Wow Congrats TMG The Mortgage Group Canada

TMG The Mortgage Group recognized for a third time in 2012
 

This year Grant and Debbie Thomas (co-founders of TMG The Mortgage Group) won the Mortgage Broker's Association of British Columbia's (MBABC) Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement, and then TMG  was honoured with CAAMP's Partners In Excellence Award, They have done it again. TMG has been recognized as one of the Best Companies to Work for in B.C. The gala presentation was held on November 28, 2012 at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver.

Winners are selected through a year-long process. The survey focuses on four key areas: Talent Systems, Employee Engagement, Leadership Dynamics and Organizational Culture. In addition to top overall rankings, TMG placed second in the Financial Services category.

'This award is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our many employees'.

10 Best Companies to Work For: Finalists With More Than 100 employees

1. HootSuite Media Inc.

Digital Tech and Tech Services

When the number of employees in your company grows 900 per cent in less than a year, then “I don’t care what it is you do; you’ve got a new company culture,” says Ambrosia Humphrey, director of human resources at HootSuite Media Inc.
Handling the hyper-growth is all in a day’s work for Vancouver’s tech company on steroids, which recently hit four million users and launched a London office and U.S., Australian and European subsidiaries. The company is also pulling up its Gastown roots for a much bigger office space at Ontario Street and Eighth Avenue in Vancouver – complementary neighbourhoods, says Humphrey, because “we didn’t want to alienate anybody by moving to Burnaby and having our employees commute an hour each way.”
According to Humphrey, CEO Ryan Holmes emphasizes a user-centric product and an employee-centric company, which includes quarterly employment-engagement surveys. “Even our name was crowd-sourced,” she says. The result is that HootSuite feels “like a functional family,” according to one staffer. Another employee recalls a situation where a colleague wasn’t performing or happy in his role, but “letting him go wasn’t even discussed; the company simply transitioned him to a role that was a better fit.” Perks include last summer’s all-inclusive company retreat (including interns), the $300 a month made available for a social event and surprise Christmas gifts. Plus, all full-time employees have options in the company.
At the end of the day, Humphrey says HootSuite’s culture is “the glue that holds us together. We want our employees engaged in that culture so it feels real.”

2. Daniel Hospitality Group

Hospitality

Daniel Frankel certainly understands that hospitality lies at the heart of the restaurant business and treats his staff accordingly. “It’s always been an inherent part of our culture to cultivate a family-style environment,” explains the president and CEO of Daniel Hospitality Group. That extends to inviting all staff to lavish family dinners his company throws every Thanksgiving and Christmas, where managers cater to front-line staff, many of whom have no local family.
The Daniel group of restaurants began in 2001 with a hot- dog cafe in Coal Harbour. The following year Frankel took over The Prospect Cafe at Prospect Point in Stanley Park and he has since amassed a collection of iconic locations, including The Mill Marine Bistro on the Coal Harbour seawall, Stanley Park Pavilion facing Malkin Bowl and the Burrard Bridge Bar & Grill. His latest addition is the Tap & Barrel at Olympic Village and a Tap & Barrel at the convention centre is under construction.
Cultivating a family vibe starts with hiring: “We are truly careful who we bring on board, and we invest a lot of time in training,” remarks Frankel. “If there’s any hesitation, or indication that they’re going to be a weak link, we make sure that they move on because there’s probably something better for them.”

3. Para Space Landscaping Inc.

Consumer Services

Not everyone enjoys working outside with soil and plants year-round, but Para Space Landscaping goes out of its way to find people who do.
“We put a lot of stock in the culture of the company,” says Jeff Foley, executive vice president, whose role includes overseeing operations and personnel. “We hire for quality of person first. From there we often have to train them to be horticulturists or landscapers.”
That devotion to career development and continuous improvement is recognized by employees, many of whom cite company-sponsored Red Seal accreditation and training and certification in such specializations as pesticide application and horticultural technician. Working on cutting-edge landscape designs is another big draw for employees.
From when the company was founded in 1979 – by president and CEO (and father of Jeff), Peter Foley – to its current staff of more than 100, it has maintained a close culture. “We do a really good job of hiring people that fit with the rest of the group,” explains Foley. “When we’re screening people, we think, if Para Space were a person, would they be friends with this candidate?”


