It’s A New Year, Time For A Check-In

Marci • January 31, 2020

I wanted to take a moment to check-in and remind everyone of what I do.  As a Mortgage Professional, I am happy to have the opportunity to help Canadians secure the financing for their biggest investment, their home. My profession is misunderstood and many are under the impression that I only work with people who have bruised credit or are in business for themselves. The vast majority of my business is in fact lowest rate, Prime Mortgage business .

I realize how important it is for me to educate and remind my network of exactly what I do, and when someone might want to use my services.

Here is some information that may help you understand a little better how I help my clients:

  • I work with Canada’s leading Financial Institutions including major Banks, Trust Companies, and Credit Unions. They include Scotiabank, TD, First National, MCAP, Home Equity Bank, and many others. You can find a complete list of all my lending partners on my website at; www.askmarci.ca.
  • My company, Mortgage Architects and our Parent Company DLC, sends more than 40 billion dollars in mortgage volume annually. Because we are the biggest in the country, our lenders provide us with a variety of mortgage products, exceptional rates, fast turnaround times and flexibility with approvals.
  • When you use me to find you the very best mortgage for your needs, and negotiate on your behalf, typically there is no cost to you. The lender pays me a fee for finding and bringing them the business, I only earn a fee if I arrange the mortgage for you.
  • The Fee is the same regardless of what lender you choose and it is not built into your mortgage rate.
  • Some of our lenders specialize in providing mortgages for clients who are self employed, contract employees, have seasonal income, have trouble proving income, or lack some of the standard documentation. I have seen all situations and am experienced in getting unconventional mortgages approved.
  • Many consumers think their bank will automatically give them the best rates because they have been a loyal customer for many years, have multiple accounts, or have high account balances. Don’t fall into that trap. That kind of thinking has cost many clients thousands of dollars in unnecessary interest.
  • I am a fully licensed mortgage professional and am governed by the regulator in British Columbia. The safety and security of your personal information is of utmost importance and all discussions, documentation and file management are completely confidential at all times.
  • Often clients make the time-consuming mistake of going to multiple lenders themselves, attempting to negotiate the best rates. Each time a Financial Institution pulls your credit report, your credit score actually drops. Sometimes the very exercise of trying to find the most competitive mortgage disqualifies you from qualifying. At Ask Marci About Mortgages – Mortgage Architects, we forward your credit report electronically to our lenders so that it isn’t pulled over and over.
  • The interest rates today are at an all time low. If you, like so many other Canadians, have high interest credit card debt, department store debt, line of credit debt or other outstanding payments, now might be the ideal time to refinance your existing mortgage and consolidate it all into one simple payment. Consolidation can sometimes reduce your monthly payments by more than a thousand dollars per month. I would be happy to calculate the saving for your specific situation.

In summary, I am your trusted mortgage advisor and I work for you, not the banks. It’s my job to provide you with timely, expert advice and make certain my clients have the very best mortgage products for their specific situation. Your business is very important to me!

Contact me to schedule a complete mortgage review at your convenience, but remember the lowest rates won’t last long.

I am never too busy for your introductions and will take amazing care of anyone you think may find my services valuable.

All the best in 2020!

