The majority of consumers who are looking to buy real estate, sell real estate, or do some real estate financing are now starting their efforts online.  This enables the consumer to gather information without feeling pressured or having to deal with someone wasting their time.  I have started a blog here at Active Rain to help service the needs of those consumers.

Feel free to read through the stuff I write.  Some of it is valuable information, some of it is about our community, and some of it is just my own personal ramblings.

The internet is full of information.  Sometimes the right answer can be difficult to find with a google search, or the answer you get is often times just plain incorrect.  There are a TON of people on the internet who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, yet they try to give advice as best they can to get you to part with your money.  Be smart, trust your instincts, and find an experienced professional to help you.

I service the Lethbridge real estate market and also do mortgage financing throughout the province of Alberta.  I don't bother with trying to do commercial real estate, agricultural land, or mortgages in Quebec.  I stick to what I know and what I am an expert at.  If your needs are outside of my areas of expertise, I will refer you to a highly qualified person who can help you.

I am available to answer any real estate and mortgage related questions, either by email or phone.  You will find that I am quick to respond, concise in my answers, and accurate in my advice.  I have been doing this a long time and have a small but extremely loyal cusomter base.  They come to me for expert advice because I either make them money, save them money, or treat their finances as securely as if they were my own.

I wouldn't settle for less.  Would you?

Robert May

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta . He is also a licensed Lethbridge mortgage broker and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the Lethbridge real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as Lethbridge mortgage financing, mortgage refinancing , preapprovals, and Lethbridge heloc financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at this link: mortgage broker Lethbridge

Check out my NEW online real estate blog!

Lethbridge Mortgage Broker Lethbridge Real Estate

We specialize in residential mortgages and residential real estate!  That means that we speak to a variety of lenders and industry insiders on a daily basis.  We partake in regular training and industry education to ensure that we are up to date on the latest developments and products available.  Because of this ongoing committment, we are able to provide our customers with more complete options which can result in better mortgage products, lower rates, and happier customers.

Unlike individual banks or lenders which have limited products available to them, we are able to access products by dozens of different lenders and can see all of their products and all of their rates.  This allows us to work together with you to find the product that best suits your needs.

Perhaps the greatest difference that our clients notice right away about our office is that we actually return our clients phone calls and keep them informed of the financing process.  If you have tried to deal with any of our competitors in the past, you may know what I am referring to.  Call us if you expect and appreciate a higher level of service.

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Robert May is the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta. He is also a licensed mortgage associate and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as mortgage financing, refinancing/renewals, preapprovals, and home equity financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at www.LethbridgeLoans.com

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Lethbridge mortgage real estate financing alberta mortgages blog

You can also search all of Southern Alberta MLS real estate right here.  Take a look and contact me if you have any questions or want more information on any of the properties you see here.

Lethbridge Mortgage Brokers

Why Use Mortgage Brokers? Mortgage Brokers are independent, trained professionals licensed to represent and provide you with the best advice for your mortgage needs. Mortgage Brokers primary expertise is locating funding for mortgage financing. They know where the best rates can be found. What's more, they have the knowledge required to present a proposal for financing to lenders in the best way possible to successfully obtain mortgage financing.

Why deal with a Mortgage Broker? Mortgage Brokers represent you, the customer, not the lender. Because they are not employees of a lending institution, Brokers are not limited in the product they can offer you. Brokers seek out the best lender package to suit your specific situation, whether it’s with a Chartered Bank, Trust or Insurance Company, or Private Funds. There is a wide assortment of options and features available to homebuyers today. Shopping around takes a lot of time and effort. The mortgage process within today's very competitive marketplace intimidates many Canadian homebuyers. It pays to work with a mortgage professional who will represent you and ensure the mortgage you get is the one best suited to your needs. Choosing the wrong mortgage can cost you thousands of extra dollars. Mortgage Brokers are trained professionals who can help you save on your mortgage dollar.

