With a review of your financial profile we can custom fit your loan or mortgage to give you the results that best suit you.
We offer you a wide range of fast and easy to use mortgage calculators to help you determine what you can afford.
We provide expert advice on how to immediately save on your mortgage and pay it down faster.
Find out how much you can afford before you go househunting! This will keep you focused on shopping for homes within your price range. If you qualify for a preapproved mortgage, you'll be certain of the size of mortgage for which you qualify and guaranteed a rate for a specific period of time. If you don't qualify for a pre-approved mortgage, we will be able to help you estimate a mortgage-qualifying amount.
Buying a home is an exciting time! You're about to take a big step so you'll definitely need some advice from a mortgage professional. We'll give you the facts your bank won't tell you about financing your next purchase. With access to multiple lenders, we'll help you find the best rates and best mortgage options to help you buy your dream home. Our best advice? Begin with a conversation with a mortgage professional in your area.
If your mortgage renewal is fast approaching then you’ll soon be at an important financial milestone. Now's a great time to look at the many innovative options and competitive rates available. Lenders send out renewal forms just prior to renewal dates to those with good payment histories, with about 70% of homeowners sending it back without asking any questions. In today’s hectic world, that can be the easiest and best route, but you should ask yourself some questions before you sign on the dotted line. This could be an important moment of opportunity.
Maybe it just needs some new landscaping, an extra wing for your growing family, an expanded kitchen, or a swimming pool in the backyard! A record number of Canadians have taken advantage of the historic low mortgage rates and rising real estate values and have tapped into their home equity through equity take-outs. There's never been a better time to access the extra funds that can help bring your home to that next level of comfort. Consider accessing the cash you need for the renovations and improvements you've been dreaming about!
Investment properties - particularly smaller, residential real estate - are now accessible to many average Canadians. And as any homeowner will confirm, real estate has been one of the most attractive investment categories in Canada for the past decade. If you're considering an investment in real estate, start by having a conversation with an experienced Mortgage Broker, to explore some of the innovative new options and great rates available today.
There are many Canadians jumping at the chance to own a recreational property. The aging baby boomer population is flush with capital and an insatiable desire for a waterfront or other recreational property. And with the advent of better roads, Internet and telephone service, satellite service, and winterization expertise, people are realizing that vacation properties can make ideal retirement homes. No longer just perceived as a welcome retreat from the city, a second home is now viewed as a solid financial investment with the added value of a potential retirement property.
Many Canadians are taking advantage of refinancing some of the equity in their mortgage to reduce their credit card debt. Why pay high interest rates on your bank's credit card debt when you can add that debt to your mortgage and pay a much lower interest rate! One important part of a strategy is knowing "good debt" from "bad debt". A well-planned mortgage can help you turn those bad debts into good debts and get them out of the way.
Mortgage Brokers primary expertise is locating funding for mortgage financing. They know where the best rates can be found. What's more, they have the knowledge required to present a proposal for financing to lenders in the best way possible to successfully obtain mortgage financing.
Excellent service, great rates and attention to detail. You walked us through everything so there were no surprises at all. Were grateful that we found your services! Highly recommended for sure.
We wanted to get a mortgage through our bank but came across your website on the internet. Are we ever glad we did. We saved literally tens of thousands of dollars and the whole experience was a breeze.
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Welcome to my new Website. I hope you find the information interesting. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
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What is the best mortgage rate? A 1.9% online rate will definitely attract attention! But cheapest is not always best. Once the fine print is read, many will find they don’t qualify, and often there are restrictions that could really cost homeowners in the long run. That low rate may be for quick close mortgages only i.e. closing within 60 days. Or for those who have less than 20% down in which case mortgage default insurance is required to protect the lender. If you put 20% or more down, you don’t need mortgage default insurance, but your rate will be higher because the lender doesn’t have that protection. And that low rate definitely won’t be for refinances or other situations like investment properties. Rate is only part of a successful mortgage strategy. On a $500,000 mortgage, a rate difference of 0.1% only equates to a difference in payments of about $300 a year. The right mortgage privileges can save you MUCH more than that. That’s why I look deeper. Mortgage contracts are full of devilish details that make winners and losers of Canadian homebuyers. Rates are just the lure. Often, the lower the rate, the bigger the catch. Sometimes a cut-rate mortgage comes with higher fees, penalties, or restrictive terms, which could prove more costly over the long term than a slightly higher-rate mortgage with flexible terms. To get you the best mortgage for your situation, some of the things we’ll look at include:
Important mortgage privileges don’t fit in a rate ad. But trust me… this is where the rubber hits the road in building the right mortgage. Catch yourself looking at low online rates? Do all of the research you can but be sure to call me to discuss. I’m here to save you as much money as possible over the life of your mortgage!
