Tag Archive for: Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Pales in Comparison

So today I completed my 100K ride for cancer on the rails to trails system. We ( I was with friends) from Bayers lake to almost Hubbards and back. Now while this was getting uncomfortable towards the end of the ride, it pales in comparison to what my mom, my wife’s mom, my 1st cousin went through while they were all battling cancer. While they all subsequently lost their battles with cancer, I am doing this fundraiser so someone else’s mom, dad, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, cousin or friend will be able to beat it if they are diagnosed with cancer.

This is the last time I will ask you this year but if you are able to donate to my ride for cancer, it could benefit someone’s loved one and really make a difference in their life. Here is the link and I appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Patrick

Truth & Reconciliation

On September 30th, the Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Canadians learn, recognize and reflect upon the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, the trauma experienced by many, and the hope for a healthy future. The day emphasizes the ongoing need for reconciliation, and building and strengthening relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Sincerely,

Patrick

Burning Bridges

There are times in life when it’s necessary to burn a few bridges and cut yourself from any possible retreat and there are times when that is just a bad idea. Change in life is hard and sometimes to do it successfully you have remove any sort of temptation that would permit you to drift back to the old ways.

If you are determined to eat better then it is a good idea to toss out all the junk food in your house so you are not tempted to just have a few chips, cookies or sweets. The same goes if you want to watch less tv and read more, you will cancel your cable and some may go as far as selling the TV. Want to cut out the few drinks at the pub with friends after work, then take a different route home, go to the gym instead or hang around people who are more health conscious.

The only area where I think it may be a bad idea is when you are growing your business. While this has nothing to do with the concept that the customer is always right, that is a conversation for another day. It’s just that it is not prudent to burn bridges with customers & referral sources. I do prospecting calls daily and keep notes from conversations with people. Some times when you call them it’s not the best time or they are not having the best day. Don’t take it personally and just move on. Unless they flat out say do not ever call me again, I will call them back on another day.

Just in the past week I’ve had two such occurrences. One was with someone I had spoken with several times but it always seemed that it was a bad time and I was always rushed off the phone, not rude but with way too many things on the go. Another with someone who at the time refused to see the big picture on a file we were jointly working on. In both cases time changed everything the next interaction with each of them. Instead of letting them go and never contacting them again I reached out again and it was like they were totally different people. Give people time, change happens to us all.

Today I am thankful for the beautiful fall morning for a run, the chance to reconnect again with people after a previous encounter wasn’t ideal and opportunities to start again but better the second 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

Point of no return

There are still many of us still riding out on a variable rate mortgage, even though there have been 5 rate changes this year and the strong possibility of another one soon. At the time it was the easiest decision out there as rates were low and the fixed rate while still low was about a percent and a half higher than the discounted variable rate.

Now there are a few things that those of us still on a variable rate should be aware of. These are the Trigger Point and the Trigger Rate. Firstly the Trigger Rate is the point that you are no longer paying interest and principal on your mortgage but only paying interest. Meaning that you are no longer paying it down. The Trigger Point is when the balance on your mortgage now exceeds the amount of your original principal due to the increase of mortgage rates.

Hitting the Trigger Rate may not warrant a call from your lender, however hitting the Trigger Point mostly likely will. This is because your mortgage now exceeds the initial principal balance and since you were no longer paying interest & principal your loan was increasing due to the fact that the increasing rates and your set payment no longer covered the new interest on the loan.

Solution now would be to simply increase your payments to bring it back below the trigger point or switch over to a fixed rate so you are paying both interest & principal. Feel free to give me a call if you are in this situation.

Today I am thankful for the schools finely being open again here in Halifax, quick solutions and partners who stepped up to help solve it and invitations from colleges to attend events.

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

Growing pains

There is always a little discomfort to growth, whether physical or emotional or financial. It’s relatively easy to do nothing and stay within your comfort zone. Real growth requires work and sometimes blood, sweat and tears. My girls are going through that this year as it is their first year away at university. One is adapting easier than the other but I know that they are both growing and becoming better.

We are going through some growing pains right now with the economy and financial markets. The rapid increases to inflation over the past year has effected us all and as a result we have had to change adapt along with it. Some say that we have been spoiled over the past 15 years with record low interest rates and that the party is now over and it’s time to higher prices of everything and that will include higher borrowing costs.

There is no way to avoid change in life but the better you adapt the more you will grow. Sticking your head in the sand and trying to pretend that it won’t effect you is not a winning strategy. Experts are recommending that you monitor your investments closely and adjust them often if required. This is also true with your personal finances, just because you have always bought your lunch throughout the week doesn’t mean that should continue so you can cope with the rising costs all around you.

Today I am thankful for clients who I had thought had disappeared came back for assistance, the growth that my girls are experiencing as I know that they will be better as a result and each new book that I have read this year that has expanded my growth potential.

