
Broker Life Podcast
By Mark Panizzon

Broker Life PodcastJul 28, 2023

E17: Stephanie MacMillan - Servus Credit Union
In this week’s episode, Stephanie from Servus Credit Union shares all the wonderful things about this lender. We discuss, her different roles within Servus over the past 17 years, comparing SCU to major banks, profit sharing and some of the niches Servus’ has to offer. Plus, some tips for home buyers and of course the speed round. #mortgagebroker #mortgageconnection #lenders #servuscreditunion #podcast #brokerlifepodcast
0:20 Intro
5:25 Where does Servus service its clients?
7:38 Credit Unions vs Banks
10:00 Penalties & Pre-payment privileges
11:50 Working with a mortgage broker vs a branch at Servus
13:00 Servus niches: HELOC’s, acreages, new construction, rural properties, profit sharing, local underwriting, mobile homes
15:07 Rural properties & acreages
16:05 New Construction
19:00 Rental properties
19:30 Purchase & refinance plus improvements
20:10 Rates & Trends
21:50 Rate projections
22:35 Biggest challenges in the mortgage industry
24:01 One tip for home buyers
25:00 Credit tips, min requirements
27:00 Speed round
29:54 Where to find Servus

E17: Dave Ozubko - Realtor with ReMax Rivercity
In this week’s episode, Dave is back to give us an update on the summer housing market in Edmonton, AB. We discuss, sales, home prices, demographics, immigration, and the types of homes selling, and we get into some forecasts for next year. #mortgagebroker #mortgageconnection #brokerlifepodcast #podcast #realestate #yeg #realtor
00:26 Intro
02:30 Summer Housing Market in Edmonton, AB
06:00 Home Prices and Price Action
07:17 How the demographics and immigration is impacting the market
08:25 Which homes are selling
09:50 Condos Units and Trends
12:35 Is it a good time to buy?
15:00 Second half of 2023 and into 2024
17:00 New Construction business
18:09 Client Appreciation Party
20:22 Speed Round
23:50 Where to find the Dave Ozubko real estate team

E16: Mortgage Connection Managing Partners
In this week’s episode, we chat with the founders of Mortgage Connection. We discuss how Mortgage Connection came to be, the three pillars of MOCO, the people, and their vision, and we get into the Alberta housing market and economy, tech and of course the speed round. #mortgageconnection #mortgagebroker #brokerlifepodcast #podcast
0:20 Intro
1:12 How Mortgage Connection become
3:47 Mortgage Connection and Dominion Lending Centers
9:16 Culture, Collaboration and Community – the three pillars of MOCO
15:55 Mortgage Connections growth
20:45 What is the vision for Mortgage Connection 25:00 Assessing the Calgary and Edmonton real estate markets
36:00 Interest Rates and How to manage this environment
43:15 One tip for someone looking to buy a home right now
44:35 One tip for someone looking to renew their mortgage in the next 2 years
47:05 One tip for someone looking to find a good mortgage broker
47:35 Mortgage Tech, Covid and Innovation 55:30 Speed Round

E15: Ed Arnone - Regional Business Manager at EQ Bank
In this episode, we discuss who EQ Bank is, what Ed’s role as a Regional Business Manager entails, the competitive advantage EQ Bank has over the big 6 banks in Canada, products, policies, challenges in the mortgage industry, tech and of course the speed round. #mortgageconnection #mortgagebroker #mortgage #lenders #eqbank #podcast #brokerlifepodcast
0:00 Intro
0:30 Who is EQB?
2:17 No branches
2:55 What does Ed do at EQB?
6:00 What is EQB’s competitive advantage?
7:52 Alternative lending and self-employed qualifying
9:45 Pre-payment penalties
12:15 Alternative lending strategy self-employed borrowers
16:20 Pre-payment privileges
16:40 Products available at EQB in addition to mortgages
18:30 Reverse mortgages
19:35 Commercial lending
21:00 Biggest challenge in the mortgage industry
26:13 Tip for new home buyers
28:00 Affordability concerns
30:17 Trends in the mortgage industry and Tech
39:08 Rate predictions
44:00 Speed Round
50:00 Where to learn more about EQB

E14: Ashish Utarid - IG Wealth Management
In this week’s podcast, we discuss Investing, the economy, AI, inflation, BITCOIN and tips plus the speed round. #mortgagebroker #mortgageconnection #brokerlifepodcast #podcast #investing #canada
0:45 Intro
1:55 What does Ashish do at IG Wealth Management
5:40 Ashish’s Investment Philosophy
8:25 Set it and forget it portfolio
11:20 Why are savings not more valued in Canada and Western worlds
14:50 Inflation in Canada
27:38 Housing in Canada
32:20 Current economic cycle
33:25 7 metrics to consider when talking about recession and economy
41:14 AI and Finance
45:40 IG vs the competition
48:20 Crypto and Wealth Planning
55:32 Tips for new investors
100:00 Speed Round
104:15 Where to connect with Ashish and IG

