Adviser and friend for 15 years

Clive and Ann Blackmun are experienced buyers of houses - over the last 35 years they have bought and sold 13 homes in and around Invercargill. But never has it been easier than the last 15 years since they enlisted the help of Mortgage Link Southland’s Les Dawson.

“We’d just sold a farmlet and wanted to buy a house around the corner in Invercargill. This was our tenth house, and it was the real estate agent who told me about Les. Les has since helped me with three houses, my son with two, as well as my sister-in-law and brother-in-law and numerous people that I work with, who maybe didn’t know how to go about getting a mortgage.” said Ann, a born and bred Southlander.

“If something isn’t a goer, he will tell you, and that’s what I liked about him. You could ring him with a scenario, he is always accessible and he would say ‘it’s a good thing, go for it’ or advise against it. I trust his judgement.”

Ann said that just recently Les provided some very good advice when she and husband Clive wanted to restructure their mortgage. “As you get older you like to be able to think your house can be paid off sooner rather than later. Les took us all through it and showed us how we can be debt-free in four years. So we’re consolidating. It’s a good feeling.”

“I carry Les’s number in my purse and give it to friends and family when they are wanting mortgage advice. They’re always sceptical that they’re going to get a bill, and they’re surprised when they don’t!”

With their house mortgage under control, Ann and Clive are devoting their spare cash and time to converting a newly purchased 1991 Chevvy ambulance - a 35-year wedding anniversary present and birthday present for Clive - into a mobile caravan.

From left: Peter Henderson and Les Dawson of Mortgage Link Southland with Clive & Ann Blackmun.

Les Dawson’s profile »