Brad Lockey, Mortgage Agent

Let's engage in a conversation about your debts NOW to see what options you have. In the past 4 weeks alone, I've been able to: - close a new townhome purchase for a client who went through a divorce; - close a refinance to buy out a newly divorced client from his ex-wife and let him keep his children at the same school;... - refinanced a couple to access $90,000 for a new business venture, and secure a 1.64% lower interest rate; - switched a client to a new lender, thereby reducing their interest rate by 0.55%, paying off $12,000 of credit card debt, decreasing their effective amortization by 8 months and freeing up $66.08 monthly; - help clients purchase a new home closing in June and turn their current property into a rental; There are opportunities to optimize your finances that you will not know about unless you reach out. If you know someone who could use some help, tag them or let me know who they are and I'll call them. #mortgagemonday #mortgagestrategy #mortgagesmarts #pickeringmortgageagent #pickeringmortgages #mortgageplanning #mortgageoptimize

I don't know about you, but I swear a lot more when working from home. I think it may be the lack of division from work and home life ... because they're all melded into one these days. Stress might have you down; whether it's re: work, family or the insane division of humanity you see on social media.... No matter where it is, take a step back, breathe deeply and tell yourself "I don't give a shitake", and move on to the next task. Tell me that doesn't feel better? #fridaysocks #shitakemushroomsocks #idontgiveashitake #pickeringmortgageagent #pickeringmortgages

Whoa, I did not see this coming. I took a leap on this one and tossed it on during a drive I took to deliver some Christmas gifts. It did not disappoint. The narrator on the audiobook was edgy and did a fantastic job, A+ for Robert Petkoff.... The book itself is a mix of mafia and medicine; as odd as that sounds. Past life of the protagonist = mafia hitman, AKA "Bearclaw". Present life, after witness protection = ER Doctor. Past + Present = a considered must read. This book has many elements that you make you laugh, make you squeamish, make you excited; with plenty of violence, profanity, medical technical stuff and again, I have to say the narration was spot on. #bookreportwednesday #reading #alwayslearning #pickeringmortgageagent #pickeringmortgages #beatthereaper #joshbazell

Let's say your annual property taxes are $4,800. If you pay your property taxes directly to your municipality, your account will be debited $400 monthly and you will be right on track and paid to date always. If you allow your mortgage lender to collect your property taxes and pay them on your behalf, your lender will build up a tax reserve account for you; so that when the municipality comes knocking on their door to collect your property taxes, they have the funds (and then... some) readily available. What often happens is that your mortgage lender can collect 18 months of property taxes in the first 12 months of collecting your mortgage payments. Therefore, you've allowed your mortgage lender to collect $550 monthly for your $400 monthly payment. To increase your cash flow in this example, pay your property taxes direct to your municipality. After 12 months, if you ask your mortgage lender to scale the increased property tax payment back to 1/12 of the property tax amount they should do so, but if you forget, that reserve account will keep growing and growing. I've seen property tax reserve accounts in excess of $8,000 sitting with institutional mortgage lenders ... and I think the average homeowner can make that $8,000 work for them in better ways than earning minimal interest in an account. Never fall into arrears if you can avoid doing so. The municipality could place a lien on your property allowing the municipality to claim your unpaid property taxes against your home in the event you file for bankruptcy, or when you sell your property. A lien from the municipality would supersede your mortgage lender's debt, and if your lender catches wind of this they could request your mortgage be paid in full, given adequate time. #mortgagemonday #pickeringmortgages #pickeringmortgageagent #payyourownpropertytaxes

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals. #sockfriday #christmassocks

Utilize your credit card for any cash or debit transactions you make. Keep the receipt(s). Wait 3-4 days after the purchase. Transfer money from your savings /chequing account directly to you credit card. Rinse.... Repeat. By using your credit card and paying the balance down as quickly as possible you're doing everything right. And try not to carry a balance month to month. This will have your credit score consistently gleaming. #mortgagmonday #creditscoreboost #creditscoreincrease #pickeringmortgageagent #pickeringmortgages #doyourselfafavour

Full disclosure, this book took me 74 days to read. And I read a few other books while I had this one on my night table. I read it before I shut my eyes each night, but it never had me turning pages and staying awake. I found it scattered and that's likely why I did not stay awake ... but it did help me sleep.... The sub-stories within are staggering and chilling and unbelievable ... but they happened and are still happening. If you've seen the TV show, The Americans, this is the real-life story. I, will now be watching The Americans in my spare time. The book was great, but it didn't flow smoothly for me. #bookreportwednesday #reading #alwayslearning #theamericanstvshow #pickeringmortgageagent #pickeringmortgages

