Swing into Spring

It was a 'no gloves' kind of day this past Tuesday and so Moses, Floyd and I decided to play in the backyard. After they schooled me in basketball (2 on 1 - I had no chance), we decided to hang out on the tree swing. They held on tight just long enough for me to snap this quick pic of my little men.

First Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit Eligibility

I have had a ton of questions about this in recent weeks, so here is the 4-1-1 on the First Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit.

Did you buy a new home in 2015?

You can claim an amount of $5,000 for the purchase of a qualifying home acquired in 2015, if both of the following apply:

- you or your spouse or common-law partner acquired a qualifying home; and
- you did not live in another home owned by you or your spouse or common-law partner in the year of acquisition or in any of the four preceding years (first-time home buyer).

Not sure if you're eligible? Check out the video here:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/vdgllry/ndvdls/menu-eng.html?clp=ndvdls/hmbyrs-eng&fmt=mp4

Steak Mole With Cilantro

Vegetarians Beware!

If you are interested in putting a little bit of POW into your next steak dinner, give this crazy awesome recipe a try. For those not familiar with mole sauce, think spicy chocolate!

We actually prepared these steaks in the frying pan (as per the recipe) because we don't have the natural gas hooked up on the BBQ... but I can hardly wait to do this one again with my steak perfectly grilled over the open flame...

February Contest - Who Wants Chocolate?

In the event that your Valentine does not bring you chocolate this year, your favourite Mortgage Broker has you covered. This month I am giving away TWO boxes of milk and dark chocolates from Bernard Callebaut.

Entering is pretty simple.

If you are not a Realtor, please answer the following: 

If you were to list your home today, who would be the first Realtor you would call?

If you ARE a Realtor, this is your question:

What is one thing that a Mortgage Broker can do, to help make a purchase transaction simple and stress-free for you and your client?

I will have the chocolates delivered to the two winners' doors within two weeks. Winners will be mentioned in next months' VIP Club.

See, I told you love is in the air!

Speaking of winners, congratulations to Kelly Enns who won the Sparkle Balls from Hillberg & Berk. Yes, I know Kelly shares a last name with me (she is my cousin), but her name was put into the Randomizer 3000, and it was drawn fair and square. I see no reason to punish my relatives by not allowing them to enter my contests (I suspect the fact that they are my relative is punishment enough).

The 10 Don'ts Of Mortgage Closing

Do not quit your job before you take possession of your home!

Yes, I know, it sounds like common sense, but it happens... interested in learning about 9 other no nos you should stay away from prior to possession? Then I have a blog post just for you!

What Do I Do Six Months Before My Mortgage Is Up For Renewal?

Occassionally I will have a client call to tell me that their mortgage is up for renewal at their bank in 6 months from now. The bank is "allowing" them to renew early at a certain rate, but they wanted to know if I can help them out and provide them with a better mortgage.

Now as a Mortgage Broker, I can guarantee you a rate once we are within a 4 month window of your renewal. So when clients ask me if I can provide them with a better rate 6 months out, I let them know that although rates do not appear to be moving a lot, we would have to wait a couple months for me to provide them with an official rate hold.

Sometimes clients will commit to the bank's offer. Other times they will wait it out, and stick with me.

As it stands today, 100% of the clients who waited a couple months were able to get a better interest rate with me than what the bank was offerring them.

My advice - don't let your bank pressure you into renewing early. Be sure to explore your options. Be patient. It will save you money.

Need A Little Sparkle To Start 2016 Off Right?

Time for another giveaway, and I really think you are going to like this one!!!

This month I am giving away a pair of Sparkleball stud earrings from Hillberg & Berk...

Even if you are not the Sparkleball type, surely you have a wife, girlfriend, mom, or secret work crush who just might appreciate this incredible jewellery, no?

Entry is as always, is quite simple. This month all I am asking is that you pass my name on to someone you know who may be in the market for a mortgage in the upcoming months. I work pretty heavily on the honour system (you seem trustworthy), so if you respond to this email telling me that you have done so, you are entered. If however, your referral happens to contact me over the next month, you will be entered twice!

Best of luck... I will close the contest February 5th (just before Valentine's Day - hint hint)

Also, congratulations to Matt Dean, Kristi Huber, and Giselle Ripplinger who all won 3 month passes from Gold's Gym last month.... time to get buff!

What The Heck is Mortgage Default Insurance Anyways?

Mortgage Insurance 101. As part of the home buying process, you will hear the term mortgage insurance used a lot, especially if you are applying for a mortgage with a downpayment less than 20% of the purchase price.

Check out all you need to know about Default Insurance here.

Massaging Your Kale & Other Ways To Make 12 Great Salads

I am not sure of the stats, but I would wager a substantial amount of money that half of new years resolutions involve eating better or getting healthy. Now I am also quite certain that 85% of these resolutions have already been forgotten about by the time you read this post. However, for the remaining few of you who are still standing, I would like to introduce you to kale.

