I've moved!

Just to let you know, my blog has moved to my website, CanadianMortgageCo.com.  See you there!




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How much home could your rent buy?

...  See the answer to this and other tips in our March issue of the Home & Mortgage Essentials newsletter! 

Should you buy your home with no down payment?

You might have heard that the opportunity to buy your first home with no money down continues to be an option for Canadians.  Not surprisingly, you might also be wondering if this is a prudent financial strategy.
   
In the media, the big focus is on concerns that Canada may be making some of the same errors that led to the U.S. real estate and mortgage crisis, and that Canadians are just too overextended on credit.  

As well, with any financial decision, there is the question of whether that decision is appropriate for your own personal situation. 

Let's address the media attention on the Canadian housing market first.

It’s always important to be cautious, and, dare I say it: conservative.  But, to keep things in perspective, our financial system is sound, and the majority of Canadians remain sensible with their financial management.  Bloomberg, a leader in global business and financial information, recently noted that the Canadian Banking system has been rated the soundest in the world for four straight years - with no Canadian lenders needing a government bailout, unlike the U.S. and European banking systems.   And, according to Canadian banking industry figures, the percentage of mortgages in arrears in Canada currently sits at .38 of one percent, hardly a red flag for loan quality in Canada.   A recent report by one of our major banks also stated that Canada’s housing market is more a balloon, than a bubble.   So our stricter banking rules have certainly helped us avoid making the same mistakes made south of the border.

Now let's look at whether this is the right strategy for you.  Simply put, buying a home with zero down isn’t for everyone.  You need to have stable income, excellent credit, and the ability to comfortably handle both your monthly mortgage payment and ongoing housing expenses.  If all those apply to you, buying a home with no down payment could be a significant financial boost.  If you are struggling to save up your down payment while paying out a large chunk of your paycheck to a landlord, it could be the way to make the step to home ownership much sooner.  For some home buyers it can make more financial sense to take advantage of today’s historically low mortgage rate environment instead of waiting.

Most first-time buyers look to save five percent of the purchase price, which is the minimum down payment required to qualify for an insured mortgage. Zero down options cover some or all of that five percent, and include:

1. Borrowing the downpayment through a loan or unsecured line of credit;
2. A cash-back mortgage that provides the cash upfront; or
3. Having the down payment gifted to you by a parent or other blood relative with a letter saying you are not required to pay the money back at any time.

Talking to a mortgage professional is to see if this makes sense for your situation is very worthwhile.  We can outline all of the details that you should be aware of with each option. For instance, cash back mortgages have higher interest rates, and, if you pay out your mortgage before your term is up, you’ll be required to pay back a pro-rated amount of the downpayment that you received.  Or, if you borrow the down payment, the loan amount must be used in your qualifying calculations, and you might not qualify for as large a mortgage (see my post on ratios for more details on these calculations).   

You do also need to have an additional 1.5 per cent saved to cover all of your closing costs (see my post on closing costs for more details).

Bottom line: if you’re in the “saving up” stage of preparing for home ownership, this is a great time to meet with us so we can discuss your down payment options, including, if appropriate, the possibility of buying your home with no down payment.  
 
Talk to us today; it’s a great place to start!

~ Powered by Mortgage Intelligence
  
Photo credit: [c] Colin Brough for stock.xchng

Three mortgage ratios de-mystified

One of the most common questions I get asked is "what are those ratios mortgage people talk about?"

If you're doing home buying research, chances are you've heard the terms gross debt service ratio, total debt service ratio, and loan to value ratio. Or as they're more conveniently known, GDS, TDS, and LTV.

Here's what you need to know about these ratios:

1. Gross Debt Service Ratio
   Your gross family income, or total income before deductions, is used for both the GDS and the TDS calculations. To calculate the GDS, we first total up your yearly shelter costs - mortgage payments, property taxes, and heat, and if applicable, 50% of your condo fees as well. Once we have this amount, we divide it into your annual income before deductions. The result is expressed as a percentage. Most lenders will want you to keep the percentage to 30-32%.
   
