Broker Spotlight - Laurie Boudreau

I’m Laurie Boudreau, a Mortgage Broker in Winnipeg, MB.

I look forward to sharing my story. I hope that you will enjoy getting to know me better.

I have been a solutions-oriented mortgage broker for over twenty years. I work with first time home buyers and those looking to move up to their dream home. Some of my clients are purchasing revenue properties so they can have a retirement income once the properties are paid off as many people do not have big company pensions anymore.

Sometimes bad things happen to good people and a few mortgage payments get missed. I can often place these mortgages with a private lender so the homeowner does not lose their house. I work with over thirty lenders and will contact everyone if necessary because I never give up trying to get a mortgage approved and help someone reach their dreams and goals.

As a mortgage broker, my responsibilities include taking an accurate application and submitting it to the mortgage lenders that are most likely to approve my client and offer them the lowest mortgage rate available. I represent the client’s interest like a lawyer would. I do not work for any one bank. I am solely focused on obtaining the best overall mortgage offer for my client.

The best part is that most of the time I receive a referral fee from the bank that the mortgage is ultimately placed with. So my services are free for my client. It is truly a win-win situation as my clients get all my expertise, experience and advice for free but I get paid as well.

At times I get frustrated with the bank’s inability to see the strengths of my client’s mortgage application when it is so obvious to me. Some of my clients have overcome enormous challenges so I know in my heart that they will make every mortgage payment. Often these clients have been declined because they have had late payments on their credit bureau, are self-employed and are not showing a lot of income or have not been at their current job for very long. I get giddy when I am able to get these types of applications approved because being approved for a mortgage can be “life changing” for my client.

I attribute most of my success to my father. He is a retired farmer and believed in saving money for the hard times because farming is cyclical. Some years when grain prices were high, he’d make good money. But then a few years later, when prices were low and other farmers around us were going bankrupt, we were okay because my dad had savings. He taught me to live within my means and not take on too much debt and always save a little bit for the hard times. Plus, he had an amazing work ethic and still does at eighty years old. 

When not working, I absolutely love playing with my dog and two cats. I also enjoy ‘upscaling’ old furniture by painting (think shabby-chic) or re-staining it. My friends often can’t believe what new project I’ve taken on. I also love the ocean and that is why my website is full of water-themed photos. Any chance I get in the summer I go to Winnipeg Beach or to the Caribbean in winter. In addition, I enjoy binge-watching British crime shows on Netflix during snowy weekends.

Ever since my children were born I have sponsored (through World Vision) two children living in poor countries (one in honor of each of my children). In Canada, everyone has the opportunity to thrive because of our social programs. Every Canadian can, with hard work and dedication, achieve anything they want to, including attaining a university education and a meaningful career. However, in third world countries this is not always so and every day, I thank my lucky stars that my children, husband and I were born in Canada. This is why I donate money to children who do not have the same opportunities we do, in the hope that they can have some comfort and hopefully be able to achieve their dreams one day too. I also donate to an animal charity that helps animals (like bears, beavers, whales, etc.) thrive while living in their natural habitat.

I have enjoyed sharing my story about the things which matter to me and how they influence the way I do business.

If you or someone you know could benefit from my expertise in mortgages, I invite you to get in touch. Please visit my website at www.laurieboudreau.ca.

Sincerely,

Laurie Boudreau