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Negative interest rates – really!?
Negative rates are an interesting trend in Europe and Japan right now. How is it possible that anyone would hand over their money only to end up with less at maturity? Does that make sense? Similar to how you pay the bank to rent a safety deposit box or pay your investment advisor a fee, with negative rates, savers are in effect paying to have their wealth stored with an institution they trust. These savers want to safeguard their wealth with certainty instead of investing in their current uncertain and slow-growth economies. On the flip side, for borrowers, it means that they will pay back less than the amount they borrowed, which will fuel more borrowing. Here in Canada, the central Bank is holding rates based on a much stronger Canadian economy. Without a crystal ball, we don’t know for sure where rates are heading, but remember that I have your back and will always stay up-to-date on the current environment and how it may impact you.
Five Incentives for First-Time Buyers
When buying your first home, don’t leave money on the table! Take advantage of the programs and incentives offered by the federal government that can help you achieve your new home.
1. First-Time Home Buyer Incentive
This shared equity program provides 5% of the cost of an existing home, or 10% of a new home for first-time buyers with the minimum 5% down for an insured mortgage. With the maximum allowable household income of $120,000, the top purchase price would be approximately $505,000 with 5% down. You are required to pay the incentive back after 25 years or when you sell the home based on the property’s fair market value, whether it has increased or decreased in value.
|
|
No Incentive |
5% Incentive |
10% Incentive |
|
Purchase Price |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
|
5% Down |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
|
Incentive |
$0 |
$25,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Mortgage |
$475,000 |
$450,000 |
$425,000 |
|
Mortgage + Mortgage Insurance |
$494,000 |
$463,950
|
$436,900 |
|
Monthly Payment |
$2,260 |
$2,122 |
$1,999 |
|
Monthly Savings |
|
$138 |
$261 |
|
Yearly Savings |
|
$1,656 |
$3,132 |
Assumes 25 yr am, 5 yrs, 2.69%
2. RRSP Home Buyer’s Plan
First-time buyers can withdraw from their RRSPs up to $35,000 per person tax free to buy or build a qualifying home, which can be a big boost to your overall downpayment, and may help you reach the 20% down needed to avoid mortgage default insurance premiums. You are required to repay the withdrawn funds on a 15-year repayment plan that begins the second calendar year after withdrawal.
3. First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
Qualifying first-time buyers can claim a portion of their home purchase on their personal tax return for the year of purchase, which will help to offset your closings costs such as legal fees. The $5,000 non-refundable tax credit provides up to $750 in federal tax relief.
4. GST/HST New Housing Rebate
If you are purchasing a new construction home or performing substantial renovations to an existing home, you can recover some of the tax that you paid if all eligibility conditions are met. Canada Revenue Agency’s Guide RC4028 – GST/HST New Housing Rebate – has all of the specifics. Submit the form applicable to you along with your personal income taxes within two years of the actual closing date.
5. Green House Program
Homeowners purchasing a qualifying energy-efficient home with an insured mortgage are eligible for up to a 25% mortgage insurance premium refund, which can be a substantial savings! If you buy a home and renovate it to make it more energy-efficient you can also apply for this refund.
Have questions? Without a doubt the mortgage and homebuying world is a complex one! Getting expert advice early is a key part of the homebuying process. Get in touch at any time for a review of your situation and important money-saving advice!
Sometimes, a difficult past is standing in the way of a bright future. Bad credit can do that to you. After all, credit history is an integral part of the mortgage approval process.
If you’re running into roadblocks or don’t think you can get mortgage financing, don’t give up. It is possible to get a mortgage with bad credit! And it can be a very important step in getting you back on track financially should you need to pay off a significant amount of debt.
One of the primary advantages of working with a mortgage broker is the access you get to a wide range of lenders, including institutional and private lenders that specialize in bad credit mortgages. While the guidelines are different for each, these lenders look at your overall situation and entire credit history, and some will consider your application even after a consumer proposal or bankruptcy. For certain areas of the country, primarily large metropolitan areas, there are lenders that will lend just based on the equity in a home.
