Cindee and Dwayne Roy had always planned to get back to country living. The Alberta couple had done the big city and small town thing, but always had one eye on the simple life. After five years of searching, they finally found their dream home outside of Wainwright, Alta. It was a sprawling property, featuring 10 acres of land and a 1,600-square foot, modern home. At a purchase price of $445,000, they snapped it up last August.

“For me it was where it was situated. It just seemed very peaceful,” Cindee told Our House Magazine. “It’s kind of like coming home again. It’s so nice to get up in the morning and look out your kitchen window and you’re not looking in your neighbour’s yard.”

And when it came time to make the big purchase, the Roy’s decided to try something different. On the advice of friends, they chose to use a Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional for their mortgage rather than using a bank. And it couldn’t have worked out better.

Q: Why did you choose a mortgage broker?

A: Actually, our broker was referred to us by one of our friends. We never really thought of it. You just go along and you get used to using a bank. We started to get a little upset with the way things were going with the bank and the way we were being treated and so one of my friends said, ‘You need to talk to our broker.’ We thought, what the heck, why not give it whirl? We phoned her up and instantly within in the first couple seconds, I thought this is our girl. So personable and friendly. She really goes to bat for you whereas I find with the bank they almost feel like they’re lending you the money out of their own back pockets. It was nice to work with someone who is rooting for you and fighting for you along the way.

Q: How was your experience working with a mortgage broker?

A: Absolutely wonderful. If we ever need to do a mortgage again we would always go back to our broker for sure. I keep telling my friends and family, ‘Don’t go to a bank. Use a mortgage broker.’ It’s a way better experience, more pleasant and little more personal. It was great.

Q: What advice would you give someone in your situation?

A: For anybody who has a had a few bumps along the way or struggled with whatever bank they’re using or feeling like you’re just a number, then definitely a mortgage broker is the way to go because you don’t feel like a number. You feel like you matter and it’s such a personal experience.

Jeremy Deutsch

Communications Advisor