Many may not believe me, but honest to goodness, kale is to salad what Hammer pants were to my grade 9 classmates.

It is true, you cannot simply throw a bunch of kale in a bowl with a little French dressing.... that won't cut it. But if you follow the tips laid out below, you are setting yourself up to be the King (or Kween) of Kale town.

Check out these 12 incredible recipes and prepare to go green!

DIY Bailey's Irish Cream

It's Christmas, and this gives people the perfect excuse to keep a small bottle of Bailey's next to the office Keurig machine, right? Seriously... am I the only one? Well, regardless, the fact remains that coffee is often a little more merry in December, with the help of planet Earth's most popular liqueur.

And now, thanks to this sweet sweet recipe, you can make your very own Irish Cream for only pennies a glass - almost! It's basically just whiskey, cream, sugar, and a little bit of love!

Enjoy!

Kitchens Make A Huge Difference

According to people who know stuff, there are two things that are absolutely true about kitchens. Firstly, the kitchen is the heart of the home and secondly, the kitchen is where you do most of the cooking in your house. And as eating is important to keeping you alive… making sure that you have an awesome kitchen is a real must.

Read on for more details...

What's The Deal With Rudolph's Nose?

Yes, we know Santa had eight reindeer (plus Rudolph). Of course you recognize that buying all 364 gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas will cost you nearly 30K!! But I would like to think I have been able to drum up a few facts and customs from around the world that you never would have seen coming! Did you know:

1. Norwegian scientists have hypothesized that Rudolph's red nose is most likely due to a parasitic infection within his respiratory system. Talk about a rough go...

2. An artificial Christmas tree would have to be reused for at least 20 years to be "greener" than buying a fresh-cut tree annually.

3. In Japan, Christmas equals KFC... I'm serious. The Colonel has been running a stunning marketing campaign for decades, and as a result our North American stuffed turkey dinner is Japan's 11 herbs and spices.

4. Everyone makes a big deal about Santa delivering all the toys to good girls and boys over a single evening. Truth be told, it's impressive, but it this isn't nearly the feat that we are led to believe. Thanks to the International Date Line, the jolly elf actually has a full 34 hours to get the job done. No wonder he can fit in all those cookie breaks!

 5. Apparently there exists a group of people that are so engrossed by playing video games, that they refuse to leave their parent's basement (just a hunch) to share a family dinner. A gaming company in the UK decided to help these poor souls out, by creating for them, Christmas Tinner, a 9 layer canned dinner starting with scrambeled eggs and bacon, ending with Christmas pudding, and everything else your heart could desire in between. To be honest, I am skeptical on this one, but who knows. Google it - what do you think?

Thanks for reading see you in 2016!

Win Some Green To Spend At Brown's

Although, we don't have the opportunity to eat out as much as we used to, whenever we do - Brown's Social House is always near the top of the list. Amazing food and an awesome atmosphere - what's not to love, right?

Anyways, I want to share that love - with YOU - some of the most incredible clients, friends, and referral partners that a guy could ask for. This month I am giving away 3 X $50 gift cards for Brown's Social House, and all you have to do is to respond to this email, telling me you would like to be entered... simple huh?

I will make the draw on November 9th, and mail out the gift cards to you at that time. Winners will also be mentioned in the December newsletter.

Good luck!

Is It Time To Refinance?

Do you have exisitng debt outside your mortgage (credit cards, car loans, lines of credit) which you are paying a much higher interest rate on? Do you wish you had additional money to give your financial advisor? Are there home renovations which you are hoping to undertake in the near future, but worried you do not have the cash flow to cover them?

If you answered yes, to any of the above and you have substantial equity in your home, it might be worth having a conversation to see if the time is right to refinance? As you know, interest rates are at historical lows right now, so why not pay off your 18% credit card, and build that debt into your mortgage?

Now the kicker is, that there are usually fees involved in breaking your current mortgage, however, often times, even in light of these fees, you will still come out ahead. How do we know for sure? Give me a call, and we can run through everything with you.

Thank YOU!!

Dear Everybody - you are amazing!

I am absolutely thrilled, yet completely humbled to announce that I have been named in the Prairie Dog magazine as Regina's Best Mortgage Broker for the third year in a row! One million thank yous to all of you who nominated or voted. It means a ton to me that you would take the time to do that.

The Prairie Dog Winner's Edition will be hot off the presses November 12th.

6 Most Expensive Homes For Sale In New York City

Ever dreamed of moving to the Big Apple?

As I have been getting a lot of great feedback from the previous two newsletters where we examined some of the most expensive listings in Regina and Vancouver, I thought we would really expand our boundries, and see what a cool $120 million can get you in NYC.

1. 12-16 East 62nd Street, Upper East Side (120M)

2. 150 West 56th Street (100M)

3. 635 West 42nd Street #45FL (85M) - Yacht included!

