28 Nov

Mortgage Pre-Approvals: What They Are and Why They’re Important

General

Posted by: Jim Graszat

Often when purchasing a home, purchasers will get a pre-approval on a mortgage.  Typically, these pre-approvals last for 60, 90 or even 120 days.

What is a pre-approval?

A pre-approval involves a mortgage broker collecting all of the documents required to apply for a mortgage, whether with a major bank, or an alternative lender.  The broker would then carefully choose the most appropriate lender for the client, and submit the information to request a mortgage pre-approval.  The lender would analyse the application, and decide whether or not they wish to fund the mortgage.  If it is a mortgage they want to fund, they will send a letter “pre-approving” the mortgage.  This basically means the clients are approved for the mortgage, as long as it closes by the expiry date of the pre-approval.

Why would you do this?

There are many advantages, and no disadvantages, to getting pre-approved.  Here are a few of the most important reasons:

  • The purchaser knows how much large a mortgage they can qualify for. This allows them to have a solid home purchase budget.  It prevents wasting time looking at homes that do not fit into their budget.
  • The purchaser can then make a confident offer to purchase knowing that they will get the financing necessary to make the deal happen.
  • In times of increasing interest rates, a fixed rate pre-approval guarantees the rate offered in the pre-approval for the time period stipulated.

Some important items to remember when working with a pre-approval:

  • The lender has to approve the home purchased. This is most often a formality, but the home has to show enough value to warrant the mortgage amount.
  • The purchase MUST CLOSE before the expiry date of the pre-approval. If closing is delayed, the lender may not honour the pre-approval.  A signed agreement of purchase and sale does not guarantee the rate if the closing is after the expiry date of the pre-approval.

Contact me for more information…

Pre-approval costs you nothing and can bring great peace of mind.  Please contact me if you would like to discuss a mortgage pre-approval or for any other mortgage questions.

22 Aug

Should I renovate my home? What renovations offer the best return on investment?

General

Posted by: Jim Graszat

There are a few good reasons to renovate your current home.  The most common is for your own personal enjoyment and that’s a great reason.  But some people want to renovate with a future sale in mind. Even if the primary reason is personal enjoyment, it doesn’t hurt to understand how your renovations will impact a future sale, and where you get the best bang for your buck.

First of all, if you have the room to add square footage, according to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors, you get an increase in value of approximately 30% for every 1000 square feet you add to the average sized home.  Keeping that figure in mind, if your home is worth $1 million, and you add 1000 square feet, the addition should be less than $300,000 to increase your equity in the home.

The best renovation for return on investment is a bathroom.  Bathroom styling, although based on 3-4 main fixtures, changes considerably within a relatively short period of time, and buyers don’t want to deal with a bathroom renovation on a house they just purchased.  If your bathroom is 10 years or older, maybe the time has come to consider a renovation if you are looking to get the highest value for your home.

Another big draw these days is a “special use” room.  This can be a craft room or a hobby room or perhaps a theatre room.  If you have the space, and you might enjoy it until you sell, this is generally a good addition/investment to make to your home.

Just be mindful that you do not generally want to price your house out of the neighbourhood.  In other words, don’t become the most expensive house on the block. It can be hard to get that top dollar out of your house if the neighbourhood does not support it.

If you are looking to invest in a home renovation, and need to take some equity out of your home to do so, please contact me for mortgage advice. We can work with you to best get access to your equity, whether refinancing, switching lenders, or looking at alternate arrangements to fund your dream renovations.

3 Aug

NEW BANKING RULES – CONSUMER PROTECTION EXPANDED

General

Posted by: Jim Graszat

Canadians now have new protections when it comes to dealing with their bank thanks to the new Financial Consumer Protection Framework which came into effect June 30th of 2022.

