The period between mid‑December and early January in Ontario is often quieter in terms of home‑buying activity — fewer listings, slower traffic, staff shortages at lenders and legal firms, and general holiday distractions. But for savvy mortgage brokers, this “slow season” is far from wasted time. With the right strategy, it can become a valuable window to deepen relationships, build your marketing engine, and prepare a strong start for 2026.
Many real estate professionals, lenders, appraisers and legal advisors reduce hours or take time off during the holidays. That means longer processing times for mortgages, slower turnarounds.
At the same time, buyers and sellers who are active often have higher urgency or specific motivations.
For you as a broker: this means less “fire‑fight” mode, and more opportunity to go deeper with your existing pipeline, refine your systems, and position yourself for the spring rush.
Audit your past year. What worked in 2025? Which channels gave the best leads? Clean up your CRM. Segment contacts and plan follow‑ups.
Create content — videos, blog posts, client‑education pieces. Set your 2026 campaign plan. Define lead‑generation goals and digital advertising budgets.
Refine your internal processes: onboarding, communication templates, and CRM automations.
Run pre‑approval campaigns. Winter is a smart time for clients to get pre‑approved. Target renewal/refinance clients. Reach out early before 2026 renewals hit. Provide educational updates: delays, lender hours, document timelines. Build relationships with referral partners while their schedules are lighter.
Tone: warm, future‑focused, supportive. Calls‑to‑action: “Start 2026 prepared — get your mortgage strategy reviewed now.” Campaign themes include pre‑approval, renewal planning, and early‑year budgeting.
Use content such as “What the 2026 spring market might look like.”
Set expectations on processing timelines due to holiday closures. Avoid any language like “no credit checks” in all Tembo‑related communication.
Review analytics and performance data during this slow season.
Mid‑December: email past clients, referral outreach. Late December: publish winter mortgage blogs, review annual performance. Early January: launch “New Year, New Mortgage Strategy” campaigns. Mid‑January: run referral‑partner webinars and prepare Q1 ads.
Ongoing: nurture leads, request testimonials, and adjust processes.
Standing out during a slow season strengthens your competitive position. Digital ad costs may be lower during the holidays.
Relationships built now lead to more referrals and higher conversions in 2026.
The holiday season shouldn’t be idle — it should be strategic. Use this quieter window to plan, organise, engage, and build momentum. Come spring, you’ll be ahead of the competition and ready to convert more deals with Tembo.