   Here's a simplified example. Let's say you and your partner's incomes total $100,000 per year, and you are thinking of buying a $500,000 condo. You have $100,000 in savings, so you need a $400,000 mortgage to make up the difference. Here's how the numbers play out:
   
   Mortgage payments:  $21,197.52 (12 X $1766.46)
   Taxes:  $5,000 (estimated)
   Heat: $960 (estimated, 12 X $80)
   Condo fees:  $2,400 (12 X $200, which is 50% of the estimated $400/month condo fee)
   ------------------------------------------------------
   Annual shelter costs (total):  $29,557.52
   
   Dividing this by your $100,000 income gives you a GDS of 29.56%.  It's less than 32% - great!
     
   You may be wondering what happens if it's more than 32%.  The answer is "it depends".  If you have no other debts, a great credit rating, and show that you regularly add to your savings, the mortgage lender may be willing to allow you a greater GDS than 32%, on an exception basis. 
       
2. Total Debt Service Ratio
   To calculate the TDS, we add the above shelter costs to all your remaining debt commitments, such as a car loan / lease, amounts payable on lines of credit or credit cards, and other debt payments.  Continuing the above example, let's assume you also have a car loan with a monthly $400 payment, and a student loan of $300 per month.  We can try out those calculations again:
     
   Annual shelter costs from above: $29,557.52
   Car loan payments per year: $4800 (12 X $400)
   Student loan payments per year: $3600 (12 X $300)
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   Total annual debt payments:  $37,957.52
   
   Dividing this total by $100,000 gives you a TDS of 37.96%.  Since it's less than 40%, you fit most lenders' criteria - congratulations!
     
   However, consider that your car loan payment was actually $600 per month, and in addition to the student loan, you also owed $10,000 on various credit cards.  The picture becomes quite different:
     
   Annual shelter costs:  $29,557.52
   Car loan payments per year:  $7,200 (12 X $600)
   Student loan payments per year:  $3,600
   Credit card payments per year:  $3,600
   ---------------------------------------------------------------
   Total annual debt payments:  $43,957.52
     
   Dividing this total by your $100,000 in income gives you the new TDS of 43.96%.    So what now?  Well, you have a couple of options.  You could significantly reduce the amount you borrow on the mortgage - in this case, you would need to reduce the mortgage amount by about $80,000 in order to bring your TDS under 40%.  Or, you could wait, reduce your expenses in other areas and aggressively pay down your non-shelter debts.  The key is to consult with a professional to understand your options and figure out what is the best way to proceed.
   
   The key: if you're thinking of buying a home in the next year or two, do everything you can to avoid taking on any new debt.  As you can see from our example, it can really impact you in your home purchasing journey.
     
3. Loan to Value Ratio  
   The LTV ratio is the simply the value of your mortgage (the "loan") compared to the market value of the property, again expressed as a percentage.  In the example we used above, the loan to value is 80%, which is the $400,000 mortgage amount divided into the $500,000 purchase price of the condo. 
     
   There are implications that pertain to the LTV ratio.  If your down payment is less than 20% of the home's value, or in other words, if your LTV is greater than 80%, your mortgage is considered a High Ratio mortgage.  If that is the case, you will likely need to use mortgage insurance (check out the CMHC website for more details).

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me!


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Ten signs you might need a tune-up

Like your car or your home, your mortgage benefits from a seasonal inspection.  Spring is just around the corner - so it's a great time to make sure your mortgage is in peak form!

Here are ten signs you might need a mortgage tune-up:

1. You are locked in at a higher rate than you could get today - and you want a professional opinion on your options;

2. You're thinking about moving to a new home this year - or considering buying an investment property;

3. You're still carrying way too much post-holiday debt;

4. In fact, you have more than $25,000 owing on high-interest loans or credit cards;

5. You're worried each month about whether your budget will stretch as far as the bills;

6. There's a renovation or home repair project coming up this year - either by choice or necessity;

7. An investment opportunity is available - and you wish you could take advantage;

8. There's a large expense looming - tuition, wedding, new car - and you need to plan ahead;

9. Your income might wobble or take a hit this year - and you want to be prepared just in case; or,

10.  You're planning on retiring in the next five years.
   
If you recognize one of the signs that it's time for a tune-up, give me a call or send an email anytime.  I'm happy to help!