Among the more than 60 changes that came into effect are:

  1. Banks now must deal with customer complaints within 56 days, reduced from the previous 90 days.
  2. Liability for lost or stolen credit cards is now limited to $50.
  3. Banks must now send electronic alerts to help customers avoid going into overdraft or spending over their credit limit, which can result in fees.
  4. They must provide advance notice so customers can decide whether to renew or cancel products or services.
  5. Banks are obligated to provide separate agreements for each product and service provided to ensure the customers are informed of their options.
  6. Banks will now be required to create a whistleblowing program to encourage employees to come forward if they see anything happening in the bank that they feel is wrong, knowing their job will not be at risk.

The alerts required, and notices of renewal, are areas of welcome improvement, and can help save consumers money.  Alerts to avoid unintended overdraft charges, should decrease fees and charges.  Getting warned about an upcoming mortgage renewal should give consumers time to look at alternatives, perhaps reaching out to an independent mortgage broker for all of the options.  In this competitive market, with increasing interest rates, this is certainly a positive change.

28 Jul

MORTGAGE RULE CHANGES COMING END OF 2023….

General

Posted by: Jim Graszat

Well, the end of 2023 sounds like a long way away, but it is only 16 months and time flies!  Rules are changing for two types of home equity mortgages:

HELOC

A Home Equity Line of Credit, or HELOC, is a mortgage product that contains a conventional fixed amount mortgage, and a rotating Line of Credit portion.  The Line of Credit portion is available to the lender at any time with flexible payment options, including interest only payments.  Right now, the limit of a HELOC is 80% Loan to Value (LTV).  So, for example, if you have a $100,000 home, you can have a HELOC up to $80,000.  Starting at the end of 2023, the maximum LTV for this type of product will be reduced to 65%.

REVERSE MORTGAGES

Reverse mortgages are financial products offered to people over the age of 55. There are no income requirements to qualify.  The home owner can draw funds at any time, or sometimes it is set up to have an amount added to the mortgage each month with a payment of that amount to the home owner.  No payments are required, and any interest accumulated is simply added to the principal of the mortgage.  So with time, the principal increases.  These are relatively new products in Canada, and traditional LTV maximums have been creeping up over the past few years.  They currently sit around 60%.  Government regulations will cap these types of products at 65% LTV as well to keep it in line with HELOCs.

It seems in the mortgage world, the rules are constantly changing, and knowing what’s coming down the pipe is helpful when making decisions about buying or refinancing. Reach out anytime for a no-obligation review of your situation, and some thoughts on the best approach for you.

18 Jul

WHY DO GOVERNMENTS RAISE INTEREST RATES…

General

Posted by: Jim Graszat


We hear it on the news daily right now, the Bank of Canada is raising interest rates in an effort to reduce inflation. What does this mean, and what is the relationship between interest rates and inflation? This involves some very complicated and high-level economic theory, but I will try to explain a simplified explanation.

INFLATION

During times of spending, or what the economists would call “excess spending”, consumers have extra cash and a feeling of comfort with spending more money. As we live in a supply and demand economy, the demand goes up, and supply goes down. This puts pressure on prices as suppliers see opportunity to raise prices and scarcity also leads to higher prices due to competition in the marketplace. Due to COVID, we are also experiencing an unprecedented time of undersupply of many types of goods. This causes inflation, or an increase in prices. As costs spiral up, the concern is they may go up too quickly, and people will eventually not be able to afford basic necessities of life, and then we enter into a period of recession.

HOW DOES INCREASING INTEREST RATES AFFECT INFLATION…

As the governments see prices rising, and demand rising, they need to slow down the process, and by reducing buying power, the system slows down. By increasing interest rates, the cost of credit goes up, and consumers feel less comfortable borrowing money. As well, they may decide to invest in interest bearing accounts instead of spending their money. This slows down consumer demand, increasing supply, and thus slowing the process of inflation. This has an effect of stabilizing the economy – sort of cooling off an economy that is a bit overheated, so to speak.

The latest 1% interest hike by the Bank of Canada is an attempt to be one step ahead of inflation. There will be more increases, but we are unlikely to see another one of this magnitude. For more information about how to weather these latest interest rate trends, feel free to contact me for a no obligation consult.

