10 Mar

Is Today the Right Day To Buy Yourself A Home Or Not? By: Dustan Woodhouse

General

Posted by: Vladimir Britch

Q. Is today the right day to buy yourself a home or not?

A. Today is the right day assuming one has found a specific property that works for them on all levels.

This question arises on a near daily basis within our social circles and most of the chatter around the topic is largely noise. Noise that needs to be blocked out so that you can evaluate your own personal circumstances fairly.

If the conversation is about an owner occupied property which one plans to reside at for at least the next 7-10 years, then arguably yes the right time to buy is today.

Over a 7-10 year horizon the day to day, even the month to month gyrations of the market will tend to resemble those of a small yo-yo on a large escalator.  Some ups and downs although with the lows often not dropping below the second last high. This is true of nearly any major urban 25 year chart of Real Estate Values.

There are some key considerations that will dictate not only the continued value, but perhaps more importantly your own ability to stay put for that magic 7-10 year time frame.

Location
Layout
Age
Size
Recreational amenities
Schools
Distance from workplace
Potential basement suite revenue
the list goes on…
Getting all of these variables aligned is something that takes dedication on the part of the both the buyer and their Realtor.  The hunt itself can easily consume a few months or more, and for some may result in over 100 viewings.  This is more than enough to juggle without also trying to ‘time the market’ on that perfect home.

Speaking of timing; consider allowing for a small overlap during which you have access to both the current residence as well as the new one. Being able to install new flooring throughout, complete interior painting, or upgrade kitchens and bathrooms, without having to live in the middle of the disruption is well worth an extra month of rent or the marginal costs of bridge financing. The costs involved are surprisingly lower than most clients expect.

Keep in mind during your search that the MLS #’s are an imperfect indicator of what is happening today in the market, as in literally ‘today’, MLS data reflects purchase contracts that were negotiated 30, 60, 90 or even 120 days prior to the completion date which was itself in the previous months report.  In other words by the time the MLS data indicates a trend one way or another said trend has in fact been in motion for as long as 6 months and could be either reversing or ramping up further.

Where then to get the most accurate data?

Talk to front line folks, Realtors, Brokers, Appraisers, etc. for a better handle on up to the minute trends.  Ask an Industry Expert – like your local Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional.

Short term fluctuations in values and/or interest rates are themselves not the key factors in many peoples decision to buy, instead it is finding that perfect combination of all the factors that create a home within a community and the realization that homeowners win in the long run by owning, not by sitting on the sidelines.

It is all about finding a place you can call home for the duration. To be able to plant roots and become a part of a community.  Home ownership will undeniably continue to be a part of living the Canadian dream.

Perhaps the (short term) timing will feel imperfect, as it did for presale buyers in 2007, whose completion dates were set for Spring 2009.  However 7-10 years later most will be glad that they bought when they did.  In fact many were smiling again as soon as the Spring of 2010.

Home ownership remains the one true forced savings plan, and one of the best investments we make socially as it provides an individual and/or a family with a certain sense of security, stability and community. Block out the noise and do what is right for you.

9 Mar

RRSP Contributions: To Preserve Or Not To Preserve? That Is The Question… By: Simone McMillan

General

Posted by: Vladimir Britch

A recent BMO study shows that the number of Canadians withdrawing money from their RRSP increased to 38% from 34% last year, and on average these Canadians are taking out larger sums of money.

The government requires RRSPs to be converted to a RRIF when a Canadian turns 71. After 71, withdrawals begin and they are taxed as income. Annual minimum withdrawal begins at 7.48% for those aged 71 and rise annually to a maximum of 20% for Canadians 94 and older.

Retirees often resort to tapping into RRIFs to access large sums. For some, RRIFS are viewed as their savings and emergency fund. For others, a RRIF withdrawal is their preferred solution over borrowing money, so that they can avoid monthly loan payments.

A RRIF withdrawal is a common solution, and the financial implications can be severe for seniors.

Let’s look at an example

Background: A retired widow living in B.C. has a modest pension income and only a little over $100,000 in her RRIF.

Goal: Financially help a family member by withdrawing $40,000 out of her RRIF.

Reality: Client discovers at her bank that she has an immediate withholding tax that she must pay because she is withdrawing from a registered investment. Because of this, she must take out an additional $12,000 to cover the withholding tax, which is considerably more than planned. In April, income taxes are due and the full amount of her RRIF withdrawal is added to her income, which increases her income considerably and moves her up a tax bracket. As we know, more income = more taxes. And now she owes an additional $18,000 in income taxes. Where would she find the money to pay her income taxes?

In addition, the savings she intended to use to support herself through retirement decreased substantially and won’t go as far for her as planned. Also, because of her decision to draw the excess amount from her RRIF, she experiences government clawbacks on her income pensions such as, Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and other benefits and she now has an increase in her quarterly tax installments. To make matters worse, she is no longer eligible for her provincial health care assistance, and is responsible for the full monthly premium payments herself.