10 Reasons to use a Mortgage Broker Access to over 40 different lenders, banks, trust companies, investors and financial institutions. Fast credit and loan pre-approvals with no cost or obligation. Up-to-date on all the mortgage rates, terms and re-payment options available on the market. They only specialize in mortgages and are knowledgeable on current trends. They are experts at matching you with the best-suited mortgage. Get mortgage rates at wholesale, guaranteed up to 120 days. They work for YOU, not the bank. They increase competition in the market place, thus keeping rates low. They save you time and money! Brokers have vested interest in satisfying your needs since they rely on referrals and repeat business. Other than rates, why should I use a Mortgage Broker? In addition to rates, because mortgage-based financing is the broker's primary business, he or she has developed expertise in what type of mortgage financing each lender prefers to pursue. This kind of knowledge not only results in the most favourable rates for each project, but often whether a project is funded at all. How do Mortgage Brokers Find Superior Rates? Interest rates are a concern to borrowers. Because of their daily contact with lenders, brokers know which project or home attracts a favorable interest rate from one institution, but a higher rate at another. Some institutions, in fact, will only accept mortgage submissions from mortgage brokers. These rates, and preferences for types of mortgages, can change daily, depending on economic circumstances or based on the size of an institution's portfolio in a particular type of mortgage. Your Mortgage Broker keeps current and knows which lender to approach first. As a result, mortgage rates obtained by Brokers are among the best available at the time of placement. Why should I go to a Mortgage Broker first? A professional presentation to a lender on the first application will get the best response and save you valuable time and money. Secondary applications with previous credit bureau inquiries may be more costly. Often the success of obtaining mortgage approval depends on the way a proposal is presented and to whom it is sent. Your Mortgage Broker is trained to present your mortgage proposal where and how it will get the most immediate, positive result. You don't call an insurance company for insurance - you use an insurance broker, because of their expertise, product knowledge and rates. So remember, call your mortgage broker first! How do Brokers get better deals than many Banks? The lenders who work with mortgage brokers include traditional sources, such as chartered banks, trust companies, as well as corporate and private pension funds. In addition to these sources, brokers often develop professional relationships with private sources of funds, termed private lenders. These lenders can provide many various mortgage products not available at conventional sources.         Here are a few of my favorite past articles from my Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog you might have missed or wish to recommend them to a friend. WANTED: Single Women: - Single women are a hot mortgage market Common Financial Problems - Avoid these financial mistakes Get Your Credit Score UP - Invaluable insight into your credit score Mortgage Guidelines Get Tighter - Harder and harder to borrow money Is Your Mortgage Company Out of Business in 2009? - What to do when your bank goes broke What is wrong with MLS - Is your info being abused? Survivor - Real Estate Edition - Let's vote a few more off the island       Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta . He is also a licensed Lethbridge mortgage broker and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the Lethbridge real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as Lethbridge mortgage financing, mortgage refinancing , preapprovals, and Lethbridge heloc financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at this link: mortgage broker Lethbridge Let me share my 15 years experience in the local Lethbridge real estate and financing market with you! It is the first step towards making a profitable real estate decision.

0 comments • Robert W. May, Realtor/Mortgage Expert Lethbridge Mortgage & Real Estate Info • June 11 2009 01:46AM

Lethbridge Real Estate

I have had my blog running on Active rain for about 8 months now.  Initially, I started an Active Rain profile hoping that it would increase the profile and google rankings of my LethbridgeLoans.com website.  I wrote a few articles about Lethbridge, about Lethbridge Real Estate, Lethbridge mortgage information, etc.  I figured that it was important to have a mix of business, personal, and community content on the blog.  My main website, apart from being a great tool for accepting online mortgage applications, is an online business card.  It is how Lethbridge consumers find me.

 

Recently, I started an outside blog, LethbridgeRealEstateBlog.com, to which I post most of my active rain content, especially the content that is relevant to Lethbridge Real Estate and Lethbridge mortgage information.  I post a little about Lethbridge mortgage rates, Lethbridge real estate listings, and a few other related topics.

 

I also have a twitter profile, a facebook page, a blogger account, and a squidoo page.  I joined them, posted a bit of Lethbridge real estate and Lethbridge mortgage info and then have pretty much neglected them.  I wanted the benefit of the links and the google juice, but really dont have the time or interest in maintaining a half dozen different accounts on different sites.

 

The key is to make use of this technology to get in front of consumers so that they can learn who you are and waht you can do to help them.  While most of my real estate enquiries are from Lethbridge, I have recently had a large number from Taber and other towns in the Lethbridge area.

 

If you have a question or need some real estate help, feel free to contact me.

 

 

Robert May

 

 

 

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta. He is also a licensed Lethbridge mortgage broker and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the Lethbridge real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as Lethbridge mortgage financing, refinancing/renewals, preapprovals, and Lethbridge heloc financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at: Lethbridge real estate online

Let me share my 15 years experience in the local Lethbridge real estate and financing market with you! It is the first step towards making a profitable real estate decision.