~ Powered by Mortgage Intelligence

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5 reasons you should use a realtor

If you are a currently househunting, especially if you are a first-time homebuyer, you may wonder how much value a real estate professional can really bring to the table. With so many online listing sites, couldn't you find homes just as easily on your own?

In my opinion, a good realtor can mean finding your dream home quickly and efficiently, versus spending hours trolling the web and dragging yourself to every open house in the GTA. Personally, I get quite excited about checking out homes that are staged for sale, and getting ideas on new trends in home design and layouts. But, if you are using this as your main mode of finding a home, the excitement is likely to pale after a few months of fruitless looking. More importantly, if you aren't working with a realtor, you are missing out on a vast repository of knowledge and connections that you could be using make your home buying process easier and simpler.

Here are just five reasons why a good realtor is worth his or her weight in gold:

1. Negotiation. How many of us are comfortable handling real estate negotiations, and knowing how to get the best possible real estate deal? Using an experienced realtor means you have a skilled negotiator on your side. Even if you view dozens of properties, you are not likely to have the negotiating edge when you come right down to making an offer to purchase one.

2. Knowledge. In addition to the substantial education required to obtain a real estate license, realtors are also obligated to continuously educate themselves in real estate related topics. As well, they have access to market data, real estate industry materials, and fellow real estate colleagues, to further increase their knowledge of the local markets.

3. Professional network. Do you have a good local real estate lawyer in your contact database? How about a home inspector, an architect, or general contractor? A good realtor will help you by connecting you to the necessary resources for making your home purchase.

4. Balance. Unless you have bought a few homes yourself, it can be really hard to "see the forest for the trees". A real estate professional will help you prioritize the items on your wish list, figure out what is truly important, and balance that against your price range. As well, if you are purchasing with a partner, it's really helpful to be able to bounce ideas off a neutral third party, and find balance between what each of you desires in your new home.

5. Fun. The home buying process can get tedious at times, and even stressful. Hopefully you have a realtor who is well suited to your personality style. The best realtor for you will make the experience fun and enjoyable.

At the end of the day, you will probably still spend hours obsessing about properties you discover online, or that you walk through in an open house. With a good realtor on your side, you will be able to move on from that to actually buying the home that will work perfectly for you, in real life.

Happy searching!


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Thinking of buying a fixer-upper? Here's how...

If you've been trying to find that perfect home, but no place you've looked at in your price range seems quite right, here's a way to buy and renovate for the perfect abode.  Think of it as a mortgage for fixer uppers.

It's called a “purchase plus improvements” mortgage.  This type of mortgage covers the sale price of your home, plus any renovations that would increase the value of the property, with as little as 5 per cent down.

Many homebuyers looking at older properties find themselves in the same boat: they’ve found a property that suits them, but it needs some costly and immediate upgrades.

You may be able to add the costs of those immediate renovations into your mortgage, instead of racking up credit card bills, department store or home renovation store cards, or selling investments to pay for the upgrades.    If you’re buying a home but want to add a garage, finish a basement, replace windows or wiring, or redo a kitchen, it can make a lot of sense to add those costs to your mortgage. That way you can spread your payments over the life of the mortgage and have a cost-effective way to get your dream home. You can also use your pre-payment privileges to pay the renovation off faster, when the expenses of the renovation are behind you. 

The process is quite straightforward.  Here are the main steps you will take:

Include a longer "financing clause" in your offer to purchase
Once you have found a home and decide to put in an offer, you should ask for a little extra time to finalize all the financing details for your home purchase - ideally 10 days.   This gives you time to get quotes and get the lender's approval on the improvements you intend to make to your property.

Obtain estimates for the upgrades
At the same time as you submit your purchase for approval with the lender, you also need to provide detailed written quotes from licensed contractors, for the renovations you plan to do.  These quotes should outline the scope of the work, and all costs. 

Get your appraisal
An appraisal with two separate values will be required: first the value of the property "as is" and the estimated value of the property once the improvements are completed.

Renovation costs are included in your mortgage
Your lender will add the estimated costs of the renovation into your mortgage. For example, with a 5% down payment, your mortgage broker would apply for 95% of the “as improved” market value, which will be higher than the actual purchase price. The committed amount of the mortgage will be advanced to your real estate lawyer, who will be instructed to hold back the renovation funds until the work has been completed and inspected.

