Mortgage Planning for People Who Want to Be Prepared

Understand your mortgage before you find your home.

I’m Jim Sicotte, an Edmonton-area mortgage planner with Polaris Mortgage Planners at Indi Mortgage.

I help people understand their mortgage options, get prepared for home ownership and make informed decisions about one of the largest financial commitments they will make.

And I particularly enjoy working with people who want to figure things out before they start shopping for a home.

Before you start looking at houses, let's figure out the mortgage.

The home-buying process can move quickly once you find the right property.

That's why I believe the best time to start talking about your mortgage is before you start seriously shopping.

We'll look at your situation, talk about what you can comfortably afford, explain how the mortgage process works and identify the things you should know before you make an offer.

That way, when the right home comes along, you're not trying to figure everything out at the same time.

You're prepared.

I enjoy working with prepared, engaged clients.

The people I particularly enjoy helping are those who want to understand the process.

They ask questions. They want to know their options. They take an active role in their decisions and want to understand what they're getting into before they make an offer.

If that's how you approach a major financial decision, we'll probably work well together.

I also enjoy working closely with your Realtor. Buying a home is a team effort, and I believe the mortgage planner and Realtor should communicate and work together so that everyone is focused on helping you make a well-informed decision.

Your mortgage is about more than the interest rate.

Interest rate matters. But it isn't the only thing that matters.

When comparing mortgage options, I look at the bigger picture with you — including:

• Mortgage terms

• Prepayment privileges

• Penalties

• Portability

• Lender restrictions

• Payment options

• How the mortgage fits with your plans

A mortgage can look attractive because of a low rate today, but the details can become very important if you sell your home, refinance, make a large prepayment or change your plans during the mortgage term.

My job is to help you understand those trade-offs before you choose.

My approach is simple: educate first, decide together.

I don't believe you should be pressured into a mortgage you don't understand.

I'll explain your options in plain language, answer your questions and help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of the choices available to you.

You remain in control of the decision.

My role is to give you the information, experience and perspective you need to make that decision with confidence.

More than a mortgage transaction.

At Polaris Mortgage Planners, I don't want our relationship to end when your mortgage funds.

I want to be the person you can call when you have a mortgage question — whether you're buying your first home, moving to your next one, considering a refinance or simply wondering whether you should make a change to your existing mortgage.

Your circumstances will change over time.

Your mortgage should be considered in the context of those changes.

That's why I think of my role as mortgage planning, rather than simply finding a mortgage.

Mortgage Planners for Life

The goal isn't just to get you into a home.

It's to help you make good mortgage decisions throughout your home ownership journey.

That starts with getting prepared before you shop.

It continues with helping you understand your options when you're ready to make an offer.

And it carries on as your mortgage, your finances and your plans change.

Ready to get started?

You don't need to have a house picked out.

In fact, I often prefer that you don't.

If you're thinking about buying a home, let's talk before you start shopping. We can figure out where you stand, answer your questions and put a plan together.

Then, when you're ready to look at homes, you'll know what you're looking for — and what you can afford.

Let's figure out the mortgage before you start shopping.

Jim Sicotte and Polaris Mortgage Planners at Indi Mortgage are here to help!

We are focused on being Your Mortgage Planners for Life. From getting Pre-Approved to having your mortgage Paid Off, we are here with you every step of the way.

• Our #1 focus is getting you the best home financing for your situation.

• Our #2 focus is communicating to you (and your Realtor and Lawyer) every step of the way during the home financing process so everyone knows what is going on and required.

• Our #3 focus is then helping you get that mortgage paid off so that you can enjoy home ownership and financial freedom.

This is our business. You are our client. Together home ownership is yours for the taking, and mortgage freedom is yours for the having.

This App will do an estimate only. We still want you to let us verify your numbers and paperwork. Lenders have a variety of policies that we can often use to help improve your qualifying numbers. When you are ready to get pre-qualified and go home shopping, go to our application page so we can do a thorough qualification for you. You can also access our application page through the Mortgage App by clicking on Sign Up on the top right or on Get Pre-Approved Now, once you have done a calculation.

Four Easy Steps to Getting a Mortgage

Buying a new home will likely be one of the most expensive purchases you ever make. For this reason, it is wise to learn a little bit about how the mortgage qualifying process works. For your convenience, we have broken down the process into four simple steps.

Here are four easy steps to getting a new mortgage:

STEP 1: APPLY
Our online application will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. Please try to complete it as accurately as possible, as this will help us place your loan with the best lender and at an excellent rate. If you would rather, you can give us a call and we can take your information over the phone or meet in person.

STEP 2: PROCESSING
Your Mortgage Planner will then be in touch to review your application and discuss your specific needs before getting you approved for your mortgage financing.

STEP 3: ACCEPTANCE
When your loan is approved, your Mortgage Planner will send you your approval and a list of required documents. The approval must be signed and returned along with any other required documents.

STEP 4: FUNDING
Once your loan is complete you will need to meet with your lawyer to finalize and register your loan.

Want to Learn More?