GUIDING YOU TOWARDS SUCCESS, HAPPINESS & FREEDOM

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MORTGAGE PROFESSIONALS

OUR TEAM

Whether you’re buying your first home, facing a big decision, or feeling overwhelmed financially; we’ll bring clarity to your situation and help navigate you towards happiness, personal freedom, and financial security.

ARLENE DEMARS ANDERSON

ARLENE ARNESON

JUSTON LAPRAIRIE

OUR PROCESS

START THE CONVERSATION

The best place to start is to connect with me directly. The mortgage process is personal, and it can be daunting. My commitment to you is that I'll listen to all your needs, assess your financial situation, and provide you with a plan to move forward. 

CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION

Once we’ve had a look at your financial situation, we’ll consider a variety of mortgage options, I’ll outline what documents are necessary to qualify for a mortgage, negotiate with the lenders on your behalf, and arrange the mortgage that best suits your needs.

REST EASY

Once we’ve arranged the mortgage product that best suits your needs, you’re not alone. I’m your mortgage professional for life. If you’ve got questions in the years to come, I’m always available to make sure that your mortgage is working for you, and not the other way around!

OUR SERVICES  

Whether you’re a first time home buyer, refinancing, or renewing your mortgage, our commitment is to be there for you every step of the way.

FLEXIBLE MORTGAGES

As your life can change at any time, we offer a wide range of mortgage products.

EXCELLENT SERVICE

You can expect an excellent customer service experience when you work with us.

QUALIFIED ADVICE

As experts in the field we will listen and address all your questions and concerns.

ADVOCACY

We commit to working on your behalf to find you the best mortgage for your needs.

OUR BLOG IS KEPT UP TO DATE SO YOU CAN STAY INFORMED. 

Easy access to relevant mortgage and home related information
By Arlene Demars Anderson 09 Oct, 2024
It’s a commonly held belief that if you’ve made your mortgage payments on time throughout the entirety of your mortgage term, that the lender is somehow obligated to renew your mortgage. The truth is, a lender is never under any obligation to renew your mortgage. When you sign a mortgage contract, the lender draws it up for a defined time, so when that term comes to an end, the lender has every right to call the loan. Now, granted, most lenders are happy to renew your mortgage, but several factors could come into play to prevent this from happening, including the following: You’ve missed mortgage payments over the term. The lender becomes aware that you’ve recently claimed bankruptcy. The lender becomes aware that you’re going through a separation or divorce. The lender becomes aware that you lost your job. Someone on the initial mortgage contract has passed away. The lender no longer likes the economic climate and/or geographic location of your property. The lender is no longer licensed to lend money in Canada. Again, while most lenders are happy to renew your mortgage at the end of the term, you need to understand that they are not under any obligation to do so. So how do you protect yourself? Well, the first plan of action is to get out in front of things. At least 120 days before your mortgage term expires, you should be speaking with an independent mortgage professional to discuss all of your options. By giving yourself this lead time and seeking professional advice, you put yourself in the best position to proactively look at all your options and decide what’s best for you. When assessing your options at the time of renewal, even if the lender offers you a mortgage renewal, staying with your current lender is just one of the options you have. Just because your current lender was the best option when you got your mortgage doesn’t mean they are still the best option this time around. The goal is to assess all your options and choose the one that lowers your overall cost of borrowing. It’s never a good idea to sign a mortgage renewal without looking at all your options. Also, dealing with an independent mortgage professional instead of directly with the lender ensures you have someone working for you, on your team, instead of seeking guidance from someone with the lender’s best interest in mind. So if you have a mortgage that’s up for renewal, whether you’re being offered a renewal or not, the best plan of action is to protect yourself by working with an independent mortgage professional. Please connect anytime; it would be a pleasure to work with you!
By Arlene Demars Anderson 02 Oct, 2024
When looking to qualify for a mortgage, typically, a lender will want to review four areas of your mortgage application: income, credit, downpayment/equity and the property itself. Assuming you have a great job, excellent credit, and sufficient money in the bank to qualify for a mortgage, if the property you’re looking to purchase isn’t in good condition, if you don't have a plan, you might get some pushback from the lender. The property matters to the lender because they hold it as collateral if you default on your mortgage. As such, you can expect that a lender will make every effort to ensure that any property they finance is in good repair. Because in the rare case that you happen to default on your mortgage, they want to know that if they have to repossess, they can sell the property quickly and recoup their money. So when assessing the property as part of any mortgage transaction, an appraisal is always required to establish value. If your mortgage requires default mortgage insurance through CMHC, Sagen (formerly Genworth), or Canada Guaranty, they’ll likely use an automated system to appraise the property where the assessment happens online. A physical appraisal is required for conventional mortgage applications, which means an appraiser will assess the property on-site. So why is this important to know? Well, because even if you have a great job, excellent credit, and money in the bank, you shouldn’t assume that you’ll be guaranteed mortgage financing. A preapproval can only take you so far. Once the mortgage process has started, the lender will always assess the property you’re looking to purchase. Understanding this ahead of time prevents misunderstandings and will bring clarity to the mortgage process. Practically applied, if you’re attempting to buy a property in a hot housing market and you go in with an offer without a condition of financing, once the appraisal is complete, if the lender isn’t satisfied with the state or value of the property, you could lose your deposit. Now, what happens if you’d like to purchase a property that isn’t in the best condition? Being proactive includes knowing that there is a purchase plus improvements program that can allow you to buy a property and include some of the cost of the renovations in the mortgage. It’s not as simple as just increasing the mortgage amount and then getting the work done, there’s a process to follow, but it’s very doable. So if you have any questions about financing your next property or potentially using a purchase plus improvements to buy a property that needs a little work, please connect anytime. It would be a pleasure to walk you through the process.
By Arlene Demars Anderson 30 Sep, 2024
Starting November 21, 2024, borrowers switching lenders with uninsured mortgages will no longer face the stress test, thanks to a new policy from OSFI. Previously, uninsured borrowers needed to prove they could afford their mortgage at a higher rate, which created barriers to switching for better terms. This change encourages competition among lenders and aligns the rules with insured mortgages, providing more flexibility and choice for homeowners. The decision responds to concerns raised by the Competition Bureau and reflects shifting risk management trends in the mortgage market. Key Points: Applies to Straight Switches: This policy is for borrowers switching lenders while maintaining their loan amount and amortization schedule. Stress Test Removed: No more proving affordability at higher rates during switches, allowing for easier access to competitive offers. Supports Borrower Flexibility: Homeowners now have more options to find the best mortgage rates at renewal without the stress test obstacle. Why the Change? OSFI initially maintained the stress test to manage risk but has now reversed this stance after evaluating that the original concerns have not significantly materialized. This move is designed to balance fairness for borrowers and enhance competition in the mortgage market. How It Affects You For those with uninsured mortgages approaching renewal, this policy change is a win. You'll now have the opportunity to seek out better mortgage rates without facing a stress test, making it easier to reduce financial strain, especially in a rising interest rate environment. Stay informed and take advantage of these changes by reviewing your mortgage options today!

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CLIENTS LIKE YOU 

Who received the right mortgage for them.
I had a client who was referred to me by a realtor who had been told by both their bank and another broker that the property they were wishing to purchase was not able to be financed as neither the property nor the client qualified for the mortgage.

The client was dejected and skeptical but really wanted the property badly so after we met they were willing to let me go to work on the file. With a deeper review of the client’s finances and some minor restructuring, we were able to get the client into their new home.

The client said I was “magic” but in reality it’s just the difference between experience and inexperience.
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