The Broker Breakdown

Real Estate continues to be a hot topic within Canada as the Bank of Canada decreased its interest rate for the first time in over 4 years, having many people coming out of hibernation and sparking up new interest in real estate in Canada. Henry Dang joins the podcast in June to go over his journey in real estate and what trends he is finding right now. Henry gives his take on where he thinks the "Hotspot" of real estate is right now and what he believes moving forward looks like for the Canadian economy. Is real estate dead in Canada or is there going to be a resurgence in interest with the BoC making moves for consumers since Covid?

This May, we have Roland Ross from the Zahnd Real Estate team on the Broker Breakdown discussing a ton of amazing topics! Branding is obviously something everyone is trying to perfect, whether it's owning your own business, running your social media, to the sales world where both me and Roland are from, you always have to put your own twist on things to elevate yourself to the top of everyone's list! You could be real estate or insurance, your brand is what speaks to every client you deal with. Through the Broker Breakdown we have started to build a brand and through the "Hallmark" realtor, Roland has begun to do the same. How that grows over time is unique to every brand but is a crucial start to any person looking to start in the social world we live in 2024.

April our lives were taken over by this Eclipse everyone was talking about but another eclipse we were not talking about was the eclipse over the economy we have seen over the past few years. With the increasing cost of everything in our lives right now, Alex sits down with us this month and goes over the trajectory of the mortgage world and what he is predicting to come down the pipeline in 2024. A really fun segment Alex does is what he comes "James Bond Yield Update" where he tracks the bond movement and how that directly impacts the interest rates we are seeing with the Bank of Canada. What Alex sees moving further into 2024 and beyond, well you will have to tune in to the April edition of the Broker Breakdown!

Affordability is a hot topic ending 2023 and continues to be a major talking point into the first quarter of 2024. From the auto industry to insurance, real estate, and grocery stores, we are seeing the affordability of everyday life diminish more and more. Kim Pham returns this month and discusses some of the issues in her industry, Automotive, and branching out to other impacted industries her clients are facing. With the hike in the Carbon Tax coming April 1st for Canadians, are we ever going to see a break in our economy or is this a never-ending cycle of increase after increase for Canadians? Kim Pham Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cruisingwithkiimmy/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cruisingwithkiimmy Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesferreirainsurance/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesFerreiraInsurance LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ferreira-insurance/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesferreirainsurance

One of my favourite sayings as of late has been "evolve or be left behind" and I think that speaks true to many things we are seeing transpire across many industries over the past few years. Real Estate has been one of those industries going through the rollercoaster of change over the past few years and we continue to see changes as we start 2024. Mortgage rates haven't really changed and we are inching closer to the spring rush we normally see and predicting prices to go up and possibly rates to go down in March/April when the Bank of Canada announces their next decisions. Alison Wiseman comes to The Broker Breakdown this month and discusses many of the changes she has seen in her time in real estate and how she has helped clients with their first home, rental properties, AirBnBs, etc. Alison and I met through a networking event last year and we both can see the importance of building your brand and how customer service really goes a long way in today's market with consumers. What 2024 has in store is still a mystery 2 months into the year but there is a lot to discuss and predict as the warm weather approaches and the markets start to come out of hibernation a bit.

2023 was a rollercoaster year for real estate across Canada and most of the world but with 2024 here, will we see the same thing continue into the New Year or will we see the complete opposite happen as interest rates look to cool off and more pressure from governments may lower the real estate market. Donald Porter and his team Porter & Associates join me this month and help debunk some of the things we saw in 203 and what they think we will see come 2024. New tax implications have been a huge talking point so far in 2024, rental properties, tiny homes and garden suites, and the overall real estate landscape for all buyers and sellers. Only time will tell what 2024 will hold, but Donald and his team are here to share their thoughts and give their expert opinions on what we should expect in 2024.

The automotive industry has forever been changed since the pandemic years, some for the good and some for the bad. However, with our most listened guest returning, Doug Bricknell gives a market update on what we have seen since the start of 2023 and what we may see moving into 2024. EVs have become more popular than ever, Hybrids have also become the talk of the town and Ford has been a leader in those areas since 2023. Doug shares not only what Ford has done with their success but how healthy competition has also had Ford sharpen their pencils and introduce new and exciting technology in the coming years. Thank you Doug for appearing again on the podcast and sharing his vast expertise with everyone. Make sure you visit him at Wayne Pitman Ford Lincoln in Guelph Ontario, as he would love to continue the conversation with anyone looking for more information.

Mortgage rates have been the talk of the town over the past few years and seems like it will continue into 2024. However, the cost of living is ever-increasing for many Canadians and we all really want to know, "When is the best time for me to purchase a home"? Now the answer is never going to be the same for one person, but having an expert you can chat with and discuss your situation is always the best route to take. David from Holton Mortgages was able to share a lot of amazing insight on how the market is looking now and how it is going to look moving into 2024. Checkout David and all his content on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holtonmortgages/

One of the biggest talking points across Canada and especially in Ontario this year has been the demand for new homes and where the land will come from to build these new homes. In this episode, we have Steve Zahnd from Zahnd Realty joining us to talk about the struggles of building new homes from acquiring the land, building permits, increasing timelines, infrastructure, and many other topics involving building and selling homes. Steve and his team have called the Guelph and surrounding area home for many years now and it was a privilege having him share his expertise and knowledge on a very hot topic for many Canadians. Check out Steve and his team's social media below and make sure you follow him as Steve and his team post various market tips and updates for clients to follow along with all the breaking news in real estate and development: Website: https://www.zahndteam.ca/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zahndteamrealestate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezahndteam/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEuJt6EWk9iMPYF_ZVbzNKA Streaming Sites: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/23uQ34gPYSJXYktapmZKST Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-broker-breakdown/id1624619387?uo=4 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3RoZWJyb2tlcmJyZWFrZG93bi9mZWVkLnhtbA Amazon: https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/2467f3c8-72a4-4196-bf7c-fb456f6aa200/the-broker-breakdown iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/338-the-broker-breakdown-96996257/ Castbox: https://castbox.fm/ch/5185887 Social Media: James Ferreira: https://www.instagram.com/jamesferreirainsurance/

