Andie Martin
398 Lloyd Street P3B1P3 Greater Sudbury, ON, Canada

It’s that time of the year againNew Year’s resolutions! While it’s super cliche to set resolutions for the new year, there’s a lot of good that can come out of setting some goals for 2021. If you’ve been thinking about getting into the home or investment market, it’s time to start planning for it. Write out your plan: it seems obvious, but you need to start by putting pen to paper. Writing it out will help you believe it’s achievable and hold you more accountable. ... Prepare for budgeting: if your goal is to purchase a home or investment property, get ready for some budget cuts. The best way to find an equal balance between saving and fun is to budget. It seems time-consuming, but you’ll thank me after you have your new home! Find a routine that works: humans are creatures of habit! Once you find a healthy lifestyle that works, stick to it for two months. Experts (who are much smarter than us!) say that it takes two months or 66 days for a behaviour to become a habit. Keep your eye on the prize: it may be hard to stay motivated but know it’ll all be worth it. Think about the investment cashflow or the comfort of a new home to keep you motivated. Staying positive works! Let me know if I can help you set some goals for 2021 to help you make the most out of the year ahead!

Merry Christmas everyone! I wanted to jump on here quickly to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season! What a wild year it’s been, but there’s so much to be thankful for. Enjoy your day with your loved ones. Santa spoiled Bailey and Budha with treats and toys! Greg and I have a day full of hot chocolate, cookies, and presents ahead! We can’t wait. ... Time to spread some holiday cheer!

The ultimate question in the mortgage business is, what can I afford? There’s A LOT that goes into calculating your pre-approval amount, and it’s generally affected by the debt payments you have and your income levels. BUT, with some simple assumptions ($1,000 credit card balance & $350 monthly car payment), here’s an idea of what you can expect to be pre-approved for: ... $50,000 household income - $200,000* - $812/month mortgage payment $75,000 household income - $330,000* - $1340/month mortgage payment $100,000 household income - $460,000* - $1868/month mortgage payment $125,000 household income - $590,000* - $2395/month mortgage payment If you’re ready to find out what you’re pre-approved for, send me a message! *Pre-approved amounts are subject to rate changes, lender/insurer policy changes, and are application-specific for qualifying income and debt levels

It’s the most wonderful time of the year While entertaining will look a little different this holiday season, I’m still going all out when hosting the family at the house for dinner! Before each meal, I like to get creative with the place settings. Even a small flair of colour can make all the difference! ... Check out five place settings I've come up with for the holidays this year & let me know in the comments which one is your favourite

Buying your first home is an exciting time! There’s a lot to think about; packing, moving, and decorating a new space! With things being so busy, we often fail to realize how much money we’re spending! I’ve chatted with some of my most recent new homeowners to put together a list of the 5 totally unexpected costs after buying a new home. ... 1. New locks - As soon as the keys are in your hand, you should be on your way to change the locks in your home! Don’t cheap out on the first line of security to your brand new home. Quality goes a long way! 2. Window Coverings - Often times the blinds or curtains left by the previous owner are outdated or damaged. While most people leave them as an afterthought, your window coverings can cost you thousands, so budget accordingly! 3. Fire Extinguisher - do you really want to chance not having one? 4. Lawnmower - If you’re a first time home buyer or moving from a condo, this definitely won’t be something you think about. Don’t be the new neighbour with the jungle growing in your front yard. 5. Utility Company Deposits - If you are a new customer to the utility companies, some may require you to put a deposit on your new account so they have more security as they build trust and payment history with you.

Are you ready to own your own home? Buying a home will probably be the largest purchase of your life. It’s not a decision that should be made lightly and there’s a lot to consider before you make an offer on a home. First things first, if you’re planning on moving to a new city in the next 6-12 months, this might not be the time to buy a home! Renting gives you the flexibility to move around without penalty depending on your lease. ... If you’re looking to finally set some roots or start investing, buying a home is definitely for you. When you’re paying rent, you’re essentially paying someone else’s mortgage. When you own your own home, you’re investing in yourself, converting your cash (mortgage payments) to equity (home)! With mortgage rates at record lows and the housing market continuing to stay hot even through a pandemic, an investment in the housing market is the best investment you can make. If you’re thinking about buying your first home but not sure where to start, send me a message!

Remembering all those who gave their lives for the freedoms we have today. To all those who have served, or continue to serve to keep us safe here at home, thank you. Lest we forget.

UH-OH, the unthinkable has happenedyou’ve filed for bankruptcy. No judgement here - it happens. You try to dig yourself out of a hole by paying off old debt with new debt, but the burden becomes too much at some point. In tough like these, it’s easy to slip into the debt trap. Bankruptcy will have a long-lasting influence on your availability to obtain credit for the rest of your life. It’s important to know that some lenders won’t consider your application if you’ve had a... bankruptcy before. If you’re looking to rebuild your credit, there are a few things you can do: 1. Obtain a Secured Credit Card - a secured credit card will require you to lock funds in an account equal to the value of the credit card. While it’s inconvenient, this may be your only option for credit, and it’ll help build your score. 2. Don’t be late - needless to say, don’t miss any payments again! As you try and rebuild your credit, a single missed payment could hurt your credit score. 3. Start Saving - it goes without saying, but if you’ve declared bankruptcy, you need to change your saving habits. There are a ton of saving features you can set up through your bank. Try rounding each transaction to the nearest dollar, with the difference going to your savings account! If you’ve declared bankruptcy in the past and are wondering when you will be ready for your next real estate transaction, let me know!

There are ALOT of factors that determine if you can afford a house or not. One of the main advantages of a mortgage agent is that I take the time to examine your situation and make buying your first, or next house possible. Before we sit down to determine what you can afford, there are a few things that you should come prepared with. ... 1. Income - For most, this is a pretty easy number to find by just looking at your employment contract. If you’re paid hourly or you’re self-employed, this may take some calculating! 2. Expenses- I’ll be the first to admit that it’s hard to estimate expenses. But planning ahead and budgeting for the upcoming year can help you stay on track to ensure you have enough cash to pay your mortgage! 3. Debt- Leave this one mostly to me as I’ll be able to pull your credit report before we get started. Your job is to avoid any new debt (other than your mortgage) for the foreseeable future. Ready to get things started? Send me a message and let’s book some time to chat!

I LOVE Sundays! By the time we get to the end of the workweek, I’m exhausted. Late nights and early mornings during the week mean no alarms on Saturday or Sunday! It’s SO important to take time to relax. I find that if I have a relaxing weekend, I am so much more productive on Monday mornings (let’s not talk about Monday already ). ... Regardless of what’s going on Sunday, I always make sure to cuddle up with the dogs with a warm cup of tea. They’ve come to expect it as a part of their routine and RUN to the couch as soon as they see me put the kettle on! What’s your favourite way to relax on Sundays?