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

Generator Safety Tips

I woke up this morning to a request from my wife to run out and get a generator when the stores open. Hurricane Fiona is predicated to be a generational storm in size and intensity. The last major hurricane we had was Juan in 2003 which saw major damage and many of us without power for over a week.

So with Fiona due to hit us overnight I was off to the big box stores when they were opening their doors and was lucky enough to get a generator from Costco today. So if this is you as well, here are few safety tips.

  1. Pick a generator that will produce more power than you need.
  2. To avoid being electrocuted make sure to only use it once the rain and storm has passed. Electricity and water are not a good combination.
  3. Make sure the generator is off and cool before refueling.
  4. Use a heavy duty outdoor rated extension cord to connect to the generator. Speciality cords can come with the device.
  5. DO NOT use a gas powered generator inside your home.
  6. Use highest grade gasoline to power the device or add fuel stabilizers to insure it runs better.
  7. Do not overload your generator, only plug in what is absolutely essential.
  8. Do not plug your generator into a wall plug or try to connect it to your panel yourself.
  9. From my brother, turn off the carburetor and let the motor use the remaining fuel in the line before storing it for later use.
  10. Lastly but most importantly, don’t forget to ground it if necessary. RTFM for the instructions for your model.

Today I am thankful for the close proximity of the big box stores to my house, a fresh supply of generators that arrived this morning and several generous tips on it’s operation from my brother.

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

August inflation numbers

The inflation numbers for August 2022 for both Canada & the United States came out over the past week. In Canada our inflation rate dropped from 7.6% to 7%, and in the US it decreased from 8.5 to 8.3. While both are retreating from the highs of a few months ago, we are still well off the comfort level of 2%.

As a result of the still too high inflation rate, the US Federal Reserve delivered it’s third straight 75 basis point increase to their interest rates yesterday. To many economists this bakes in with pretty much certainty that the Bank of Canada will follow suit with another large rate increase when it meets next on October 26th. The only thing that could change the amount of the rate change would be the CPI (inflation) numbers that will be coming out on the 19th of October.

So while we are improving and prices of goods and gasoline are coming down, according to the central bankers it is just not retreating fast enough. A lot could happen in the next month to determine the size of the next rate change from the central bankers.

Today I am thankful for a warm muggy fall day which was perfect for a run this morning, the idea’s that come from reading great books and opportunities that come from working long hours.

“Inflation is when you pay fifteen dollars for the ten-dollar haircut you used to get for five dollars when you had hair.” Sam Ewing

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


Not Shrek’s Fiona

Batten down the hatches as Fiona is heading our way. She is scheduled to make landfall early Saturday morning and right now she is aiming towards CBRM. Given her arrival is still a few days away, it’s best to take the time now to prepare.

Here are a few things to take into consideration as we prepare for the arrival of the storm.

  • Be prepared to spend a few days with out power
  • Make sure vehicles are full of gas and BBQ propane tank is topped off
  • Charge up all your electronic devices and if you have battery back ups make sure they are charged as well.
  • Move to higher ground if you are in an area that is prone to flodding
  • Have supplies of food, water & medicine that will last you at least a week.
  • Have a battery powered radio
  • Make sure that your first aid kit is stocked up
  • If you need to use a generator, please do it safley
  • Last but not least, make sure that you check on your friends & elderly neighbours

Today I am thankful for files that took longer than I expected to close and are finely funded, my girls getting time to spend with family in Ontario and the calm before the storm.

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

Switching

Over the course of the pandemic when the real estate market was on fire and everything and I mean everything was selling for well above the list price, the majority of people opted to go with the variable rate as opposed to the fixed. You see it was simple math at the time, as fixed rates were about 1% percentage point more expensive.

Well now thanks to soaring inflation and recent moves by the Bank of Canada, that rate disparity has all but disappeared. So if you are getting a bit nervous with your variable rate, then just reach out to your lender and ask to switch to a fixed rate for the remaining term. This is one of the advantage of the variable rate, you switch to a fixed with the same lender with out a penalty. If this will give you more peace of mind, then do it.

Today I am thankful for a quick fix for a credit card issue, a morning call with one of my girls at university and the shorter days of fall which is perfect for sleeping.

“You can only exceed your limits if you’ve discovered them.” Roel van Sleeuwen

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

Clarity

When doing something as important as your mortgage and complex regarding the paperwork, then clarify definitely helps. Also the details matter. Getting all the details right the first time allows your file to be approved faster and will also help with answering any of the clients questions the first time around. So be clear, be concise and pay attention to all the little details and everything will go much better.

Today I am thankful for the 70 years of service that Queen Elizabeth gave to Canada and the rest of the commonwealth nations, patient clients who helped with the details while I clarified their questions and the slower pace of the day as some of the banks were closed to mark the Queen’s funeral.

“The world is not the most pleasant place. Eventually, your parents leave you and nobody is going to go out of their way to protect you unconditionally. You need to learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe and sometimes, pardon my language, kick some ass.” ~ Queen Elizabeth II

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