Complete your upgrades, and receive the remainder of your funds
Once an inspection from an appraiser confirms all work is complete and a copy of the building permit (if applicable) has been received, the balance of the mortgage funds will be released to you to pay for the renovations. There are a few options for carrying your expenditures until the funds can be released. Some major home improvement retailers offer “no payment” options for up to six months. Larger contractors may also be willing to finance the project short-term if they see the documentation for purchase plus improvements financing, and receive a deposit.  Other people are able to get a short term loan from parents or a family member.  What you can't do is get the mortgage funds ahead of time - the lender can't lend you more money than your property is worth, so they have to wait until the property is actually worth the "improved" amount. 

Here is an example of how this works in real life:

Purchase price of home: $400,000
Improvements required: $40,000
Total mortgage: $418,000 (95% of $440,000)
Your down payment: $22,000 (5% of $440,000)

$378,000 will be advanced on your closing date, so that you can take ownership of the home.   At the same time, you will be required to pay your down payment in full.  You then do the improvements.  Once you get an inspection confirming that they have been completed, the remaining $40,000 will be released.  

If you think this might be a good option for getting you the perfect home, please contact your mortgage professional to discuss the ins and outs.  There are lots of aspects to this type of mortgage that you can take advantage of - for example, some lenders will also allow you to get a portion of funds advanced to you at certain stages of completion, rather than requiring you to wait until full completion.  As well, some lenders require that the work be completed in a certain period of time after your closing date, while others are more flexible.  Depending on your specific situation, we can find you a lender and product that will help you achieve your goals.

Happy house-hunting!




~ Powered by Mortgage Intelligence

Photo credit: [c] Sean Farrell for openphoto.net

Can You Afford a Home?

If you're in the very beginning stages of home buying, you may be wondering if you can really afford to buy. Sure, mortgage interest rates are pretty much the lowest they've ever been, but what about all the other costs that you will incur as a home owner?

This straightforward presentation from CMHC walks you through the thinking process of figuring out your readiness for buying a place of your own. Take a look, and let me know if you have any questions!

Home and Mortgage Essentials - January 2012 Issue!

The latest issue of our newsletter covers some great topics - how to choose the right home for you, the final days of the Eco rebates, and some housing market stats. Click at left to get the newsletter. If it doesn't appear properly on your computer, please don't hesitate to get in touch, and I will email you the PDF version. Enjoy!

Let's resolve... to clear these holiday bills and start building wealth!

Most Canadians suffer with their highest personal debt load in January, when the “holiday hit” arrives and our credit card statements let us know just how much we spent on the festive season. It’s especially hard if you already had a burgeoning debt load before the holidays.

This year, make the best New Year’s resolution ever: resolve to clear that debt, and start building wealth. With the right plan in place, this year could be the beginning of a strong new financial life. Start now, and every month you could be seeing the difference: a boost to your monthly cash flow, one easy payment, faster debt paydown, and potentially thousands of dollars in interest savings.

We can show you how to use your home equity to consolidate your high-interest debt into a new or existing mortgage. In almost every case, you’re better off rolling large amounts of high-interest debt into a mortgage. Why? Because we are benefiting from mortgage rates that continue to be among the lowest in decades. Just compare mortgage rates with what you’re paying on your credit cards and other debts.

First we’ll do an assessment of your situation. Here’s an example – mortgage, car loan and credit cards total $225,000. Roll that debt into a new $233,000 mortgage, including a fee to break the existing mortgage, and look at the payoff:

Current Situation*

Monthly payments on $175,000 mortgage - $969
Monthly payments on $25,000 car loan - $495
Monthly payments on $25,000 in credit card balances - $655

Current total monthly payments: $2,119

New Situation*

Monthly payments on $233,000 mortgage (debts + early payout penalty on mortgage) - $1,176
Monthly payments on paid off car loan - $0
Monthly payments on paid off credit cards - $0

New total monthly payments: $1,176

That’s $943 less each month! Now decide how to use that $943. If you put $500 into your mortgage payment, you’ll reduce your amortization from 25 years to 15. Or you could invest in RRSPs or RESPs and reap some tax benefits. Or consider putting some funds aside each month into a “December” fund – so you never have the financial pain of that “holiday hit” again!

