Mortgage brokers act on behalf of borrowers to find the best mortgage rates available in the market. Because they have access to multiple lenders at once, brokers can compare offers and negotiate competitive deals on your behalf. Brokers are paid a commission by the lender, so in most cases, borrowers pay nothing directly for their services. In Nova Scotia, mortgage brokerages are licensed and regulated by the province's Office of the Superintendent of Insurance under the Mortgage Regulation Act, which came into force in 2022. A good broker can also help you navigate the Halifax housing market, matching your financing to local prices and conditions. Listed below are some of the top national and local brokerages servicing the Halifax region.
True North Mortgage has been offering mortgage services across Canada since 2006. Headquartered in Calgary, True North has a presence in 12 offices located in seven different cities in Canada. Clients from Halifax can contact them via phone or online. True North offers another unique option called mobile brokers. A mobile broker meets you at a place you prefer at a time you select. According to True North Mortgage, their clients save an average of $3,000.
Like many other brokers, True North guarantees the lowest rate to their clients. If a client finds a lower rate elsewhere, True North Mortgage promises to match or beat the rate and compensate them with $500 for failing to do so. Additionally, True North Mortgage's in-house lender, THINK Financial, has introduced a solution called 'Rate Relief' to provide temporary respite from the rising mortgage rates. Rate Relief offers a lower fixed rate for six months, after which borrowers can either renew their mortgage with THINK Financial or pay them a 1% administration fee.
True North Mortgage offers the following services:
Neo Financial's Neo Mortgage is an online brokerage service that offers borrowers a quick and efficient mortgage application and approval process. This convenient platform empowers borrowers to obtain a mortgage in minutes from wherever they are. According to Neo Mortgage, borrowers could save thousands of dollars in interest by working with them. This fast-expanding platform has currently listed five lending partners on their website and provides mortgages for new purchases, renewals, and refinancing. Even if you have a low credit score, they can still work with you, but they don't guarantee your approval.
TMG HarbourTown Mortgage (formerly The Blake Wilson Group) is a team-based Halifax brokerage affiliated with TMG The Mortgage Group, one of Canada's largest independent brokerage networks, with more than 1,900 mortgage professionals nationwide. The brokerage works with over 50 lenders, including banks, credit unions, and private lenders, and finances residential, commercial, private, and construction deals across Atlantic Canada. Borrowers can apply for mortgages through their website, give them a call, or visit their office in person.
Founded in 2005, Ideal Mortgage is a brokerage firm offering services across Atlantic Canada, including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The brokerage is part of the Canada-wide mortgage broker network Dominion Lending Centres. Apart from commercial and residential mortgages, the brokerage can also help with credit improvement and debt consolidation. They advertise their best rates online, which makes it easy for borrowers to compare with other brokerages. The application can be made online or in person.
A part of the Centum Mortgage Broker network, Clinton Wilkins Mortgage Team is a brokerage with nearly two decades of experience, operating out of offices in Halifax and Dartmouth. Clinton Wilkins was named Mortgage Broker of the Year (under 25 employees) at the Canadian Mortgage Awards in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022, and won Best Media / Marketing Campaign (Individual) at the 2024 Mortgage Awards of Excellence. Their best rates are advertised on their website, which can be helpful for comparison. Apart from purchase, renewal, and refinance, the brokerage offers services for first-time homebuyers, self-employed borrowers, construction loans, and more. They offer an online application process; however, clients can also apply in person. For information regarding mortgages and home ownership, borrowers can listen to their podcast Mortgage 101, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts.
Premiere Mortgage Centre is a brokerage firm based out of Halifax and licensed in Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Apart from mortgages, they also deal in insurance of different kinds. Other than new mortgages, renewal, refinance, and other mortgages, they also offer a cash-back mortgage option, through which borrowers can get up to 5% cashback. Borrowers have the option to apply online or schedule a meeting with one of their agents to initiate the process.
UMG Atlantic Mortgages (Mortgage Alliance - United Group) is a locally owned Halifax-area brokerage serving clients across Atlantic Canada, and part of the national Mortgage Alliance network. Working from its office in Lower Sackville, the team draws on a broad lender network of banks, credit unions, and monoline lenders to arrange financing for first-time buyers, purchases, renewals, and refinances. True to its slogan, "It requires U & I to be united," the brokerage takes a community-focused, hands-on approach, guiding borrowers through preparation, education, submission, and closing. Borrowers can apply online, by phone, or by visiting the office in person.
Mortgage Managers Brokerage Inc. is an independent, locally owned Halifax-area brokerage based in Hammonds Plains and serving Halifax, Bedford, Tantallon, and the surrounding communities. Led by mortgage brokers James and Margaret Shinners, the brokerage takes a personal, relationship-driven approach, helping clients with new purchases, refinances, renewals, first-time buyer mortgages, and credit rebuilding, including guidance for rent-to-own clients working toward homeownership. They shop a range of lenders to find competitive rates and stay in touch with clients after closing to flag opportunities as the market shifts. Borrowers can apply through the secure online application or contact a broker directly.
Mortgage broker networks are prevalent across Canada, with examples like Dominion Lending Centres, Verico Mortgage Broker Network, and Mortgage Alliance. These networks consist of independent mortgage businesses with access to the network's services and rates. Through these networks, independent businesses can offer their clients access to a wide range of lenders and mortgage products while benefiting from technology, training, and marketing support. By leveraging the network's services and rates, independent brokers can provide a better service to their clients. Some of these networks are affiliated with larger financial groups, such as DLCG and M3 Financial Group.
The Mortgage Centre is a broker network headquartered in Mississauga that was established in 1989. Apart from residential and commercial mortgages, they offer solutions for equipment leasing and insurance. They work with over a hundred lending institutions and aim to find the best deal for each of their clients. Borrowers can download their mobile app MCC Home Centre and apply through it to get prequalified in under 60 seconds.
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