Your mortgage balance is $450,000. You're 1 year into your 5 year term and the penalty to discharge is $9,000. If you stick it out with your current mortgage, your remaining balance in 4 years at maturity will be $420,000. However, if you break the mortgage, capitalize the penalty, get a new lower rate, keep your payments static, your new remaining balance in 4 years will be $412,000.... If this scenario does not make sense then you need to call me to run your numbers and I'll help you understand. #mortgagmonday #breakyourmortgageadvantage #mortgagestrategy

Damn it all. #whatisfuckcancer

Today's post is brought to us from a celebrity mortgage agent located in North Vancouver, BC. Jacqueline and I connected through Instagram on February 23, 2019. We shared some comments on some posts, which turned into an email exchange to dive a bit deeper, and that evolved to a phone call to chat business, life and all things in between. Now, we try and talk every 6 weeks to update each other on marketing ideas, industry knowledge, parenting tips and we've just become really... good friends because she's just a really good person. This has been an interesting year, and it's not over yet. I encourage you, especially if you're a mortgage agent or Realtor, to connect with someone outside of your province to share ideas and "up your game" with. New perspectives shed light on what could be missing in your business. #fridayfoliage #getoutsideandplay #pickeringmortgageagent #pickeringmortgages

Well now. Firstly, if someone burned a book of mine they would get a swift punch to the throat. Now to the novel: A fireman, whose job it is to start fires? Books are forbidden, and thereby burned?... Books are retained in memory, one a piece, by a camp and alternate culture of "readers"? The general population is okay with this? Hmmmmmm, sounds a bit like current day mask-wearing ... but I digress. This is largely a book about the power of books and how they relate to life, and to personal awakening and the importance of thought. It's a dystopian novel and largely moves thinkers and readers to mindless boobs sitting infront of screens, listening to scripted mesia and losing their ability to talk about anything. I listened to this Audible title read by the actor, Tim Robbins, and I have to say he did a fantastic job of giving each character their own voice. #pickeringmortgageagent #pickeringmortgages #reading #alwayslearning #raybradbury #farenheit451 #bookreportwednesday

You buy a house. Secure a mortgage. Make your regular payments. Maybe prepay that mortgage using your privileges. Now you realize equity.... If you're still earning an income and understand how paying a mortgage is like forced savings, then I can introduce an idea to tap into your equity, lend it out in smartly placed 2nd mortgages and earn a nice return. Dormant equity put to work can excel your retirement plan. #mortgagemonday #mortgagestrategy #mortgagesmarts #equityleverage #earnonyourequity #pickeringmortgageagent #pickeringmortgages

This stairway is cool, and fell trees are too. There is something sacrificial that I think of when I see a naturally fallen tree in the woods. I see this tree as a type of big-brother/big-sister who is looking out for the good of the ecosystem. A fell tree; whether taken down by industry, age or inclement weather, can take anywhere from 57 - 124 years to fully decompose.... While it decomposes it does not stop working for humanity. - Microorganisms colonize and build. - They still store carbon and their roots still hold the soil. - When trees are old or dead, they often become even more important to the greatest number of forest inhabitants. - The many insects that eat dead wood, such as ants and bark beetles, provide food for almost all the animals that live in the forest. - Cavities in old trees provide nesting sites and/or feeding stations for birds and mammals. - Cavities and loose bark serve as daytime roosting sites for bats. - The exposed, bare branches of big trees provide excellent perches for hawks and other raptors. - The exposed roots of fallen trees provide a habitat for small mammals. - Dead trees lying on the ground provide cool, moist homes for amphibians and reptiles and also newly sprouted seedlings. - As trees age and ultimately decompose, they often become covered by a beautiful mix of mosses, lichens, and fungi. Now you know. And, as G.I. Joe always told us, "knowing is half the battle." #pickeringmortgages #fridayfoliage #felltreesrule #stairwayintheforest #getoutsideandplay

There are a specific set of circumstances that apply to succeeding at something. We've all heard about hard work, determination, the 10,000-hour rule, sweat equity, etc... but how much correlation to success is "being in the right place, at the right time", or have you thought about the sentence "she was born with it"? We all know that high achievers are different. In a prior book I read, The Psychopath Test, we learned that most (if not all) CEOS can be classified as psychop...aths, or narcissists, or sociopaths. But, the element of luck and circumstance can have a pivotal impact on eventual success. If you want to learn more about: - software billionaires, their similar ages and success: read Outliers; - The Beatles, their rise to stardom and how much time they spent playing their instruments and performing: read Outliers; - why the Asian population is said to be better at math than everyone else, their language, phonetics, and syllables: read Outliers; - a middle school in NYC called The Kipp Academy, their students success comparative to other cohorts of NYC, and the eradication of a summer vacation; read Outliers. Loved it. A+. On to the next Gladwell title soon enough. #bookreportwednesday #pickeringmortgageagent #pickeringmortgages #reading #alwayslearning

