Owner Spotlight: Stephen Spriggs

I’m Stephen Spriggs, proud owner of Stephen Spriggs Mortgage Intelligence.

I got into mortgage brokering as a good friend who is successful in the business, thought I’d make a great broker. He told me that I’m smart, great with numbers, a natural problem solver, and had strong customer service skills. He was right. I soon found out that I really liked helping people purchase and refinancing properties, but the big moment of joy was getting people out of financial trouble and helping them buy a home, especially those families who were told by banks that they had no chance of purchasing.

I’ve been in the mortgage business since 2003. I had two main careers before brokering. First, I was a very successful club and radio disc jockey for thirteen years in Toronto and traveled in the business to the USA and Europe. Although it was fun, I rarely saw daylight and needed a change. I then entered the fitness industry as a personal trainer which was a fun industry to work in as well. I ended up being so sought after that I was lucky enough to open a training studio in North Toronto. Many years later I got the opportunity to sell the business, and that’s where mortgage brokering came into my life.

When I started mortgage brokering, lenders were very flexible with their guidelines and always wanted to find ways to lend. I was able to get clients the best rates and products in most situations. Today is a lot different. With all the Government regulations and banking changes since the 2007-2008 financial crises, lenders look for ways to turn down business. Lenders are now very risk-adverse and look for reasons not to lend before looking for reasons to lend. Only with lots of experience and knowledge, do we get the best rates and products for our clients. We also follow very diligent and detailed processes to make sure mortgages can fund. All these critical aspects are reasons to use an experienced mortgage broker for your mortgaging needs.

The most enjoyable part of being a mortgage broker is meeting great people who make up my client base. Many of my clients are now my friends, and the most rewarding part is when I get them to a better financial place in their lives. Sometimes this means helping them consolidate their debts into manageable payments and other times this can mean helping a young family purchase their first home.

My main reason for staying in this business for all these years is to help people. Our business philosophy is striving to put each customer’s needs before looking at company profit. As an individual, I believe what sets me apart from the others is my ability to help a customer gain financial freedom or reach a better financial place.

I owe my success to my client base. We have not needed to heavily advertise to attract new clients as we receive a steady flow of referrals from our happy patrons.

There have been multiple satisfying moments over the years, but one situation stands out the most. I helped a beautiful family get back into their home after a lender decided to take possession and sell the property when the poor people fell behind in mortgage payments. These people have a mentally disabled child, and the cost of care was overwhelming. The parents were having trouble finding care so they could work. We got them back into the property a few days after our first meeting. Over the next three years, we were able to help them take control of their financial situation. This happened ten years ago, and we are still friends today.

When I am not at work, I spend a lot of time with my wife and three kids either traveling or at the cottage. We enjoy going boating, fishing and just spending time doing cottage stuff. When at home, we are like most families, attending kids sports almost daily and trying to have dinner together a few times a week. Still, into the fitness and healthy lifestyle, I frequent the gym.

Being mindful has become a big part of my life, and I try to bring the family into this wonderful experience of meditation and being in the moment. We, as a family also spend time with our friends attending various events just for the life experience.

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 mortgage services in Richmond Hill, ON, I invite you to get in touch. Please visit our website at www.ezasyes.com.

Sincerely,

Stephen