Keep in mind that even though you will have a higher interest rate and may pay additional fees, bad credit mortgages are typically short term i.e. 1 year term. During this time, we can work together to improve your score and then look to move you to a better rate longer-term mortgage.
If you don’t have an immediate financing need, or your situation is such that you don’t qualify with one of these lenders, there are ways you can make up for bad credit, which include:
If your past is standing in the way of your future… get in touch today and let’s chart a course to get you where you want to go.
Easy ways to boost your credit score!
The lowdown on the First-Time Buyer Incentive
The first-time buyer incentive, launching on September 2nd, is a shared equity program designed to reduce mortgage payments for qualifying first-time buyers who have the minimum 5% downpayment required for an insured mortgage. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will provide 5% of the cost of an existing home, or 10% of a new home. This incentive isn’t payable until you sell the property and is not charged interest.
There are a few caveats. If your household income is more than $120,000, you aren’t eligible for the program. And your total borrowed amount (including the incentive portion) can’t be more than four times your household income. With a household income of $120,000, the maximum purchase price would be approximately $505,000 with 5% down, and about $565,000 for a 15% downpayment.
Mortgage Payments - CMHC’s First-Time Buyer Incentive
|
|
No Incentive |
5% Incentive |
10% Incentive |
|
Purchase Price |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
|
5% Down |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
|
Incentive |
$0 |
$25,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Mortgage |
$475,000 |
$450,000 |
$425,000 |
|
Mortgage + Mortgage Insurance |
$494,000 |
$463,950
|
$436,900 |
|
Monthly Payment |
$2,310 |
$2,170 |
$2,043 |
|
Monthly Savings |
|
$140 |
$267 |
|
Yearly Savings |
|
$1,680 |
$3,204 |
Assumes 25 yr am, 5 yrs, 2.89%
You are required to pay the incentive back after 25 years or when you sell the home, with the repayment amount based on the property’s fair market value, whether it has increased or decreased in value. If you received a 5% incentive and your $500,000 home increases in value to $600,000, then you are required to repay $30,000. If the value deceases to $450,000, you’ll repay $22,500. You can repay the incentive at any time without penalty
This new incentive program has certainly added another layer of complexity to the already complicated mortgage world. Getting expert advice throughout your mortgage years is more important than ever.
Got a homebuying dream? Feel free to get in touch for a review of your situation at any time! I can certainly run some numbers to determine if this is something you, or someone you know, may want to consider.
Why early payout penalties matter now more than ever.
We are deep in the competitive spring real estate market! And we’re seeing a very interesting rate anomaly. Fixed-rate mortgages are very competitively priced and gaining in popularity, while variable-rate mortgages are looking overpriced. We’re even seeing ten-year mortgages at good rates back in the news. If the market is telling us that fixed-rate mortgages have an advantage, then be sure to look at the fine print because the devil is in the details and early payout penalties matter.
Why? Sometimes you just need to get out of your mortgage! It’s impossible to plan for many of the things that will happen in our lives, like job loss, illness, divorce, relocation, or another personal matter. Or when much better mortgage rates become available. Your needs and the market can shift easily during the term of your mortgage and the last thing you want is a painful penalty to get out early. That’s why it’s important to consider what your early payout penalty may be before you get your mortgage. We all want to believe that none of these scenarios will transpire, but when they do, it’s a relief to have a cost-effective option to get out.
Generally, to break your mortgage, you can expect to pay the greater of either a) three months’ interest, or b) the interest-rate differential (IRD). With the IRD, your mortgage lender will want you to pay the equivalent of what they will lose by releasing you from your mortgage and lending the money at current rates. Not all lenders calculate IRD the same way, and the differences can amount to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.
Early payout penalties are particularly important to consider if you are looking at a 10-year mortgage. If you break a 10-year mortgage before 5 years, the penalty with most lenders can be substantial. If there is a chance you could break the mortgage in the first 5 years, you may not want to consider a 10-year term.
Don’t let anyone tell you early payout penalties are “all the same”. They’re not. When choosing between mortgages, be sure to compare how the early payout penalty will be calculated. If you ever need to get out of your mortgage early, having the right mortgage could save you stress and big money. Advice on how to avoid painful penalties is part of the service I provide to my clients every single day!
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