A box was delivered to my house on Saturday and I had no idea what was in it. It was heavier than expected when I picked it up, and it sounded like it could be ...fragile. I was perplexed as I didn't recall buying anything online recently. I opened the box and to my surprise, it was full of craft brewery selections from a host of different establishments. I smiled. Then I saw a note inside and realized it was from clients of mine since 2016. I, then, smiled much greater. Working with down to earth, super cool, good people is a reward that I am grateful for in this industry. It's not easy as you win some, you lose some, things go according to plan and things go sideways. Being given the opportunity of a family's trust is a huge undertaking that I do not take lightly any day. Seeing families that I have helped achieve their dreams is something I will never get tired of. I wanted to give a sincere thank you and say congratulations to Sean Patrick and Katie Hillock for being genuine, good people. And I know they are instilling the same values that they hold dear on to their children. They made my day this past weekend and they got me thinking about doing the same for someone I know this weekend.

We're all fortunate to be borrowing at such low mortgage interest rates currently. But the benefit can be gone in a flash with the wrong mortgage choice. I've seen mortgage discharge penalties upwards of $30,000 that could have been closer to $6,000 based on the exact same rate.... If you're carrying other debts at higher interest rates than 2.19% a chat is a worthy place to start learning about your choices. #mortgagestrategy #mortgagemonday #mortgagerate #rateisnteverything #pickeringmortgages #pickeringmortgageagent

Today's round brought to you by Baxter Creek Golf Club and the incoming little boy for my brother in law. Awesome.

Weekend mornings are for cosy FORTS!!! My co-pilot is watching soccer with me.

Adidas.ca FAIL. Anyone remove one of these DIY?

Such good condition this late in the year. A bit chilly, but I am still rocking my shorts.

#9 at Copper Creek looks good. #getoutsideandplay #golfrules

It's a work in progress, but I think it's perfect already. Also, it's 916pm and I can't wait for our regular bedtimes with school back in action next week.

My best decision today was: "Hey Google, play 'This is White Zombie'"

Some people eat food for lunch. I fast every morning and eat fresh air for lunch. Although now I want some sunflower seeds. #fridayfoliage #getoutsideandplay #pickeringmortgages #fastingforfocus

Science fiction can go to hell ... or another dimension. I can't get into it. What I though I would enjoy just kind of dragged on. I did finish it, because I am a completionist. But I picked his up on a whim and it took me over a month to read ... that tells me it was painful to finish.... Not my cup of (virtual) tea. #reading #alwayslearning #bookreportwednesday #ithinksciencefictionsucks

The real estate market is currently bonkers (choice word, I know). It's important for me to have patience with my lenders, Realtor partners and applicants. Let's all try to have patience with each other to make things move efficiently. Now, let's not misconstrue patience and think being busy is a replacement for being productive.... I set the expectations for my clients right out of the gate so they're well informed of my next steps, as well as their own next steps. If you're not working with me as a Mortgage Agent, then it's important for you to ask about meeting your expectations and those of the 'other" Mortgage Agent. But who are we kidding? Why would you work wth anyone but me? #mortgagemonday #mortgagestrategy #mortgagesmarts #mortgageexpectations #mortgageexpert #mortgagepatience

This week was full of walks without my phone to maintain sanity. #fridayfoliage #pickeringmortgages #getoutsideandplay

I don't read much fiction, but I decided to take a break from nonfiction and do so. And, I'll report that I am happy that I did. A cannibal. Puzzles.... Kidnapping. Death and despair. These are all things I like reading about; call me twisted, that's OK. But, Jack Heath does a great job with his storytelling and interweaving of plots. A well authored read; and I found no spelling/grammar errors either - so great job to the editors. On to the sequel in due time as I like the way it ended. Thank you for the recommendation @jennajuice78 #reading #alwayslearning #pickeringmortgages #hangman #jackheath

It's mad out there. And there is no harm going into a purchase agreement hoping for the best. But there is potential harm if you're buying and selling and not being prepared for the worst. What if you sell for $625,000 when you were anticipating $685,000?... What if you buy at $900,000 and it appraises for $850,000? Depending on your down payment scenario, there's the potential to be on the hook for $110,000; and that's a reality. Call me. I run the "dream" numbers for you. I run the "probable" numbers for you. And, I run the "worst-case scenarios so as to not be sued" numbers for you. The combination of these 3 scenarios will prepare you for your next steps. #mortgagmonday #mortgagestrategy #pickeringmortgages #mortgagesmarts #dontbedaft #realestatepricing

