Jim Sicotte

Mortgage Planner | Polaris Mortgage Planners

I’m Jim Sicotte, a mortgage planner with Polaris Mortgage Planners at Indi Mortgage.

I’ve been helping people with their mortgages since 2013, and one of the things I enjoy most about my work is helping people understand the process before they have to make important decisions.

Buying a home is a big financial commitment. I don’t think you should have to figure out the mortgage at the same time you’re trying to find the right house.

Let’s figure out the mortgage before you start shopping

The clients I particularly enjoy working with are people who want to get prepared before they start looking at homes.

They ask questions. They want to understand how much they can comfortably afford, what their options are, what the process looks like and what they should be thinking about before they make an offer.

I like working with people who take an active role in their decisions and want to understand what they’re getting into rather than simply being told what to do.

That preparation can make the home-buying process much easier. When you know what you can afford, understand how your mortgage works and have a plan in place, you can focus more of your attention on finding the right home.

Here’s more about who I help →

I like working as part of the team

I also really enjoy working with Realtors.

A good home purchase involves a team, and I believe the mortgage planner and Realtor should be working together for the benefit of the client.

My role is to help make sure the financing side is understood and ready to go, while the Realtor helps with the home and real estate side of the transaction.

When we communicate well and everyone understands the plan, the client is better prepared to make decisions and move forward when the right home comes along.

A mortgage is about more than the interest rate

Of course, the interest rate matters.

But it is only one part of a mortgage.

When I help someone compare mortgage options, I want them to understand the bigger picture — including the mortgage terms, prepayment privileges, penalties, portability, lender restrictions and how the mortgage may fit with their plans over the next few years.

A mortgage that looks great because it has the lowest rate today may not necessarily be the mortgage that works best for your plans if you sell, refinance, make significant prepayments or change your financial circumstances.

My job is not simply to find a mortgage.

It is to help you understand your choices so you can make a decision that makes sense for you.

See how we plan mortgages, step by step →

I believe in educating, not pressuring

I don't believe people need to be sold a mortgage.

They need good information.

My approach is to explain things in plain language, answer questions and help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of the options available to you.

Sometimes that means recommending a particular mortgage. Sometimes it means explaining why two seemingly similar mortgages aren't actually the same. And sometimes it means telling you that you aren't ready yet and helping you figure out what needs to happen before you buy.

The goal is always the same: help you make an informed mortgage decision that you understand.

Mortgage planning doesn't end when the mortgage funds

I call my business Polaris Mortgage Planners because I believe the relationship should go beyond getting a mortgage approved.

Your mortgage is likely going to be one of the largest financial commitments you make. Your circumstances and goals can change over time, and your mortgage should be reviewed as those changes happen.

That might mean looking at your mortgage before renewal, considering your prepayment options, reviewing whether refinancing makes sense or simply having a conversation about where you are headed.

I want to be someone you can call when you have a mortgage question — not just when you're buying a house.

A little about me

I live in the Edmonton area and have spent much of my professional life working with people and helping them navigate important financial decisions.

Outside of mortgages, I enjoy being active, spending time with family and friends, and being involved in the Edmonton community.

I also enjoy learning. Real estate, economics, lending and the financial decisions surrounding home ownership are constantly changing, so I spend a lot of time trying to understand what is happening in the market and what it could mean for the people I work with.

But ultimately, mortgages are about people.

Every client has different goals, priorities and circumstances. I enjoy getting to know those goals and helping people put a plan together that makes sense for them.

Thinking about buying a home?

If you're planning to buy, I would encourage you to talk to a mortgage planner before you start seriously shopping.

It gives us time to understand your situation, answer your questions, work through your options and make sure you are prepared before you find the house you want to buy.

And when that house does come along, you'll know what you can afford, understand the financing and have a plan for moving forward.

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

Communities we serve

Based in Edmonton, we help clients across the Edmonton area, including St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Leduc, Beaumont, Devon, Calmar, Morinville, Ardrossan, Tofield and Camrose. We also work with clients throughout Alberta.