It’s a new year. Make it the start of a new financial life. We’d love to help you crunch some numbers to see what kind of life you could be living, something to really celebrate about next New Year’s Eve!


~ Powered by Mortgage Intelligence

*4.5% current mortgage, 3.6% new mortgage, 25 year am. Credit cards 19.5% and car loan 7%, both at 5 year am. OAC. Subject to change. For illustration purposes only.

Photo credit: [c] Asif Akbar for stock.xchng

Top Ten for 2012!

Everyone loves to make forecasts for the New Year. With that in mind, we’ve put together a glimpse into the year ahead for Canadian homeowners – so you can plan for some great opportunities!

1. Low rates early in the year! So many financial experts were wrong last year when they predicted we’d see a rise in mortgage rates. But their loss is your gain. We are beginning 2012 once again at historically low mortgage rates.

2. “Green” money available until the end of March. The popular Eco-Energy Retrofit Grant is still available until March 31, 2012. You can access up to $5000 for improvements for energy-saving renovations to your home, but you’ll need to act fast. Before you begin work, you must arrange for an NRCan-licensed energy advisor to perform a residential energy assessment of your home. After the work is complete, a post-retrofit evaluation must be done by March 31, 2012. Full details are available at www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca. To register, go to www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/register.

3. The wealth train is leaving the station! At some point rates will begin to rise to more normal levels of 5 or 6 per cent, and it’s possible the trend upward might start in 2012. If you are carrying household debt outside your mortgage, you have a great opportunity right now to board the “wealth train”. Roll your high-interest debt into a low-rate mortgage. Start spending sensibly, saving smart, and you’ll be well on your way to slashing your debt and building your wealth. When interest rates begin to rise, debt derails even the best financial plan. Do it now.

4. Never renew with your eyes closed. When your mortgage comes up for renewal your lender sends out a note suggesting you renew at their current offer. Never renew your mortgage with your eyes closed! This is your moment of opportunity to negotiate the best possible deal. Who knows if the same lender is the best choice? If a renewal is in your financial future this year, bring us your renewal notice. There are some great options out there; we’ll help you look around.

5. Check out the re-advanceable mortgage.  This is a terrific mortgage concept for those who want to pay down their mortgage and have flexibility should an unexpected opportunity or expense arise. The re-advanceable mortgage is the perfect solution. If an emergency comes up, an unexpected investment opportunity, or a special renovation project, you can access your equity without a fuss. It may be the “last mortgage you’ll ever need”.

6. Time to build an income buffer? It’s a bit ironic, but it’s always hardest to get money at the very time that you need it. If there is even a chance that your household income could take a hit this year, then talk to us about building a financial buffer using today’s low mortgage rates. Maybe you won’t need it. But if you do, you’ll be grateful you made the arrangements when you did. With the European debt crisis still wreaking economic havoc worldwide, unemployment and income fluctuations are still a risk.

7. Speed up your mortgage pay-down. Before rates rise, take the opportunity to beat down your mortgage principal. Build a plan to take advantage of your lender’s prepayment privileges! Consider changing from monthly payments to weekly or bi-weekly payments, and take some or all of your tax refund and put it against your mortgage principal. Your interest costs will go down with every dollar you’ve reduced on your principal amount.

8. Build a financial cushion. Your high-interest credit card should never be your emergency fund. This year, build a financial cushion: get in the habit of putting a small sum from every paycheque into a special emergency fund. A nice plump emergency fund is smart saving.

9. Staying put? Instead of moving to get the home you want, consider the many benefits of staying put. The right renovation – an addition, a new family room, a fresh kitchen – might be all it takes to turn the house you’re in, into the home of your dreams. It is almost always less expensive to renovate than to relocate – if an upgrade to your lifestyle is what you’re after!

10. Get your annual mortgage checkup. It’s your financial “medical”; early detection of problems can save your financial life! We like to know how your mortgage is working for you – and look for opportunities to make the most of your greatest budgeting asset! Book a mortgage review and make sure your plan incorporates what may be ahead in 2012: it could pay big dividends in the year ahead!

~ Powered by Mortgage Intelligence

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