What is a broker's most valuable product?

Consumers need guidance, not just an array of options

What is a broker's most valuable product?

The capacity to help consumers make the best possible borrowing decisions is the broker’s raison d’être, according to Hugo Dos Reis, founding partner and mortgage broker at the Vine Group

“We wanted to say that a broker is the best option if you want a mortgage in Canada. There are far more options and better overall advice, and we wanted to take a leadership position by elevating the broker to the highest level – the specialist in the mortgage world,” Dos Reis told Canadian Mortgage Professional recently.

“Having access to the best rates is not hard. What Canadians are looking for is to be guided through the array of offerings in the marketplace and how it impacts them directly,” Dos Reis added.

Read more: Brokers are the once and future experts

A survey conducted by Léger on behalf of the Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers found that the chief elements of what makes a broker enticing for borrowers are: familiarity with the laws and regulations related to the sale of a property (90% of consumers); obtaining the right price (83% of buyers, 89% of sellers); thoroughly explaining each step in the process (86% of buyers, 84% of sellers); and providing effective guidance/advice on the transaction (82% of buyers, 86% of sellers).

Tara Beattie, operations manager at Mortgage Connection in Calgary, said that brokers’ regular access to multiple entities like lenders gives them the ability to look around for mortgage products that best fit the unique requirements of every would-be buyer.

“We will leverage our experience to ensure your experience is as simple and stress-free as possible,” Beattie said. “It is always our plan to provide the best customer experience to all our clients by providing them with the assurance that we are updated on all things mortgage-related and that they are receiving the very best mortgage product for their individual needs.”