Minding the Noise

Spring has sprung. And from my position in the trenches, so have certain corners of Greater Vancouver’s real estate market. I think this could be a very interesting April, particularly given what’s happened over the past year or so. And if you're considering jumping (back) in, be prepared for the usual noise.

Speaking of noise: it became clear to me long ago that most folks could care LESS about the generic posts, blogs or emails vying for their attention about mortgages. Especially when they're nowhere close to their next home purchase or refinancing. And when it IS time for you to re-enter Mortgageland, it’s an interaction with your mortgage expert that generally occurs over the course of say 5-10 business days, say every 30-60 months (unless you're an investor client). 

And that interaction usually does NOT arise from you waking up one night and saying “Honey, we really need a five-year variable at 2.05% with a 30-year amortization and a standard charge.” What you REALLY need is a fourth bedroom and a bigger yard for baby-on-the-way. Or to bash down those credit cards. 

A good friend in the business once said, “remember: when your clients reach out to you, what they essentially want is the Keys, or the Cash.” Keep the noise down in between.

Indeed, everything else surrounding our transaction is the temporary but requisite noise. It’s when I discover your needs and challenges; educate and advise you on the rules and products of the time; then you consider my advice and instruct me; then I help make it all happen; then we stay in touch until you decide to make your next move (which we have at least partially planned for this time around). 

We are paratroopers, your home is the mission, the mortgage is just the parachute. A boring, complicated, occasional, but important parachute. 

So to stay in touch with minimal noise until YOUR next mission, I’ve tried my best to keep what I publish as interesting as one possibly can be, about something that actually pertains to you just a few days per decade. 

This usually means passing along big industry news, sharing a unique client’s or property’s challenge as a no-names case study, or a tidbit that might be useful to you or the rest of your real estate advisory team (such as your Realtor or accountant). 

People have recently emailed me out of the blue, asking when I plan to post my next mortgage video. A flattering question, to which I answer: when I make the time (a renewed promise); and moreover, when I have a mortgage story and lesson I feel is truly worth sharing.

In the meantime: if you’re jumping into this 2017 Spring market, I wish you good fortune on the buy and/or sell side; and if you’re not, keep on keeping on! You know where I’ll be. And I'll try to keep my noise relevant. 

TS