Helping families find their way home
I'm Ellen Abad — a mom, a Filipino-Canadian, and your mortgage & life insurance guide in Nova Scotia. As a Licensed Mortgage Broker with 8Twelve, a Licensed Life Insurance Broker and Branch Manager, and a former CPA, I help families buy homes, protect what matters, and build financial freedom. Whether you're buying your first home or looking for a career that fits your life, it all starts with a conversation.

100+ Families
Guided home in Nova Scotia
Your all-in-one mortgage & life insurance platform
EllenAbad.ca is a web application that helps families in Nova Scotia navigate home buying and life insurance. Book consultations, use mortgage calculators, download free resources, and securely access your client portal — all in one place. You can sign in with Google to access your personalized dashboard.
8Twelve
Licensed Mortgage Broker
Life Insurance
Licensed Broker & Branch Manager
CPA
Former (not practicing)
5-star client reviews
Realtor & Financial
Partner Network
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More than just mortgage numbers
I'm a mom, a Filipino-Canadian, and a proud Nova Scotia local. I started out as a CPA — numbers and spreadsheets were my world — and I came from operations and analytics, where I learned that the best decisions happen when you pair real human warmth with real attention to detail.
When I moved to Canada, I had to learn the financial system from scratch. I know what it feels like to be the newcomer, the first-time buyer, the person who has a million questions and isn't sure who to trust. That's exactly why I do this — so you don't have to figure it out alone.
Today I'm a Licensed Mortgage Broker with 8Twelve Mortgage and a Licensed Life Insurance Broker and Branch Manager. My background as a CPA — though I'm not currently practicing — still shapes how I think: numbers first, always with heart. I help families across Nova Scotia buy homes, protect their loved ones with life insurance, and build financial freedom — and I help people like you build a career that actually fits your life.
My superpower? I'm an extrovert who actually loves the paperwork. You get the warmth of a people person with the precision of a CPA and the heart of someone who's been on both sides of the table.
Real families, real wins
Stories from Nova Scotians who found their way home — and teammates who found a career that fits.
"Ellen made the whole process feel easy — we went from nervous to 'got the keys!' in six weeks. Couldn't have done it without her."
David
"As a newcomer, I had no idea where to start. Ellen walked me through everything in plain English and found me a rate I didn't think was possible."
Aisha
Your home-buying toolkit
No gimmicks, no spam. Just the honest resources I wish I had when I started. Enter your email and I'll send it over.
Home-Buying Checklist
Your step-by-step Nova Scotia home-buying roadmap — everything from pre-approval to getting the keys.
First-Time Buyer Calculator
Crunch the numbers: see what you can afford, estimate monthly payments, and budget with confidence.
Rent or Buy in Nova Scotia
The honest comparison guide for newcomers — when renting makes sense and when buying is the move.
How much can you afford?
A quick estimate based on your income, debts, and down payment. For a precise number, book a call.
Estimated Maximum Home Price
$365,686
Mortgage wisdom, demystified
Real talk about mortgages, money, and making smart moves in Nova Scotia's market.
Read the BlogLet's Talk
Have a question about mortgages or joining the team? Drop me a note — no pressure, just answers.