Mortgages and Games

There are two parts to the blog today: Request for Mortgage Advice, and Tag You’re It!

Request for Mortgage Advice

Our mortgage is up for renewal in the next couple of months. Each time Henry and I choose an institution, we seem to always have a higher interest rate than our friends.

I’ll set the scene for you all:

We are no where near paying off our home (our mortgage is six digits)
Our last closed five year stint at Bank of Nova Scotia cost us 6.625%.
Our mortgage before that was held at Canada Trust.

The Bank of Nova Scotia wants us to renew now for 5 years at 5.3%.

Any advice out there? Anyone deal with another institution that they respect? Should we lock in for 5? Is a floating or variable mortgage better? Does this interest rate sound good?

It seems the more Henry and I research something, the worst off we are. So we figured we would put it out there for all of you to offer up your pearls of wisdom for those of us that are not ‘mortgage savvy’. After all, your opinions, tips, and advice means more to us than some mortgage ‘specialist’ that is just trying to sell us their product!

We can’t wait to hear what y’all have to say!

Tag You’re It!

It seems that while Michael was playing hockey in Toronto over the Christmas holidays, I neglected to read Carrie’s blog and find out that she had ‘tagged’ me in a blogger’s game of ‘get to know you’ tag.

Five things about me…hmm, let me see.

1. I certainly live up to my horoscope sign of a Gemini. I like games, music, maps, globes, traveling and am curious about anything for about five minutes (or however long it takes for me to either ‘perfect it’ or buy one in each color). My clothes and other ‘stuff’ take up at least ¾ of every closet in our house. I also have a very understanding and supportive husband who indulges my ‘whims’ and latest hobbies most of the time. I really don’t believe I am at fault for most of his hair turning prematurely gray before age 40.
2. I truly believe (and Henry, my father, and my family would support this) that I could possibly outtalk anyone. I am flirtatious and expressive ~ in other words, a ‘touchy-feely’ person.
3. I like languages (who knew you needed French to obtain an English degree?) and like to write, teach, sell and promote (multitasking at its’ best) anything I believe in. Look out if you cross me though! Principles are important to me ~ especially when it comes to customer service issues, and I am like a dog with a bone when it comes to defending something (take the grocery store in town…the owner was really rude to me in the checkout line when I was buying groceries for a local children’s camp…I told him to stop… he didn’t. I have not set foot in his store since, and I have made certain that everyone in town knows my side of the story. Since this incident, a beautiful new store has been built…I will not set foot in the store until there is a new owner. For certain products, I have to drive about fifteen minutes out of my way, but hey…I’ve done it so far for four years!)
4. Music ~ MP3's, the radio, CD's and going to concerts are the highlight of my life. Surprise, surprise...I love social outings (only those that I want to go to, mind you!) I do like my prime-time television shows and going to the movie theatre. I like technical stuff (as long as I have the time to figure it out and 'perfect it') The blog is the perfect example here. I am a perfectionist and control freak (Henry is vigorously nodding his head up and down at this one).
5. I love magazines and books (Newsflash ~ I like the library, but really prefer to buy these things) I love finding out tidbits of information and pulling it out later in games like Trivial Pursuit or in social situations (probably why I want to become a librarian?). I love learning (hence going back to school and wanting to work in a school environment). I would take smart pills if they were available!

As Megan and Carrie are the only other bloggers that I know of, and Carrie has already been tagged…consider yourself tagged by me, Megan! Check out “Megan’s blog” in the left sidebar.

By the way…Joanna, Shelley, Mike and Colin…you all (and us) did not win anything in the Chiefs Raffle. Boooooo….Maybe next year!