Marci Deane
Mortgage Broker
604-816-8950
marci@askmarci.ca

Share

By Marci Deane July 15, 2026
The Bank of Canada announced today that it is holding its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. The tone of today's announcement is notably more optimistic than previous months. Here's what's changed and what it means for you.
By Marci Deane July 8, 2026
When it comes to selling your home, most people think the first call should be to a real estate agent. But the smartest first step often isn’t with your agent—it’s with an independent mortgage professional. Why? Because your mortgage plays a bigger role in your bottom line than most people realize. Planning to Buy After You Sell If selling means you’ll also be purchasing another property, you’ll want to know exactly where you stand financially before listing. Mortgage rules change regularly, and qualifying once doesn’t guarantee you’ll qualify again. Getting a pre-approval in place ensures you know what you can afford and eliminates surprises later. On top of that, reviewing the terms of your existing mortgage could uncover options you may not have considered. For example, porting your mortgage instead of arranging a brand-new one could save you thousands. Selling Without Buying Even if you aren’t planning to buy right away, there’s still an important step: understanding the cost of breaking your mortgage. Unless your mortgage is open, penalties apply—and they can be significant. By reviewing the numbers with a mortgage professional, you might find that simply adjusting your timeline could reduce or even avoid costly fees. Navigating Life Changes In situations like a marital breakdown, it can feel like selling the family home is the only path forward. But that’s not always the case. With the right guidance and a legal separation agreement, one spouse may be able to buy out the other, keeping the home and providing stability for everyone involved. The Bottom Line Selling your property is more than just putting a sign on the lawn—it’s about creating a financial plan that protects your equity and positions you for the best possible outcome. Before you take the leap, let’s sit down and review your options. 📞 If you’re ready to talk strategy and make sure you get top dollar for your property, I’d be happy to connect anytime.
By Marci Deane July 1, 2026
Can You Get a Mortgage If You Have Collections on Your Credit Report? Short answer? Not easily. Long answer? It depends—and it’s more common (and fixable) than you might think. When it comes to applying for a mortgage, your credit report tells lenders a story. Collections—debts that have been passed to a collection agency because they weren’t paid on time—are big red flags in that story. Regardless of how or why they got there, open collections are going to hurt your chances of getting approved. Let’s break this down. What Exactly Is a Collection? A collection appears on your credit report when a bill goes unpaid for long enough that the lender decides to stop chasing you—and hires a collection agency to do it instead. It doesn’t matter whether it was an unpaid phone bill, a forgotten credit card, or a disputed fine: to a lender, it signals risk. And lenders don’t like risk. Why It Matters to Mortgage Lenders? Lenders use your credit report to gauge how trustworthy you are with borrowed money. If they see you haven’t paid a past debt, especially recently, it suggests you might do the same with a new mortgage—and that’s enough to get your application denied. Even small collections can cause problems. A $32 unpaid utility bill might seem insignificant to you, but to a lender, it’s a red flag waving loudly. But What If I Didn’t Know About the Collection? It happens all the time. You move provinces and miss a final utility charge. Your cell provider sends a bill to an old address. Or maybe the collection is showing in error—credit reports aren’t perfect, and mistakes do happen. Regardless of the reason, the responsibility to resolve it still falls on you. Even if it’s an honest oversight or an error, lenders will expect you to clear it up or prove it’s been paid. And What If I Chose Not to Pay It? Some people intentionally leave certain collections unpaid—maybe they disagree with a charge, or feel a fine is unfair. Here are a few common “moral stand” collections: Disputed phone bills COVID-related fines Traffic tickets Unpaid spousal or child support While you might feel justified, lenders don’t take sides. They’re not interested in why a collection exists—only that it hasn’t been dealt with. And if it’s still active, that could be enough to derail your mortgage application. How Can You Find Out What’s On Your Report? Easy. You can check it yourself through services like Equifax or TransUnion, or you can work with a mortgage advisor to go through a full pre-approval. A pre-approval will quickly uncover any credit issues, including collections—giving you a chance to fix them before you apply for a mortgage. What To Do If You Have Collections Verify: Make sure the collection is accurate. Pay or Dispute: Settle the debt or begin a dispute process if it’s an error. Get Proof: Even if your credit report hasn’t updated yet, documentation showing the debt is paid can be enough for some lenders. Work With a Pro: A mortgage advisor can help you build a strategy and connect you with lenders who offer flexible solutions. Collections are common, but they can absolutely block your path to mortgage financing. Whether you knew about them or not, the best approach is to take action early. If you’d like to find out where you stand—or need help navigating your credit report—I’d be happy to help. Let’s make sure your next mortgage application has the best possible chance of approval.