Lethbridge Mortgage Broker Lethbridge Real Estate

 

*this post is an intentionally keyword rich test to maximize seo placement

1 comment • Robert W. May, Realtor/Mortgage Expert Lethbridge Mortgage & Real Estate Info • June 11 2009 01:34AM

Online Open House Marketing

   This past weekend I did an open house.

 

 

I did no newspaper marketing at all.  I didn't print flyers.  I didn't even put directional signs up directing stray traffic to my property.  None of that traditional stuff that seems like we do simply because everyone else does it.

 

What I did do was put a for sale sign on the property.  I also had a big yellow sign made that says "open house saturday 2-4pm" and placed that on the property several days in advance.  I then proceeded to post the news of the open house through my online channels.

 

My blog here at active rain, my outside blog, and then all the outlets that it travels too from there.  The news went through my facebook, twitter, blogger, tumblr, etc.  I posted it on Craigslist and kijiji too.  I spent an hour total making sure it was distributed and making the ads I put up.  I also spent about $50 or $60 on pay per click advertising, which resulted in about 30,000 inpressions and 96 clicks.

 

Come Saturday I arrived at the open house eagerly wondering if a single person would show up or if I would sit there by myself for 2 hours.  Well much to my suprize, about 40 people showed up.  It was amazing.  A steady stream of buyers in and out of the house despite the fact that it was pouring rain all day!

 

As a result of the activity, I have had 3 offers on the property, including one which was unconditional.

 

Now the house isn't sold yet, they vendor is still holding out for a bit higher price, but I am optimistic that even in the slower marketplace that so many others tell me is out there, this house will be sold soon.  Sold entirely due to online marketing. 

Lethbridge homeowners can choose to work with an old school industry member who thinks that an ad in the paper sells houses, or they can choose to find someone who takes advantage of technology to make the task easier and achieve superior results.  As for me, don't look for me in the paper.

 

 

 

Here are a few of my favorite past articles from my Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog you might have missed or wish to recommend them to a friend.

WANTED: Single Women: - Single women are a hot mortgage market
Common Financial Problems - Avoid these financial mistakes
Get Your Credit Score UP - Invaluable insight into your credit score
Mortgage Guidelines Get Tighter - Harder and harder to borrow money
Is Your Mortgage Company Out of Business in 2009? - What to do when your bank goes broke
What is wrong with MLS - Is your info being abused?
Survivor - Real Estate Edition - Let's vote a few more off the island

 

 

 

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta . He is also a licensed Lethbridge mortgage broker and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the Lethbridge real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as Lethbridge mortgage financing, mortgage refinancing , preapprovals, and Lethbridge heloc financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at this link: mortgage broker Lethbridge

Check out my NEW online real estate blog!

Check out my NEW real estate website too!

Lethbridge Mortgage Broker Lethbridge Real Estate

Most of my clients choose me because of my dedication to privacy and belief in keeping client information confidiential.  I believe that for the past few years the real estate industry has been moving in a direction which is completely contradictory to the desires of the consumer.  More and more data is collected from listing and sales contracts and more and more data then ever is shared with the public, with various levels of government, and made available to channels in which it can be accessed and used by marketing and other commercial industries.  This is absolutely NOT what I would want to have happen with my own data, and most of my clients agree that they do not want this to happen with their data.

As a result, it is my preferance to keep all of my real estate transactions out of the MLS system if possible.  Not that i do not believe in the principles on which MLS was founded, but I strongly disagree with the practices of my local association and the way it handles information collected.  When requested by a client, I will list their property on MLS, also when requested by a client I will share their sales data with MLS. 

I believe that there is a large market of people who feel the way I do and that eventually the real estate industry will do more harm to itself and its reputation by continuing to give away client data.  Here are some comments from clients:

"I had been working with a different mortgage agent for 2 months before giving up in frustration.  After having my phone calls ignored, false promises made, and losing out on several homes we tried to purchase, we had almost given up on mortgage brokers.  We met Rob through a mutual friend and were completely amazed.  He got our financing approved in under a week and kept us informed what was going on the whole time.  What a difference."  P. Djordjevic

"Robert was able to beat the mortgage rate that my bank offered me.  Thankyou."  L Campbell

"I have used Rob for financing on 3 occassions now.  I trust and appreciate the fact that he keeps my personal information private"  Cst. ********

"The service was great, the rate was competitive, and the attention to detail was the clincher."  M Miller

I would just like to thank those of you who continue to rely upon me for your real estate and mortgage needs.  Your support and your referrals is the basis of my entire business.  THANKYOU