Let me tell you three good reasons why I started a new blog.

If you have been following along, you know that I am an Calgary CIBC Mobile Mortgage Advisor, finding the best mortgage rates and the best product for Albertans every day.  That is all I do.   

1) I want you to know that not having a monthly mortgage payment is a great thing.  Would you rather live car payment free or rent free or mortgage free?   Would you not want your largest monthly expense to be Savings, followed by Food, and Entertainment?   OR would you rather pay huge amounts of interest over the term of your mortgage?

2) If I show you all the tricks to demolish and reduce your mortgage principle as fast as possible would you not want to tell your friends and family about me?   That way I can help other people do the same?

 3) Most importantly, I myself have been through a rough patch, so I know what it feels like to visit the food bank, have things taken away, and afraid of the phone and people coming to the door.  I have held the hands of my clients that have been on the opposite end where foreclosure, overwhelming debt, repossession, and wondering what is the next best step is.  Sadly through the years, some have decided to end their fight against their life's problems and mountains of debt.   This is the fuel.  This is the level of octane that is burning in me right now.     

I am here to help you balance the debt, balance your life, show you all the tricks to pay off your debt as fast as possible.   What do I charge?  What do I want in return?   Two simple things.   Appreciation, and word of mouth of a job well done.    Take my experience, take my passion and share it.  Pass it on.   



A wise man once told me you should live by the three circles philosophy.     The best way to explain it is to draw it, so I drew it out for you.  I don't know where it came from originally, my apologies. That is not the point.  The point is you don't know everything, and the wisdom of age to truly recognize this fact and try to push out the two small circles as much as possible is.  That is what this blog is all about.   This is the foundation to which I am now built.  Its cornerstone of my outlook on life.  Learn something new as often as you can.   I know you know, when you work out a muscle its gets bigger and stronger.  Fact is your brain works the same way.   4 more, 3 more, 2 more, 1 more.   

Now, lets get to your mortgage paid off, and lets pass on the tricks and tips I have learned along the way.

Thanks, and stay tuned for all the great Mortgage Hacks to come.    Truth be told, they span more than just your mortgage.  It draws upon my experience, financial planning, and things that have worked better in the past with respect to your second most valuable commodity.  Your money.

What is the most valuable commodity you might be asking?   Your neural pathways connecting your left and right hemisphere of your brain.

I wonder how much money I am going to save you.

You want free mortgage advice from a full service mortgage brokerage company that is local and based in Calgary, Alberta right? 

We provide mortgage advice, mortgage products and services for consumers and businesses throughout Alberta, and nationwide via our other offices.   Our team has been clients find the best mortgage rates and products for 14 years ... and the service is absolutely FREE.   I have been in the world of finance working for a bank for 17 years, and it is my passion.  Conveying that fun, and passion to others is often the biggest challenge.

You have heard all the time that for for most Canadians, their home is their largest single investment in their lifetime.  You would want to make sure that you are not dealing with a part timer, or someone who does not understand, or has the passion, or is going to be promoted, or leave for another role as how they or we manage the debt associated with this investment is a cornerstone to their overall financial plan.    I choose a wrong product for you, and my reputation as I have built it up over the years is gone.

Many ask if we can access the very best mortgage rates in the market and negotiate the terms that suit your particular situation, and I answer every time absolutely.  If you need help with debt consolidation,  are a first time home buyer, looking for financing for an investment purchase, or simply looking for a plan to pay off your mortgage and other debts sooner, we can put the mortgage blue print in place and get you on the path to where you want to be.  We are always doing what is in your best interest!

This means that with our experience its out mission to:

• Understand each of my client’s unique situation
• Challenging banks to get the best rates for that client and negotiate it as low as possible
• Business shrewdness for understanding financial information and helping investors take advantage of on their investments.
• Ensure solid relationships with lenders which means less red tape to jump though.
• Help families reach their goal of home ownership
• Source options that you would not find on your own, guide you through the paperwork and details and negotiate on your behalf

The more information you put in the application and share with me the better the chance of getting a fast and accurate response please fill out this secure form.  Which translates into the more money I can save you.   Of course this is of no cost to you, nor does it obligate you to use any of my free services.   However why would you not want to use a free service?

 Call or text 403-807-8779

When is the last time you had a annual reality check for your Mortgage?