4. 1009 Fifth Avenue (80M)

5. 432 Park Avenue #PH88 (76.5M)

6. 1 Central Park South #1809 (75M)

These Ain't Your Grandma's Cookies

The reality is, I am not much of a baker. I can count on one hand the number of times I have baked homemade cookies in the past decade. However, the last time I did make cookies, I made these ones... and they are awesome!

On a chilly autumn night, when your sweet tooth is looking for a fix, you will do no better than these Chilli & Cayenne Pepper Infused Chocholate Chip Cookies.

Pairing recommendation: a full bodied Cabernet or a cold glass of milk (but not both, that's disgusting)

Choose Your Charity

When it comes to getting a mortgage, I understand that you have options... tons of them. Did you know that when you choose to work with me as your broker, I will make a donation to the charity of your choice and YOU get the tax receipt?

So far this year, I have had the honour of donating to amazing charities like the Z99 Radiothon, the Humane Society, Regina Open Door Society, The Firefighters Burn Fund, The Canadian Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, and Kidsport.

Thank you for choosing me as your Mortgage Broker, and thank you for reading!

Five Most Expensive Homes In Vancouver

Last month we took a peek at the most expensive homes in Regina. This month, I decided we should head west, and let's see what a couple million can get us in Vancouver.

Okay, when I say a "couple million", I mean at least 23... but hey with some of these views, it just might be worth it, right?

Which one is your favourite?

1) 4726 Belmont Avenue - $36,800,000

2) 5365 Seaside Place - $34,000,000

3) 5363 Kew Cliff Road - $23,800,000

4) 6935 Isleview Road - $23,000,000

5) 5050 Happy Valley Lane - $22,800,000

Regina's Best Mortgage Broker? Only With Your Help

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a wee favour to ask of you.

Nominations are now officially open for the Prairie Dog's "Best of Regina" Competition. I have been lucky enough to have been named Regina's Best Mortgage Broker for the past 2 years, and holy smokes would it be awesome to take home the hardware for a 3rd year in a row!

Should you find yourself with a spare 37 seconds, I would massively appreciate it, if you would cast a quick nomination for yours truly, Skott Enns-TMG The Mortgage Group.

The link is here, here, and here. Nomiantions end on September 21.

Thank you in advance for all your awesomeness! It means the world to me.

Mosquitoes: Why They Suck

You are outside enjoying the early evening, grilling up a bacon-wrapped filet or tofu wiener and drinking an amber ale when...OUCH... your paradise is shattered by the world's most annoying critter, the mosquito.

These little buggers, which have been ruining our summers for 170 million years now, aren't actually interested in our blood directly (they aren't vampires). What they are interested in is an amino acid, isoleucine, which our blood carries that will allow them to lay eggs (it is only the female that "bites"), up to 100 at a time.

As they search for blood, they are also injecting us with a little bit of their saliva (gross!) which keeps the blood from clotting, and is also the reason that we get that itchy little bump on our skin.

Apparently, humans aren't even the best source of this isoleucine. Blood from both buffalo and rats actually contains a lot more of the amino acid... however, as there is often, thankfully, a shortage of both of these animals in our environment... we are the next best thing!

Thanks for reading! See you in October!!!!

Five Most Expensive Home In Regina & Area

150 Hanley Cr, White City
2423 Linner Bay, Regina
33 Lott Road, White City
3627 White Bay, Regina
RM Sherwood

Ahhhhh yes, for as little as $13,400/month and 5% down you could have any of these five houses. Admittedly, none are quite as awesome as the photo above, but, they are still some ridiculously amazing homes! Be sure to check out the full listings on MLS!

Supporting Your Regina Thunder

It is going to take a lot more than 0-6 to knock me off the Saskatchewan Roughrider bandwagon, but if we are being honest with ourselves.... it might just not be their year.

Fortunately, we have another football season starting up right around the corner, and I am talking about the CJFL and your Regina Thunder!

This year I am one of the Big Play Sponsors for the Thunder, and that means that every time I complete a mortgage for a client who brings me a 50/50 ticket or program guide from a Thunder home game, I will donate $250 to the team!

Take advantage of the stinky low mortgage rates and support your junior football team at the same time!

Dancing Floyd

Floyd gets Folky (Video)

One of our family summer traditions is to head east for the Winnipeg Folk Festival every July. It is four incredible days of camping, eating, and incredible music.

This year Shawna and myself took the twins.... and they loved it! For me, one of the highlights was watching Floyd let loose with his dance moves at the Children's stage... this kid has got rhythm!!!

Click on the "Floyd Gets Folky" link above to watch this 15-month old shake what his mamma gave him!

Best Baked Beans Recipe I Have Ever Made

It's summer.

With summer comes BBQ.

With BBQ comes burgers.

And nothing goes better with burgers than baked beans!!

Check this recipe out.... and be sure to let me know what you think!

http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/beer-and-bacon-baked-beans/59aa501d-6084-4960-826b-a710db884406