E13: Tom Yeo - Investment Specialist & Financial Planner at Scotiabank
In this week’s podcast, we discuss Investing, building a financial plan, the psychology of investing, investment fees, AI, what happened during covid, inflation, bonds, BITCOIN and Tom’s market expectations and tips plus the speed round. #mortgagebroker #mortgageconnection #brokerlifepodcast #podcast #investing #canada
0:50 Intro
3:00 What does a Financial Planner do?
6:15 The importance of diversification and asset allocation
8:55 Time Horizon & Risk Tolerances
10:10 Tom’s Investment Philosophy
12:13 Building a Financial Plan
16:10 Tax & Estate Planning
18:00 Analyzing & Selecting Investments
20:45 The Psychology of Investing
22:08 How to manage risk
26:20 Alternative Investments in Real Estate
27:55 Investment Fees
32:20 Self-Directed Brokerage Accounts Vs Active Money Managers
35:40 The Danger of Index Investing
38:10 AI and Investing
43:48 Inflation & What Happened During COVID
46:50 Bonds & Bond Yields Explained
50:26 The Relationship between Bonds & Equities
51:50 How does the Bank of Canada’s interest rate changes impact Investing
54:27 Why Canadians can’t get ahead on the 180% debt to income ratio
102:17 BITCOIN & Crypto
105:38 Tom’s Market Expectations
109:47 Tips for Canadians looking to build wealth
110:16 Speed Round
114:04 Where you can find Tom

E12: Chris Barnard - Area Sales Manager with Coventry Homes
We get an update from our friend Chris at Coventry homes on the current market in Edmonton, all the market stats, mortgages, working with lenders, draw vs completion mortgages, popular models and promotions, tips for home buyers and more. #brokerlifepodcast #mortgagebroker #homebuilder #mortgageconnection #podcast #mortgage #yeg
1:10 Intro
1:55 Market Update
7:00 Housing Starts and new construction volume
8:17 Pre-Sale vs Spec Home
11:40 Lumber Prices and Home Prices
16:30 The Economics of new home construction
19:00 Quality vs Quantity when home building
20:30 Consumer Confidence index
22:40 Is there a season with new home building
25:35 Draw mortgage vs completion mortgage
29:10 Which banks do home buyers prefer when picking a mortgage?
31:55 Which lenders does Chris/builders prefer working with?
35:35 What’s your max budget? Letting builders know how much you’re qualified for.
37:45 Not all lenders/brokers are created equal.
39:40 Most popular models and price points with Coventry
42:45 Current promotions – free basement renovation
44:30 Are “free” upgrades actually free?
47:30 Is it a good time to buy a home?
50:53 One tip for home buyers
53:50 Speed Round
57:20 Where to find Chris

E11: Alan Gee - Realtor with ReMax Elite in Edmonton, AB
We discuss the Edmonton real estate market, migration and immigration into AB, demographics, new construction, interest rates, unemployment, trends in real estate plus tips and of course the speed round.
1:03 Intro
3:00 How has Alan stayed so successful
4:33 Life in Edmonton as a Realtor
7:16 The Edmonton real estate market
11:34 Immigration and Migration into Alberta
14:20 Demographics in Edmonton
16:05 Government Policy and housing
17:51 OSFI and mortgage policy
19:25 Interest Rates and how that’s impacting home buyers
22:25 Unemployment in Alberta
23:24 Trends in Edmonton regarding housing
25:34 New construction homes
28:50 One-minute sales pitch to live in Edmonton
29:38 Tips for home buyers and Sellers
31:15 How can mortgage brokers help realtors
33:46 Speed Round
37:10 Where to find Alan

E10: Dawn Mullin - Real Estate Lawyer in Victoria, BC
We discuss the role of lawyers in real estate transactions, the difference between solicitors and notaries, the legal process, contracts, leaseholds, spousal buyouts, and tips for home buyers.

E9: Janel Melo - Business Relationship Manager at Scotiabank
We discuss Scotiabank's mortgage lending options directly from a Scotiabank underwriter. Get her point of view on how Scotia competes with other lenders, the projected income policy, the high net worth policy, rental income and some common trends she's seeing right now. Also, the banking collapse in the US, mortgage tips and projections for rates and the economy.

E8: Kevin Kennedy - KDK Financial
We discuss how the auto loan business is helping mortgage brokers. How KDK Financial is doing over 100 applications per month helping Canadians restructure their monthly auto loan payments and how that helps them qualify for mortgages. They also offer cashback and can pay off debts. #mortgagebroker #mortgageconnection #podcast #brokerlifepodcast #mortgages #autoloans

E7: Michael Waddell - Realtor with ReMax Rivercity
We discuss the Edmonton real estate market, trends, tips for home buyers, technology, and more.

E6: Corbin Raison - Business Development Manager at MCAP
We discuss all things MCAP, the Canadian mortgage lender and how it's grown to be the 6th biggest lender in Canada and the 1st biggest non-bank lender. What makes MCAP unique, payout penalties, technology, inflation, rates, the government's role in mortgages and real estate and of course the speed round to end the interview.

E5: Cassandra Cherneff - Realtor at Coldwell Banker Oceanside
We discuss all things real estate in beautiful British Columbia, especially in Cassandra's hometown, Victoria, BC.

E4: Tiffany Pedersen - Director for Western Canada at Strive Capital
We discuss Strive Capital, a mortgage financing company located in Canada. We also touch on the mortgage industry, Tiffany's journey in the broker space, banking, technology, products and tips for Canadians looking to enter the housing space.

E3: Danny Betts - Advisor at Better Mortgage Insurance
We discuss all things insurance including life, whole life, disability, critical illness and specialty insurance for corporations. We also get into the differences between independent insurance like BMI versus bank insurance and why everyone could use insurance regardless of age. Plus hear Danny's personal story, his journey and where to find him.

E2: Dave Ozubko - Realtor at ReMax Rivercity
We discuss the Edmonton real estate market, tips for home buyers, the best time to buy, how to value a home, Dave's journey and more.
