About half the deals that I do are with mortgage broker that I recommend. The other half is a toss-up. Meaning I never know who I am going to get to work with. Yes, work with. A lot of buyers think that they will be the only ones working with their lenders, however as a real estate broker, I put in a lot of time with them as well. It's my job to make sure that they have all the documents necessary for the sale, as well to make sure that our mortgage approval deadline is met.
The deadline that was created in the offer is of utmost importance to everyone involved. Sellers are already nervous, so to ask for an extension could potentially kill the deal. They are not obligated to extend. It's up to me, if I am in that situation, to convince the sellers and their real estate broker that we are still on track to get the mortgage approval, even though we have not gotten it yet.
One of my jobs is to stay in collaboration with the listing broker. If I keep them in the loop every step of the way, they will be understanding of what is happening if I have to ask for an extension. Normally it's in the best interest of the seller to continue with the offer rather than drop it for the next one. However if you got the accepted deal while in a multiple offer circumstance, the situation is not stable. The seller does not want to lose time dealing with you when they might have another buyer who has been bugging them for a chance.
Time delays in an offer
When I receive an offer or create one for my buyers, we normally see 10-14 calendar days for financing for a residential property. Over the years, I have been finding that banks are taking much longer to approve the financing. They have strict criteria and more red tape, which creates more promises. Many buyers may not have their files complete with their mortgage broker as well, which also creates time delays.
"I've experienced hundreds of interactions with mortgage brokers, and there have been instances that could have easily avoided the right questions from the start. laws, the time difference was an issue and he did not speak French.
Questions to ask yourself about your mortgage broker
– Do they live in Montreal (know the Quebec laws and speaks French)?
– Will they be available or will they be on vacation or away?
– Will they take care of your case 100%, and not pass it on to an assistant or let the bank deal with it all? (Meaning will they represent you fully and take care of you completely)
– Are they available on weekends for emergencies?
– Do they work for one bank and their products, or are they independent and work with all banks?
– Which banks do they have personal relationships with. This helps to have pull if they need to ask a favor for a rush job.
– For expenses, make sure from the start that the bank evaluation is paid for by someone else besides yourself, preferably the bank. Some mortgage brokers have special deals with notaries or movers, helping you save money.
These questions are to help you chose the best person to work on your team. Yes team. When buying, your team consist of your mortgage broker, your real estate broker, a notary, insurance broker and your building inspector. For all of these professionals, you will either be using a recommended person or doing research to find the best deal. Deal = price + service.