A little Scarborough Bluffs and Lake Ontario in the evening. But seriously; don't climb the Bluffs. If you live near any water, go explore the area surrounding it. Oh, and ducks.... #foliagefridays #pickeringmortgages #datenightwalk #getoutsideandplay @ Bluffer's Sand Beach

If you enjoy Real Time with Bill Maher you'll love this book. Although I listened to it about 9 years too late, there are still some very funny points and diatribes. Humour is good for your soul. I enjoy crass humour.... If you don't, stay away from this title. #bookreportwednesday #reading #alwayslearning #pickeringmortgages

It's about options, analysis and the right questions being asked. If you're solely focused on rate, you're being sold something advantageous for an institution. Don't give an institution and upper hand. Ask questions.... Get answers. And if you don't know what questions to ask, let me ask you the important questions. #mortgagmonday #pickeringmortgages #mortgagestrategy #mortgageterm #soimportant

My brother in law got married today. There's lots of that loving feeling here. And that is a fantastic feeling. I'm proud of Alesandro and Ashia.... I love my wife and daughter. The family that I married into is generous, fun, playful and considerate. Lots of happy times and thank you Alesandro and Ashia for bringing us together today and always. @ Cobourg, Ontario

Spent some time at the Elora Gorge this week and it was magnificent. Even my daughter said it was pretty cool. #foliagefridays #pickeringmortgages #getoutsideandplay @ Brad Lockey, Mortgage Agent

Loved it. Look, you've likely read some positive and some negative reviews for this book. As with any title, read it and be your own critic or praise an enjoyable read. Don't "not" read the book.... Thin slicing is a term that Gladwell brings about that suggests the old adage about judging a book by it's cover. Although the term is "don't just a book by it's cover" sadly, most of us do. The interesting thing is that some times we're right, and some times we're completely wrong. There is so much going on in the world of psychology and more specifically, human interaction. What I found interesting is how little effort goes into our minds making a first impression ... it literally happens in the blink of an eye, and it's tough to undo that first impression in its entirety. Again, read the book, because reading is cool. #bookreportwednesday #reading #alwayslearning #pickeringmortgages #blink #malcolmgladwell

Why wouldn't you want to see if you could save some money over the next 5 years? After a phone call we collect some documents and then I analyze your full debt scenario and tell you what I would do. Pretty simple formula for you. #mortgagemonday #mortgagestrategy #pickeringmortgages #savesomemoney

I usually just salt and pepper our steaks before the grill, but tonight I'm given them a rub. #ribeyesforthewin #steakrub #dizzypigraisingthesteaks #justcookherbedcoffeerub

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you stand still." I've been walking along the tracks as there is less traffic and it gives me more solitude. Also, I've been working on my balance and core strength when I give myself the opportunity. ... Nonetheless, to you all; keep on moving forward. #fridayfoliage #pickeringmortgages #keepmovingforward @ Brad Lockey, Mortgage Agent

If you're going to consume this book I suggest the Audiobook version. Although I have not turned it's physical pages, it's been recorded in an authentic Danish voice and accent and is narrated by the Author; which always gives it that extra verve. The book makes me want to relocate and live in Denmark; or at least vacation there. Everything is covered re: hygge (hew-ga) from picking the right lighting and planning a dinner party through to creating an emergency hygge kit and ...even how to dress. What I am lacking in hygge factor is candles; the Danish are insane about setting a mood with candles and it's represented in their per capita consumption of candle wax - that nearly doubles the next closest nation in the world at 6kg of candle wax each year. Let me ask you a question though - was there a time that you lit a candle and, outside of it starting a fire, you didn't feel more calm and collected? No; likely not. This was a fun book to listen to and a reminder to slow down, accept life at is comes, but also live like a Dane and find the importance of family, togetherness and comfort. #bookreportwednesday #reading #alwayslearning #walkandthink #pickeringmortgages