21 Jun

INTEREST RATES ARE RISING, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME….

General

Posted by: Jim Graszat

We are definitely in a period of rising interest rates, due mostly to the government wanting to curb or control inflation.  What does that mean to average consumers.

Credit Card Debt

The first thing to think about is your short-term debt – like credit cards.  These have very high interest rates to begin with, so an increase to an already high rate can cut deep into your pocket book.  If you are carrying high interest debt from month to month, it may be time to look at eliminating that debt.  One strategy might be to refinance your house to use equity built up to pay off the high interest debt with lower interest debt.  This will significantly improve your monthly cash flow situation and reduce the stress involved with these high interest payments.  It is then very important to not allow that high interest debt to develop again.  Think about reducing your credit card limits.  Or even better, get rid of as many as you can altogether.

Mortgage

Now the big one – your mortgage.  As mortgages become due to renew, you will most likely be facing a significantly higher interest rate than you currently have, and this will increase your interest payment each month.  If you were just able to qualify for your initial mortgage, it may be tight this time around, and in fact some people may not qualify to renew their mortgage with their current lender.  Some may need to look elsewhere for alternative lenders to help them achieve a mortgage that works for them.  That is where a mortgage agent can be very helpful.  We have a lot of options that your bank does not offer.  That does not mean that your bank isn’t the best option again, and we may go that route.  But we can look at all the possibilities for you, and work with you to determine the very best solution.

Don’t Panic…

The main message is don’t panic.  Be prudent.  Reduce unnecessary debt and payments.  Perhaps think about whether you really need that new car right now, or delay that much needed vacation (or just scale it back a bit).  And remember, interest rates were around 4% just before the pandemic hit.  Life is full of ebbs and flows.  These types of changes are bound to happen and just part of the normal economic cycle.  We are here to help you roll with it.

27 May

Moving with a Pet

General

Posted by: Jim Graszat

So the long anticipated moving day is here.  It can be an extremely stressful day for all involved.  But if you have pets, it will be stressful for them as well.  Unlike with children, you can not explain to pets what is happening to help reduce their stress.

The Old House

One way to help reduce a pet’s stress is to keep them as far away from the crazy moving process as possible.  Maybe leave them with friends or family, or in a familiar kennel for the day?  If that is not possible, isolate them from the excitement.  You could empty a room in an area of the house away from the activity and close the door.  A less desirable option may be to put them in a carrier or portable kennel in the garage or basement away from the action.  In any case, make sure fresh water and food is available at all times, and check on them frequently.  Even a small amount of normal routine will help them, so take time for short walks or tossing a ball in the yard.

The New House

When you arrive at the new house, ensure you have some dedicated time for them.  Introduce them slowly, and make sure they are secured.  A stressed animal may run away to try to find their home.  It is even a good idea to try to set up, to some degree, a room where the animal will recognize the furniture and fixtures to give them a sense of being home before letting them roam the new surroundings.

It can take several days for a pet to realize they have a new home, so be vigilant and help them adapt.  It is also a good idea to get advice from your local veterinarian before the move.

Our pets are like family, and we always want them to feel safe and secure.  I hope some of these tips and suggestions will help your pet settle in to its new home.

17 May

Access your Home Equity with a Home Equity Line of Credit…

General

Posted by: Jim Graszat

One of the greatest benefits of home ownership is the growth in value of the home over time.  The difference between your mortgage amount and the value of your house is called equity.  That equity can be leveraged in many ways, including for things like investments, home improvements, tuition, major life events, travel, or perhaps a new car.  Mortgage rates are usually less than a car loan, so why not take advantage of that lower interest rate?

A Home Equity Line of Credit, or HELOC for short, is a great way to leverage this equity.  This product uses the equity built into your house as collateral for a revolving line of credit.  Because it’s “revolving”, you have the flexibility to use all of it now, some of it now, or not utilize it at all but have the option in the future to use the funds (Need a new roof – no worries).  Payments are also flexible, and you can repay it at your own pace.  Once repaid, it’s available again for the next time you need it.

