Charlotte CampbellAh, Halifax — the land of our dreams and the place to hunt for the perfect abode.
But approaching mortgage brokers felt like chumming the waters for sharks. So we braced for them to take a bite out of our savings with fees.
After some digging, we learned the good news: brokers are free for the chosen few. They pocket their cut from the lender — typically 1% of the mortgage.
Thanks to our savvy move, we scored our dream digs. Halifax, we’re officially home!
So, if you’re knee-deep in house hunting and tangled up in financing woes like we were, don’t worry. Check out this killer shortlist of Halifax’s finest mortgage brokers to help you land that dream pad!
| What is the average mortgage rate in Halifax? The average mortgage rate in Halifax is 5.98% for a 2-year fixed term. Note that factors such as credit score, loan type, terms, and economic conditions affect the rate as well as the amount. |
How We Chose the Best Mortgage Brokers in Halifax
Jack Cameron
Website: https://www.jackcameronmortgages.ca/
Address: 123 Chain Lake Dr
Contact Details: +1 902-223-5225
Operating Hours:
- Open daily from 8 AM–9 PM
Jack Cameron is affiliated with the Premiere Mortgage Centre Group and has his own internal team. He impressed us with his team’s efficiency in securing the best rates and terms.
We liked their access to a wide range of lenders and options, going beyond what typical banks offer. From pre-approval to refinancing, they guide clients through all options while providing unbiased advice.
While our initial conversation was informative and thorough, there were some communication issues along the way.
The issues were caused by our credit score and desired rate that changed almost daily — requiring more paperwork to get the rate we wanted.
Pros
- Secures competitive rates and terms
- Access to a wide range of lenders and options
- Expertise in mortgage processes
- Informative and thorough consultation
- Open daily
Cons
- Communication delays
- Rates change quickly
- Paperwork requirements keep changing
- Unforeseen rate changes
Patient and knowledgeable with constant communication
“Jack and his team have been incredibly helpful in finding us the best mortgage when it came time for us to update our mortgage. The team is responsive, patient, friendly and on top of all the details. Highly recommend!!!”
Kristin MacLean, Google Reviews
Goes the extra mile and a pleasure to work with
“Jack was an absolute pleasure to work with. He went above and beyond to find great solutions and alternatives. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a mortgage.”
Julie Chapman, Google Reviews
Dominion Lending Centres Ideal Mortgage
Website: http://www.gettheidealmortgage.com/
Address: 6080 Young St Suite 206
Contact Details: +1 902-453-2307
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Friday: 10 AM–6 PM
Dominion Lending Centres (DLC) Ideal Mortgage is a diverse team of mortgage brokers with over 30 years of combined experience in banking and real estate.
They cover a wide range of mortgage needs, from purchases to refinancing and equity takeouts. They also assist with debt consolidations, mortgage renewals, and first-time mortgages.
We like their “New to Canada” program as it’s especially beneficial for newcomers to Canada. Recent immigrants with landed status and at least three months of employment in Canada qualify for a mortgage under the program.
And for online inquiries, they even have mortgage calculators for quick assessments to save time — something we really appreciate.
What we find equally impressive is that they are multi-lingual, with specialized brokers speaking in Korean and Chinese.
However, some clients have reported communication issues, particularly regarding last-minute requirements. This lack of responsiveness resulted in frustration and, in some cases, rejected applications.
Pros
- Offers various mortgage financing options
- Assists with debt consolidations and renewals
- Helpful for first-time homebuyers
- Multi-lingual brokers
- Online mortgage calculator
Cons
- Irregular responsiveness
- Can have last-minute requirements
Great work ethic, responsive, and surpasses expectations
“Great folks to work with! Nick, Roseann and all the others who helped us recently refinance our mortgage all went above and beyond to get us where we needed to be. Super responsive to calls and emails, they went the extra mile to accommodate us. We could not be happier!”
Sarah Gaultois, Google Reviews
Efficient, professional, and dedicated
“Being new to Canada, we relied on reviews and recommendations to get our Home purchased. After a very painful experience with “highly rated” company, we finally listened to our Realtor and applied through Ideal Mortgage.
Nicholas M Hamblin and Melissa Fry are phenomenal. With their guidance and dedication got us into our dream home , approved and reduced rate twice.
This was all done within a super tight deadline.
All I can say is Thank You for your superior service and for making dreams come true. 5 ⭐️ are not enough. Highly Recommend Ideal Mortgage!”
James Smit, Google Reviews
Sarah Nixon-Miller
Website: https://www.sarahnixonmiller.com/
Address: 168 Hobsons Lake Dr Suite 301
Contact Details: +1 902-225-7077
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Thursday: 9 AM–5 PM
- Friday: 9 AM–4 PM
Sarah Nixon-Miller is associated with Halifax’s TMG The Mortgage Group (Atlantic). With her unique perspective as a military spouse, she’s got the inside scoop on military-friendly mortgage policies — which not many brokers have.
From 2017 to 2022, she won top sales awards and was featured in the Canadian Military Family Magazine.
Plus, Sarah’s services for a typical home loan won’t cost you anything because the lender pays for her expertise — ensuring you receive unbiased advice without additional fees.