You hear the word mortgage and the majority of Canadians immediately think 5-year fixed rate. If you wonder why this is, I'm going to tell you. The 5-year fixed-rate mortgage is the most profitable product for banks to offer you. It's often not the best mortgage product for you, the applicant.... Here's the deal. There is a statistic out there that tells us on average, Canadians trigger a mortgage discharge, switch, refinance, etc... anywhere from 30-40 months into term. I'm not going to get into a battle about the validity of this statistic, but I will tell you from running my own book of business over 10 years, that it's true. 30 months is 50% into a 5-year term. 40 months is 67% into a 5-year term. When penalties are calculated, the remaining term is a key factor. The further you are into your mortgage contract, likely the smaller your penalty is. But there are a few other things that do into a discharge penalty as well. If you're mortgage agent is not asking you about the long term and only considering the short term, they are operating on their own agenda. Yes, mortgage agents get paid more for a 5-year term than a 2-year term. But you want to work with a mortgage agent that is working for you best interests; not their own. Have a proactive conversation. If your Mortgage Agent are not asking solid, thought-provoking questions, then find another agent to work with. #pickeringmortgages #mortgagestrategy #mortgageterm #buildwealth #mortgagemonday

For the first time since this pandemic hit us all, I was alone for dinner this evening. But don't be sad for me, I sincerely enjoy being alone. My parents are having a sleepover with my baby, and Alicia is off on a yoga retreat for my soon -to-be, new sister-in-law ... in-law. I'm terrible with family tree roots.... As you can see, I can cook. That being said, my career often has me busy, especially near the tail end of most days;. That is before 5pm when dinner is being prepared. Enter, my wonderful wife who I am forever grateful for, Alicia. She plans weekly menu items for us. She (predominately) cooks our meals. She is amazing at balancing our family's diet and nutrition. We would be lost (and I would be much fatter) without her. We love her with all of our being. Now, enter being together for 135 days or so, every hour, every minute, every second. We've been there through it all together. Last night it was my daughter and I without Alicia; and it felt strange. Today, and tonight, it is me solo ... and it feels eerily stranger. They say "absence makes the heart grow fonder" and I'm not sure how many of you have truly pondered this or been without someone; but it's very real. Am I sad? No. Do I find this a powerful experience, even at one night? Absolutely. I do not express gratefulness as much as I should and I find writing this oddly cathartic. Enjoy the pictures of the food I made and ate, but don't expect many more as taking pictures of the steps involved in cooking/eating is friggin' mentally draining. I'd much rather just cook, savour and eat. Enjoy your evening. Be grateful. Tell those who you are grateful for, exactly that. And do that tonight.

Early morning haulage rolling through. Someone forgot their keys. I thought it was a snake and jumped. #fridayfoliage #pickeringmortgages #getoutsideandplay #walking10kstepsaday @ Brad Lockey, Mortgage Agent

Wow, a fantastic read here. For a meager 123 pages, this book goes insanely deep and after finishing it I couldn't understand how the author did it? This speaks very much to human nature, how we're all different and the importance of being true to yourself. Whether you're empathetic, a sociopath, how influenced by society and your environment you are, etc... Favourite Quote: "You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live... life if you are looking for the meaning of life." #bookreportwednesday #reading #alwayslearning #pickeringmortgages

So much goes into your mortgage approval these days. You cannot take it light-hearted. If your mortgage provider is not asking for the following (at minimum) before you place an offer to purchase, you should find another mortgage provider: - employment letter;... - 2 recent pay stubs; - NOA for last 2 years; - proof of no income taxes owing to CRA; - most recent T4; - 90 days unedited banks statements; - current mortgage statement; - current property tax statement; Without these documents reviewed, you should not be placing an offer to purchase unless you're ok with disappointment in the future. #mortgagmonday #mortgagestrategy #pickeringmortgages #documentsupfront

This week highlights water and how it serves our foliage. Enjoy your weekend ... and don't melt. #fridayfoliage #pickeringmortgages

We live in some interesting times. So many positive steps have been taken for humans, yet many atrocities have taken shape as well. I am pretty ignorant to geo-political stuff; and that is by choice. I hear this, I hear that, conspiracy theory here, she did this to get that there .... it could be all-consuming and I'd rather live my life with my wife and daughter and think about more pleasant things and smile with them. The United States is often compared but a much different... country than Canada. Today though, tyranny exists across the globe due to a pandemic. This book is about 20 actions one can take to resist tyranny. This is a short read that you can reserve at your local library. I suggest anyone read it. #bookreportwednesday #reading #alwayslearning #pickeringmortgages

2nd mortgages are usually facilitated to consolidate debt, with the clear exit strategy realized within 12 months or less. There are times that 2nd mortgages make sense, but there are also costs involved that might turn your stomach. It's best to work with a professional to understand the ins and outs as they are complex.

Today's foliage is that of which grows from my head and face. I'm 40 plus and still have a pretty good grey free pelt growing. Enjoy the weekend everyone. #fridayfoliage #pickeringmortgages #wildandfreehair #iwillnotcutitforawhile @ Brad Lockey, Mortgage Agent