4. Cactus Restaurants Ltd.
Vancouver | Hospitality | 1,751 employees
British Columbians love Cactus Club restaurants for their celebrity chef, delicious fish tacos and nubile wait staff. Its loyal staff, however, are there for the great wages and tips, and growth opportunities within the company and industry. “A great training program” comments one employee, while another trumpets “strong leadership,” calling the company “a well-oiled machine.” Management get consistent kudos from employees for being both supportive and accommodating with flexible schedules. What one staffer calls the company’s “vibrant, youthful atmosphere” is a magnet for many, not to mention what a lot of employees call “great” and “consistent” food, which even non-staffers can attest is true.

5. Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House Ltd.

Vancouver | Hospitality | 150 employees
Though it recently changed ownership, Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House continues to attract the best in the restaurant business. “My hard work doesn’t go unnoticed,” says one employee, while another cites its “great benefits package for hourly servers” as another reason why the company retains so many long-term employees. In an industry where the front-of-house staff (servers and bartenders) are often a world apart from the back-of-house, or kitchen staff, one staff member notes, “The teamwork mentality between FOH and BOH is very present, which isn’t common in this industry.” Most notably, a respect of work/life balance was highlighted by many staff.

6. TMG The Mortgage Group Canada Inc.

Vancouver | Financial Services | 146 employees
TMG’s mantra is to find mortgage options to suit the distinct financial realities of each of its clients. For its staff, however, TMG delivers what one employee calls a “big-company presence with the feel of a small, family-like organization.” Staff are encouraged to keep learning and TMG offers educational programs so brokers can continually upgrade skills, which translates into more income during slow times in the industry. Employees are also encouraged to uphold ethical values and “not to break the rules to get a sale,” explains one staff member. “I believe this to be the most ethical company in the mortgage business,” another says.

7. Nurse Next Door Home Healthcare Services Inc.

Vancouver | Health Sciences & Services | 211 employees
Nurse Next Door got its start in 2001 after co-founders Ken Sim and John DeHart couldn’t find appropriate care for their elderly loved ones. Today the two have built Canada’s largest franchised in-home care service and the personal caring at the heart of the enterprise weaves its way through the entire organization. “We have a culture of caring,” says one employee, “everyone we work with has a big heart.” Another notes, “Nurse Next Door makes me feel part of something special. Every day I feel that I am making lives better by living the core values of the company.”

8. Odlum Brown Ltd.

Vancouver | Financial Services | 225 employees
Founded in Vancouver in 1923 by General Victor Wentworth Brown and Malcolm “Buster” Brown, Odlum Brown has grown to be one of Canada’s most respected independent investment firms. Wholly owned by its employees, the firm fosters a culture of pride and respect. “There is a culture of integrity throughout the firm,” notes one employee, while another says that “Odlum Brown’s community involvement and great track record make it a company where the employees are proud to say they work there.” Perhaps most important is the company’s respect for its employees, summed up simply by one staff member: “I feel appreciated.”

9. Global Relay Communications Inc.

Vancouver | Digital Tech and Technology Services | 196 employees
In the heavily regulated financial services industry, safe, accurate and thorough archiving of communications is essential and increasingly complex. Global Relay Communications develops cutting-edge technology to keep one step ahead of international competitors, which fosters an obvious pride among its staff. “In a very competitive industry, Global Relay has become dominant worldwide in providing critical services to the world’s fussiest and most secretive industry, requiring technical superiority, great marketing, absolute integrity, amazing vision and great determination,” boasts one employee. Another cites “extremely smart, knowledgeable, fun people to learn from and opportunities to mentor less experienced staff.”

10. Great Little Box Co. Ltd.

Vancouver | Manufacturing and Transportation | 161 employees
The little company that could is well known for its culture of inclusivity, which last year included a “family” vacation to Mexico for its entire staff as a reward for meeting annual goals. Even as the manufacturer of packaging products and shipping supplies has grown from its humble beginnings, it remains an open book to all employees. “We know where the company stands,” comments one employee, citing monthly meetings where staff are briefed on the latest financials. Another cites confidence in employees: “We are all encouraged to be strong leaders, make decisions, take action
 

Refinance Your Home For A Vacation Home In Spain

Spain Rolls Out The Red Carpet to Foreign Home Buyers-- Is this the time to buy a second home especially in Spain?