It has been quite an eventful summer with interest rates across Canada continuing to be the talk of the town. Mortgage rates are rising, vehicle loan rates are rising and Canadians are getting closer and closer to the breaking point. Affordability continues to be a significant concern for many individuals across Canada and the biggest question is "Where does this all stop?". Alex Leite from Tried & True Mortgages is back for another episode to review what we have seen over the summer months and what he thinks we will see going into the final months of 2023 and early months of 2024. Alex Leite: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/triedandtruemortgages

Mergers & acquisitions happen in many industries, but recently we have seen this become a hot topic in the insurance industry. With this becoming an ever-growing tactic to help expand growth for a company, we wanted to make an episode reviewing some things from the broker and consumer sides you should look out for. This is a perfect time to schedule a time to review your policy and start building a new relationship with your new office or possibly finding someone new that you can build that relationship with. As this becomes more of a norm in many industries, consumers need to know what they can do and what they should be aware of going into something they really have no control over.

Customer service is a massive element of the insurance industry and most service industries worldwide. However, a lot has tested that trait over the last few years and we wanted to bring to light more about customer service and some realistic timelines our industry is facing. From broker wait times to processing times from insurance companies, staffing has been the number one issue our industry is facing and with that issue, it has changed how consumers are purchasing insurance and what realistic timelines are looking like in 2023. How this changes moving forward into 2024 and beyond is a question mark but it raises the question "are we in a customer service downfall'?

Stumbling across a recent article on Canadian Underwriter got us thinking, will auto-claim payments change soon? During this episode, we discussed the pros and cons of what may change moving forward, including increasing cost and wait times on parts, rental car availability and prices, new and used vehicle availability, and more. With vehicles being written off more often now during the claim process, it is important for consumers to be aware of both the pros and cons of this happening. It may seem great to be able to go get a new car, however, the availability of your next vehicle may be questionable. There are still a lot of question marks to this process based on the company, but time will tell how companies start approaching auto claims in the future.

Building a new home is super exciting and with that excitement, sometimes consumers may forget that there is specific insurance that goes along with building or renovating your home. Builder's Risk insurance is vital to any ground-up construction or renovation project you may have. From liability coverage to building and material coverage, Builder's Risk insurance ensures you are adequately covered until the home can be insured under a standard Home Insurance policy. However, we have seen many projects go up in smoke in the last year, and what this will do to the industry as a whole only time will tell as more and more projects are being claimed against by massive losses.

The summer weather has been fantastic so far this year and boaters are loving these conditions we are seeing. Boat insurance and other watercraft are an enormous talking point during this time of year as more people are on the water, either fishing, jet skiing, water skiing, or just lounging on their pontoons. This week really focuses on the general coverages from an insurance standpoint, but also from a safety standpoint and what you should be doing as a boater. From getting a boating license to safety tips in a boat, we want to make sure people are not only having fun this summer on the water but being safe doing so.

The insurance renewal is such a crucial part of the insurance experience not only from the broker side but the consumer side as well. As a broker, there are processes in which we take to make sure renewals are reviewed for accuracy and possible changes we may have from the year prior. From the consumer side, it is always important to take a few minutes and review your documents and ask questions if you have any. Every broker will have a different process for renewal, but it is always important to communicate and trust your broker to protect what is most important to you and your family.

Summer is off to a hot start in Canada. With these extreme temperatures and the lack of rain in many parts of the country, forest fires have had the perfect environment to grow and expand across multiple provinces. Last week we saw the smoke drifts in the southern parts of Ontario and many Americans also saw the impacts of the raging fires north of the border. We wanted to discuss the effects these fires have on insurance but more importantly, safety tips if encountering a forest fire in your area. Canada is on track to see the highest levels of forest fires in 2023 so we want to make sure people are aware and staying safe during the summer.

The real estate market has been one of the most unstable markets during the last few years and 2023 has only brought more change to that equation. This week we wanted to do an update episode as we are halfway through 2023, to update listeners on what is going on in the home market for buyers and sellers and how the insurance market is also changing along with it. Same with Auto Insurance, Home Insurance is also going through many changes, with inflation impacting home prices across the country and rebuild costs as well. With 2023 half over already, we discuss what we have seen so far in the last 6 months and some predictions moving into the final months of 2023 and early 2024.

Can you believe it, 2023 is already half over! A lot has already happened in 2023 but we wanted to make an update episode on the landscape of buying vehicles in Canada and how that has changed since the start of the year and what to look forward to going into the later parts of 2023. From coverages to new norms, consumers are having to deal with, 2023 has definitely been an exciting year and will only continue to evolve as we get closer to 2024.

Can you believe it, we are already almost halfway through 2023 and there has been a lot of change so far in many industries, including insurance. Every consumer wants to know what is going on with their policies and the possible increases they are seeing and in this episode, we dive a little deeper into what we have seen since the start of 2023 and what we should be looking forward to as the years goes on and even going into 2024 and beyond. Things will always change, but keeping our listeners as updated as possible is our goal and moving further into 2023 we may see even more changes come, but we have seen many obstacles and changes already since the start of January we wanted to make our listeners and consumers aware of.