in the process. It’s by failing and getting up and doing it again that we learn to perfect our approach.

Today I am thankful for all the learning experiences that have brought me to where I am today, the rejuvenating nature of a mid afternoon nap and the smile that comes from hearing someone’s big bell laugh.

“Every champion was once a contender who refused to give up.” – Rocky Balboa

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

Mind over matter

Minor annoyances tend to grow much larger when attention is put towards them. Someone cuts you off in your morning commute and suddenly you are in a bad mood all day. Your team loses the big game ( sadly it happened) or the injection site of your vaccine is sore. You could focus all your energies towards what didn’t go as you planned or you can acknowledge it and get on with your day.

This is my frame of mind today. Yes they lost, that happens and I was still immensely proud of their performance during this year’s playoff run. There was also a brief time when I got up this morning and noticed that my shoulder was sore. I just acknowledged it and got on with my day. Ran 5K and just got back from donating blood and feel awesome actually.

Don’t dwell on what didn’t go your way, focus instead on where you want to go. Your day and your life will be much better as a result if you think about what you want rather than what you disagree with or what causes you some discomfort. Cause if you don’t mind it doesn’t rally matter.

Today I am thankful for the great people at Canada Blood Services who always make me feel comfortable and special, the arrival of my new barbell so I can show my kids how to lift and just generally feeling unstoppable.

“Rule your mind or it will rule you.” Buddha

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

90 Days History

This is just a short post to remind you that when applying for a mortgage the lender will require 90 days history to show your down payment. If you have more than one account, then 90 days from all your accounts. This is to prove that you did not borrow it and also did not obtain it through nefarious means.

A word of advice about your bank statements, redacting anything on the statements will cause them to be rejected. Honestly the potential lender does not care if you purchased medicinal marijuana or spent your last pay check at the strip joint, both are legal. You are potentially borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars, everything will be checked and double checked.

Today I am thankful for reminders for appointments so they will not be forgotten, my girls who were rock stars on their exams and waking up to find out that my team had won the nigh before.

“It is well enough that the people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.” Henry Ford

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

Creating your own down payment

Normally down payments can not be borrowed. However there are a few ways around this legally and ethically. So let’s first state that the down payment must be in your possession for 90 days and you must be able to provide bank statements to support that.

  1. You can borrow it from an existing line of credit. This should not be from the same source that is providing your mortgage, and you must be able to debt service for the payment.
  2. It can be gifted from a blood relative. A gift letter is required and you will then need to provide a statement showing that you are in possession of the funds.
  3. You can borrow it from your RRSP’s under the Home Buyer’s Plan. For a single applicant this amount is up to 35K and for a couple it is 70K. This is a tax free withdrawal and you have 15 years to pay it back.

However there is a better way to do the last step, and it’s best to start it as tax season is kicking off in February. Firstly consult a certified financial planner to find out your unused contribution room. Determine how much you need for your down payment. Take out an RRSP Loan for the amount of your unused contribution room. Then put this money in your RRSP for at least 90 days. Record this RRSP contribution on your tax return to get a refund. After the 90 days have passed take out the money from your RRSP and repay the loan. Lastly use your tax refund for your down payment.

Today I am thankful for the ability of exercise to clear my head, quiet early mornings while everyone else is still asleep and getting a peek at British farming life on the new Amazon Prime show Clarkson’s farm.

“Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute the most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.” Thomas Jefferson

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