Protestors take part in a demonstration against the public payment of banks' debts in Madrid, October 13, 2012. The placard reads "Real Economy".

Photograph by: Juan Medina, Reuters

Beleaguered economy prompts country to offer a little bit more than a welcome basket of baked goods if you decide to move there

Spain — Looking for a new place to call home? Spain is hoping to give you a little bit more than a welcome basket of baked goods if you decide to move there. In an attempt to reduce the country’s bloated stock of unsold homes, the government is set to offer permanent residency to any foreigner provided they buy a house or apartment worth more than C160,000 ($200,000).
The plan, unveiled by Trade Ministry secretary Jaime Garcia-Legaz Monday and expected to be approved in the coming weeks, would be aimed principally at Chinese and Russian buyers. Spain has more than 700,000 unsold houses following the collapse of its real estate market in 2008 and demand from the recession-hit domestic market is stagnant.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy stressed Monday that the plan has not yet been finalized, but added that Spain “needs to sell these homes” and that getting them off the market could help revive the nation’s devastated construction industry.
The plan to unload the unsold homes comes as thousands of houses have been repossessed by banks and their owners evicted because they cannot pay their mortgages. The government last week approved a decree under which evictions would be suspended for two years in specific cases of extreme need.
The country’s residency offer would beat others in bailed-out countries such as Ireland and Portugal, where residency papers are offered to foreigners buying houses worth more than the C400,000 and C500,000, respectively. However, Latvia on the Baltic coast offers a cheaper deal, with property buyers eligible to receive residency permits if they purchase real estate in capital Riga worth C140,000 or C70,000 in the countryside.
Spain is in the midst of a double-dip recession with 25 per cent unemployment, though Rajoy said he believes Spain has managed to avoid a financial implosion and will start growing again in late 2013 and in 2014.
“I’m convinced that the worst is over,” Rajoy told reporters after meeting with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
The stricken state of the country’s real estate market was highlighted Monday by figures from the Bank of Spain which showed that the level of bad debt in the country’s banks had risen to a record 10.7 per cent of their loan total in September.
The bank said the amount totaled C182 billion, up from C179 billion in August — the 15th monthly increase in a row.
The 16 other countries that use the Euro have agreed to lend Spain up to C100 billion to help support the country’s banks weighed down by these bad loans and investments. On top of the bank loan, Spain has been under pressure to apply for more outside financial aid to help it manage its debt and deficit. The European Central Bank has insisted on the move before it will make good on its pledge to buy the bonds of certain troubled countries to help lower their borrowing costs.
Spain says it is waiting to know all the conditions that might come attached to the rescue package before making a decision.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Footnote To This Story:
Many countries need help from foreigners to buy their houses. Want to buy a summer home in Spain or anywhere else? It can be as simple as refinancing your home in Canada to get the cash to buy a second home. For more information on refinancing your home call or email me.
akroemer@mortgagegroup.com
1.250.650.4182

Imagine leaving your home in Canada for your vacation home in Spain. Rent out the home while it is not used by you or a family member. Great mortgage helper.