I have talked to many over the years as a Alberta Mortgage Broker, and most tend to think of their mortgage as the ultimate “buy and hold” purchase. After all, who wants to spend any more time in the “borrower” chair than is absolutely necessary? You get a 5-yearterm, and then go on automatic pilot until it comes due again. You might wring your hands over your other finances, but your mortgage is set in stone, right?

Well, not exactly. In fact, it’s a great idea to have an annual mortgage review to see if it’s really working for you – especially in the context of the rest of your financial picture.  After all, a lot can happen in a year – especially during our “mortgage years”, when we tend to be juggling many commitments in our busy lives! Think of all the financial commitments we carry during these years: care of our children, tuition or school expenses, one or more cars, vacations, home renovations, travel… the list seems to go on and on.

Chances are that something in your financial life has changed since you took out your mortgage. Life doesn’t stand still, after all. Here is a list of the most common reasons why a mortgage may need some adjustment:

• You’re considering a move to a new home in the next year or two;
• You wonder if you can tap into some of your equity for a special renovation project to upgrade your home;
•  You’re wondering if you can afford a vacation property;
•   You’re considering the benefits of investment property ownership;
• You’re a bit concerned about a large expense looming in your future:  like university tuition, a wedding, a leave from work, a new career or business, a big vacation or a new vehicle, for example;
•  You’re making more money – or less money – than you were when you began your mortgage;
•  You’re carrying some credit card or other high-interest debt that is eating away at your monthly cashflow;
• You’re worried that you’re not saving enough for your retirement years, and you’ve heard there’s a way to convert your non-deductible mortgage debt into deductible investment loans using a re-advanceable mortgage.  You’re interested in collecting annual tax refunds, paying off your mortgage faster, and having an investment portfolio for the future.

If any of these sound familiar to you – and if you have held your mortgage for a year or more – then it’s worthwhile to contact a qualified mortgage planner to give your mortgage a reality check.

At Mortgage Architects, the company’s mortgage planners provide this service free of charge and with no obligation.  They tailor each mortgage to their client’s current needs and long-term goals, with an overall focus on mortgage planning, Alberta Mortgage Planners believe that a mortgage is not just a single transaction done in isolation of your goals and overall financial situation, but that a mortgage can accomplish so much more when property structured and integrated into your overall financial plan.

Calgary Mortgage Planners look at the mortgage as a financial keystone - the right mortgage can build your wealth, protect you from a financial downturn, and save you thousands of dollars. That’s why an annual mortgage review is part of their overall service offering.  It’s also a smart financial move for Canadian homeowners.  

Need a mortgage document checklist?

You are about to contact your lender or Alberta Mortgage Broker, and want to get some paper work ready.  Well this is what you might need.

You should get a nice little check list when you get the process started, but this will help you get things in order or at least give you some expectations around what you might need to dig out of the filing cabinet for this mortgage.  Of course every case is different, so if it does not apply to you don’t worry about it.  

• Proof of a minimum 3 year Employment History (Minimum 3 months at current job PLUS previous employment details, employment letter stating not on probation, last two pay stubs,

• Address of where you have lived for the last 3 years.

• Verification of Assets such as RRSP’s, vehicles, quads, trailers, or other property that you

• List of Liabilities and personal loans and the monthly payments for them

 

• Proof of your Down Payment for the home you are purchasing, including a 90 day history of those funds

• A signed Gift Letter if the funds you are using for the down payment are being gifted to you for your purchase.  Be mindful that most lenders have their own letters you might have to get signed.

• A Void Cheque for where your payments will be taken from

• A copy of the Purchase and Sale Agreement

• Your most recent Property Tax Assessment to prove there are no property taxes owing in your name

• MLS Listing of the property you are buying

• Statement of Existing Mortgage if you are paying it out to refinance, etc.

• The name and contact information for your Lawyer

• Separation or Divorce Documents if applicable

• Court Orders pertaining to child or spousal support payments, and 3 months of account statements to verify the payments are being paid and up to date

• Your most recent Notice of Assessment to prove there are no taxes owing in your name

• Bankruptcy Discharge Papers, if applicable

If the list seems over whelming, just take it one step at a time, as being a lender, or a Calgary Mortgage Broker its all about getting everything in order to paint the best possible picture we can.  We are trying to show stability, ability to pay back the loan, and that you have the character to pay it back.   If you have questions on your mortgage, pick up the phone and call or text  403-807-8779