However, we were able to speak with some folks who felt like they were on a time crunch during consultations with Sarah.
They mentioned Sarah missed out on providing important information about the risks of different types of mortgages on a long-term basis.
For example, they claimed they weren’t told that fixed mortgages have stable (but higher) payments, while convertible mortgages switch to variable rates — causing payment changes.
Pros
- Expertise in military-friendly mortgage policies
- Consistent recognition and awards for top sales
- Featured in reputable publications
- No cost to clients for typical residential mortgage transactions
Cons
- Rushed consultations
- Rushed application process
- Oversight of key details
Helpful, responsive, and efficient
“Sarah and her team were so incredibly helpful, proficient and responsive throughout the process of buying our first home. This made everything on our end streamlined and effortless. We couldn’t be more grateful. We’ve recommended her to all our friends and will be sure to use her services again in the future.”
Kaylee MacLellan, Google Reviews
Easy, straightforward, and knowledgeable
“Sarah made the whole process of switching from a bank negotiated mortgage to using a broker super easy and straightforward! She answered our multiple questions with patience and ease and was readily available at the drop of a text anytime we needed her. Highly recommend her and her team!”
Monica Beaton, Google Reviews
Citadel Mortgages
Website: https://citadelmortgages.ca/
Address: 150 King St W 2nd Floor Suite 335
Contact Details: +1 866-600-8762
Operating Hours:
- Open daily from 9 AM–9 PM
Citadel is a major mortgage brokerage in Canada. With an office in Halifax, though, clients can connect with them online or in person.
We like their quick online application, providing pre-qualification in just 60 seconds.
They’ve got a mortgage deal that pairs a mortgage with a home equity line of credit (HELOC), helping you pay off your mortgage faster. They work with different lenders and welcome all credit types, which we appreciate.
Citadel has perks, including cashback, free hotel stays, and AIR MILES — a favorite Canadian loyalty program for racking up points for flights and more.
However, paperwork can be overwhelmingly tedious, and rate quotes may take time. Sometimes, rates fluctuate before clients make a decision, leading to pressure to sign quickly or disappointment when rates increase.
Their automated system can also result in unwanted calls, with no guaranteed removal from the list, which we see as a downside.
Pros
- Quick online application process
- All-in-one mortgage solution with HELOC
- Works with various lenders
- Accommodates all credit types
- Offers incentives
- Speedy and efficient
- Excellent customer service
- Open daily
Cons
- Tedious paperwork process
- Rate quotes may take time and can change
- Unwanted calls
- Removal from call list not guaranteed
Quick, efficient, and thorough
“Absolutely fantastic mortgage broker to deal with. From initial inquiry through to final signing of papers, Roger and Citadel were great. Always quick with answers to questions. Highly recommend using them for any of your mortgage needs.”
Kris Doerksen, Google Reviews
Helpful, knowledgeable, and efficient
“My family is very grateful to Citadel Mortgages especially to Ms. Sydney Tolentino. Because if not for her and her expertise we’re not able to acquire our so called “home” today. She’s very helpful and knowledgeable in every way, that made the whole process very fast. Please continue helping other people in achieving their dreams of having their own house!”
Venarose Alejo, Google Reviews
True North Mortgage
Website: https://www.truenorthmortgage.ca/
Address: 595 Bedford Hwy Suite 308
Contact Details: +1 902-423-6677
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM–5 PM
True North Mortgage has been in the mortgage business across Canada since 2006, with headquarters in Calgary and offices in seven cities.
Folks in Halifax can easily dial them up or hop online for their mortgage needs. And if you prefer face-to-face, they’ve got mobile brokers ready to meet you wherever you want.
We’re all smiles at their pledge to provide the lowest rates, matching or beating competitors, and offering a $500 discount if they can’t.
And they’ve got their in-house lender, THINK Financial, offering ‘Rate Relief’ — which has lower fixed rates for six months.
We had some miscommunication on rates and requirements at the start but they were quickly resolved. We appreciate them for keeping appointments on track, even if scheduling was tricky.
But, we also heard from some folks who felt like their application process was on fast-forward. Rushed vibes led to missed docs — and a round of reapplications.
Pros
- Lowest rate guarantee
- In-house ‘Rate Relief’ program
- Option for mobile brokers
- Timely appointments
Cons
- Communication delays
- Difficulty in scheduling appointments
- Rushed application processes
Helpful, efficient, and hard-working
“Very positive experience dealing with Kelly Boyles this summer!! She was always available to help with any questions I had. She worked very hard at making sure everything worked out for me on closing date and getting me the best rate possible. I would highly recommend Kelly!! Great service!! ”
T Adams, Google Reviews
Smooth, professional, and personalized service
“True North Mortgage and Donny Eastop we’re fantastic to work with! The process was seamless, we never had to leave our home. There was no sales pressure at any point and the service was excellent. We had a more personalized and professional experience working with Donny from a province away than we did with our local bank just down the road. I’d recommend True North Mortgage, and Donny in particular, to anyone!”
SunnyKitty, Google Reviews