Our Low-Interest Rate Environment

Our low-interest rate environment

Where are interest rates heading and when will they start to move? This has been the hot topic of conversation for the past two years and it looks as if it will continue until rates finally start moving and everyone can exhale and say, "yes, there, we knew it." Or consider this: Can we just accept that low-interest rates are now the norm, since we've been in this environment since 2010, instead of trying to second-guess what the Bank of Canada will do every month? In a recent report by CIBC's Chief Economist, Avery Shenfeld said maybe it is time for a new message. It's easy to forget that the housing market has been a vital component to the success of the Canadian economy during the past decade. In many respects, the industry has helped to stabilize a faltering economy. Consumer spending and confidence remains high - a large of part of that comes from allowing consumers to take advantage of low interest rates and to tap into their equity for either spending or investing purposes. Yes, the government in Canada has had to keep our economy afloat during the recent recession first, by injecting billions of dollars in spending into the economy and second, by instilling a degree of confidence in Canadians and investors by tweaking credit guidelines. However, at the end of the day, it still comes down to actions taken by every day Canadians who put their faith in their ability to repay loans, their ability to manage their household debt, and through consumer spending, that is pulling us through. We are very fortunate to have weathered the recession as well as we have. However many Canadians are still worried. They are worried about rising rates, they are worried about the possibility of decreasing home values, and they are worried about their ability to save for the future. Let's look at recent messages from Bank of Canada's Mark Carney. He delivered the message that consumers will pay more in the future for what they borrow today. The latest economic news is positive for a growing economy going into 2013, which will make it easier for Carney to raise the rates. However, recently Carney backtracked slightly and has hinted that rates are not likely to rise until later in 2013 and/or into 2014. He also said that he sees no "imminent" changes ahead, but that "over time, rates are more likely to go up than not." The latest Housing Market Outlook reports that although slight increases are expected in 2013, rates will remain low by historical standards. Inflation is another reason rates could rise. Canada's inflation rate is sitting at approximately 1.2% - the lowest level in more than two years. If this should start to rise past Carney's 2.5% benchmark then rates could rise. The retail sector is a good indicator about consumer confidence and the state of the economy. New research from Ernst and Young predicts that 2012 holiday retail sales in Canada are expected to increase by 3.5% over last year. It's clear that Canada's economy continues to expand and that we are operating on sound principals. According to Carney, Canada is no longer in the recovery stage but in the expansion phase. That is good news for all economic sectors. Will interest rates go up? They will, but likely not until late 2013 so as not to negate any of the positive effects of a growing and expanding economy.   About The Mortgage Group Canada Inc. TMG Canada is an innovative and progressive mortgage brokerage company. With mortgage professionals serving 9 provinces and 3 territories, TMG is national in its reach helping Canadians navigate their unique mortgage options with over 50 lenders. TMG has a network of more than 800 mortgage brokers and agents and has helped more than 200,000 Canadians arrange their mortgages in the past 20 years.

How To Get $100.00

Would you like to get one of theses crisp pieces of polymer? Anyone sending me a referral for a mortgage product and when the mortgage funds will get one of these. With the money you could buy them the best house warming gift ever. Or spend it on yourself. (anywhere in Canada)

So if you have friends and family that are sitting on the fence about buying a house, send them my way. We can fill out an application, find out the payments and get the home buying started.

Also, this is a great time to refinance your mortgage for a better rate. Even by paying the penalty you still could be saving money. We can explore this option, and if it does not save you money then you don't refinance, but at least you know.

One more option is to lock in to a low 10 year fixed rate.

Any questions?

Email or phone me.



Thank you
Angela Kroemer, AMP
Mortgage Professional
1-250-650-4182
akroemer@mortgagegroup.com
www.ComoxValleyMortgagesToday.com
TMG The Mortgage Group Canada Inc.
TMG Shaire Marie Mortgage Team

Use RRSP's For Down Payment

Are you making good money, but don't have a down payment?

Are you a First Time Home Buyer?

You are in luck.

What you can do is go to the bank and get a loan for your RRSP contribution. If you do not know your limit then you can look on your last year's notice of assessment, it will give you the maximum RRSP limit that you can buy.
Once you have the loan for the RRSP, you can buy a house under the First Time Home Buyer program.
You use the RRSP as a downpayment up to $25,000.00 per person. You do have to pay this back to your RRSP account with in 15 years paying a portion each year.

You pay on the RRSP loan monthly just like a regular loan. When you do your Income Taxes you should get a rebate for buying the RRSP's. What you can do with this rebate is to pay part of the loan off thus decreasing the amount of interest of the loan.

Any questions, let me know.

Thank you

Angela Kroemer, AMP
Mortgage Professional
1.888.679.0190
akroemer@mortgagegroup.com
http://www.KROEMERmortgages.com

TMG The Mortgage Group Canada Inc.








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