Who I Help
I help people who want to understand the mortgage before they buy the house.
Not everyone approaches buying a home the same way.
Some people want to find a house first and figure out the financing afterward.
Others want to understand their options, get organized and have a plan before they start looking.
Those are the people I particularly enjoy working with.
People who like to be prepared
I enjoy working with clients who want to understand the process before they begin shopping.
You don't need to know everything about mortgages. That's my job.
But I appreciate clients who are willing to ask questions, provide the information needed and take an active role in making their decisions.
We'll work through the important questions together:
How much can you comfortably afford?
What will your monthly payments look like?
How much should you put toward your down payment?
What should you have ready before you start shopping?
What mortgage options are available to you?
What should you understand before making an offer?
What happens after your offer is accepted?
The goal is to have fewer surprises later because we've taken the time to understand things earlier.
First-time homebuyers
Buying your first home can feel like there is a lot to learn.
You may have questions about down payments, qualifying, closing costs, mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, the mortgage process and what happens after you make an offer.
That's completely normal.
My job is to help break the process down into understandable steps so you know what to expect.
You don't have to become a mortgage expert.
You just need to understand enough to make good decisions.
People who want to make an informed decision
I don't expect every client to know which mortgage they want when we first talk.
In fact, I'd rather you ask questions.
There can be meaningful differences between mortgages that appear very similar at first glance. Interest rate is important, but so are the terms, prepayment privileges, penalties, portability and other restrictions.
I'll help you understand those differences and the trade-offs involved.
You make the decision. I'll help you understand it.
Homebuyers who want their Realtor and mortgage planner working together
I enjoy working with Realtors who want to be part of a team.
Buying a home works better when the financing and real estate sides of the transaction are communicating with each other.
Your Realtor can focus on helping you find and negotiate the right property, while I focus on making sure the financing side is understood and ready.
Before you make an offer, we can make sure everyone understands the numbers and the plan.
Once you have an accepted offer, we continue working together to get the mortgage completed.
The client stays at the centre of the process.
People who are planning ahead
You don't need to be ready to buy next month to talk to me.
Sometimes the most valuable mortgage conversation happens months before someone is ready to purchase.
Maybe you're saving for a down payment.
Maybe you're working on your credit.
Maybe you're paying down debt.
Maybe you're simply trying to understand what you need to do to become a homeowner.
Starting early gives us time to identify what needs to happen and create a plan.
I'd much rather help you prepare early than have you discover an issue after you've found the house you want.
Homeowners who want someone they can call
My relationship with a client doesn't have to end when the mortgage funds.
Your financial circumstances, family situation and plans can change. When they do, it can be helpful to have someone who already understands your mortgage and your history.
You might have questions about:
Renewing your mortgage
Making a lump-sum payment
Increasing your payments
Refinancing
Selling your home
Buying another property
Breaking your mortgage
Whether your current mortgage still makes sense
Sometimes the answer will be to make a change.
Sometimes the answer will be to leave things alone.
Either way, I'm happy to have the conversation.
Who I may not be the right fit for
I'm not interested in being the mortgage professional who simply sends you the lowest rate and asks you to sign.
If your only objective is to find the lowest possible interest rate and you don't want to discuss the rest of the mortgage, there may be other professionals who are a better fit.
I believe the mortgage deserves a little more thought than that.
If you want to understand your options, ask questions and make an informed decision, that's the kind of relationship I enjoy building.
Let's get you prepared
You don't need to have a house picked out.
You don't need to know exactly what mortgage you want.
And you don't need to have all the answers.
If you're thinking about buying a home, let's start with a conversation.
We'll figure out where you are, what you need to know and what you should do next.
Before you start shopping, let's figure out the mortgage.