Scotiabank has a great product they call the Scotia Total Equity Plan, or STEP.  It has a mortgage component accompanied by a revolving line of credit, and you can even connect a credit card to the product.  With the STEP solution, you can have up to 3 different mortgage components, and each component can have different terms.  For example:

Current mortgage is $400,000 at a 5-year fixed rate.  You could choose the same type of mortgage, or you could have $200,000 in a 5-year fixed rate mortgage, and $200,000 in a 3-year variable rate mortgage.

So, continuing with the above example of a $400,000 mortgage, let’s say your house is worth $1,000,000.  You are allowed to have your STEP product utilize 80% of the value of your home, provided you qualify.  You can have up to $800,000 in secured debt based on this example.  So that would leave you with $400,000 in equity remaining that you can utilize in a revolving line of credit (HELOC), or perhaps a credit card, or a car loan.

To discuss this, or any other mortgage information, or if you have any questions please feel free to contact me at jgraszat@dominonlending.ca, or 705-730-8557.

26 Apr

What is “Loan to Value”?

General

Posted by: Jim Graszat

When determining the maximum mortgage amount that someone qualifies for, one of the calculations the government and the lender make is the Loan to Value ratio, or “LTV”.

How do we determine Loan to Value? This is a very simple calculation, and it is calculated by dividing the mortgage amount by the appraised value of the property being purchased or financed.

As an example, if you have a one million dollar house, and you have a mortgage of $650,000, your loan to value is calculated as follows:

$650,000 divided by $1,000,000 which is 0.65, multiplied by 100 to get a percent, gives you a loan to value of 65%.

Another example, a $436,000 mortgage on a $740,000 property, would be a LTV of:

$436,000 divided by $740,000 multiplied by 100 would be 58.9% loan to value.

LTV also affects whether you need mortgage default insurance, commonly known as CMHC financing. Mortgage Default Insurance allows someone to buy a property that they otherwise would not be able to purchase as they don’t have the required resources for a down payment.
Currently, to obtain a conventional mortgage in Canada, if your LTV is less than 80%, you do not have to have mortgage default insurance. You can increase up to 95% LTV, but you will pay a one-time mortgage default insurance fee, which is based on a percentage of the mortgage.

Stay tuned for further blogs on the various financial calculations and lingo in the mortgage world!

Written by me, Dr. Jim Graszat, mortgage agent with Dominion Lending Centres

9 Mar

What is a Reverse Mortgage and how can it help me?

General

Posted by: Jim Graszat

A Reverse Mortgage is a program that allows retired Canadians, over the age of 55, to stay in place and to live a better life in retirement by improving their monthly cashflow utilizing the built-up equity in their home.  This product truly has the ability to change peoples’ lives, allowing them to age in place and retain their dignity.

If you are like most retired Canadians, your equity is in two places, your home and any savings you have accumulated during your working life.  There is a misconception that to access your home equity, you have to sell and move to a smaller home or condo, or a rental product.  But perhaps you feel strongly about wanting to live in your family home where have lived for many years, full of so many memories.

The advantage of this product is that you can have access to up to 55% of your home’s current value.  You can be paid out as a lump sum, or as a monthly income.  A lump sum could allow you to pay for repairs or renovations (maybe your roof needs replacing, or you need to make your home more accessible). Or you may want to use the money to improve your standard of living, maybe buy a new car, take a vacation, or pay off other debt.  The money is yours to do with as you please.

Your reverse mortgage product can be set up to be payment free or you can make interest-only payments, if you wish.  This is tax free money, and does not affect any other benefits you may be receiving.  It is not based on income; it is entirely based upon the value of your home. It comes due on death or the sale of your home.

In short, this mortgage product can have a profound effect on the standard of living for many seniors who are living on a low monthly income, or those who just want to enjoy a little more freedom in retirement.  To talk more about whether this product is right for you, reach out anytime for a no obligation conversation and review.