Alternate solution:

By using her home equity with a reverse mortgage, her retirement savings could have been fully preserved. Income could have remained the same because funds from a reverse mortgage are tax-free and do not get added to her income. Best of all, there would have been no tax implications and she could have prevented her pension and her provincial health care assistance from being affected.

This is a true story.

We met this client when her $18,000 income tax bill was due. She was able to use her home and a reverse mortgage to help her in this situation.

Dominion Lending Centres mortgage brokers and advisors see it all the time.

Life events happen. If you know a retiree looking for a financial solution to help a family member or to cover sudden life expenses, recommend they take the time to consider the tax implications that an extra RRIF withdrawal may have on their financial situation.

Then the question really becomes: Which asset should I use? My RRIF or my home?

A reverse mortgage provides a tax-efficient solution, helps clients keep their savings to support retirement and requires no monthly payments (including interest payments).

If this client had a conversation with her DLC mortgage broker to consider all options, she would have been left in a much better financial position for years to come.

8 Mar

How To Not Qualify For A Mortgage By: Michael Hallett

General

Posted by: Vladimir Britch

If you have no desire at all to qualify for a mortgage, here are some great ways to make sure you don’t accidentally end up buying a house and taking out a mortgage to do so.

One of the best ways to ensure you won’t qualify for a mortgage is to be unemployed. Yep, banks hate lending money to unemployed people! Okay, so you have a job. Well, that’s okay, you can always unexpectedly quit your job just as you are trying to arrange financing! Even if you are making a lateral move, or taking a better job than the one you have now, that’s cool… any change in employment status while you are looking to get a mortgage will most likely wreck your chances of getting a mortgage for a while. This is because lenders want to see stability; they want to know that you have been in your current position for some time, that you are past probation, and that everything is working out well. By changing jobs right when you are looking to buy a property, you won’t instil the lender with confidence, and they probably won’t give you a mortgage. Mission accomplished.

Don’t wanna buy a house? Well, then it’s best you don’t save any money. Better yet, you should probably borrow as much money on credit as you can. One of the main qualification points on a mortgage is called your debt-service ratio. Simply put, the more money you owe in consumer debt, the less money you will qualify to borrow on a mortgage, because your ratio of income compared to your debt is higher when you owe more money. Consider this permission to go and finance a Harley-Davidson. Do it, right now. Not a big fan of motorcycles? That’s cool; a Ford 150 should do the trick nicely. The key here is to make sure you add as much monthly payment as you can. The bigger the payment, the better.

But let’s say that unfortunately your debt-service ratios are in line, you have been able to save up the necessary 5% down payment, and you are on your way to buying a house. What do you do? Ugly documentation! A great way to make sure your lender feels uncomfortable is to have really terrible bank statements. Typically when proving your down payment, the lender will require 90 days’ history of your account(s), with your name on the statement, showing that you have accumulated the down payment over time. Want to really mess things up? Make sure there are lots of deposits over $1000 that can’t be substantiated. This will look like money laundering. If that doesn’t work, you can always black out your “personal information.” Just use a black Sharpie and make your bank statements look like a classified FBI document. Lenders hate that!

So you’ve got a great job and lots of money… don’t panic, you can still absolutely wreck your chances of qualifying for a mortgage. Just don’t pay any of your bills on time. Seriously, borrow lots of money, and then stop paying! Boom. Why would any lender want to lend you money when you have a great track record of not paying back any of the money you borrow? Now, if this feels morally wrong, okay, here is an ethical way to wreck your credit. Don’t pay that cell phone bill out of principle. We’ve all been there — roaming charges, extra data charges that the cell company added on your bill… choose not to pay this on principle. This is a great way to sink your chances of getting a mortgage, I mean, how are you supposed to know that some collections (like cell phones) will show up on your credit report?

Last, if you want to make sure you never get financing, insist on buying the worst house in a bad neighbourhood. You see, the property you are looking to buy is very important to the lender. If they lend you the money to buy it and you stop making the payments, they will be forced to repossess and sell it. They are going to make sure they can recoup their initial investment. So, a “handyman special, fixer upper, with lots of potential” is a great option. As everyone knows, those words are code for “a giant dump.” Bonus points if you get those terms written in the MLS listing. Yep, insist on buying something that is falling apart and stick to it; don’t ever consider buying a solid home in a good neighbourhood.

So there you have it, if you don’t want a mortgage, no problem. Quit your job, borrow lots of money, wreck your credit, and insist on buying a dump.

However, on the off chance you feel homeownership is right for you, contact a Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional. We can help you put a plan in place to avoid these (and many more) mortgage qualification pitfalls.

7 Mar

4 Critical Questions You Must Ask Your Mortgage Broker By: Geoff Lee

General

Posted by: Vladimir Britch

We have often talked about understanding the personalities of your mortgage on our blog, but another part of that is working with your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage broker to ensure that you are getting the best product and sharpest rate possible. Asking critical questions will help you to not only understand your mortgage, but to also understand the benefit of working with a broker vs. the bank. It will also allow you to rest assured that you have flexibility and security in the mortgage that is selected for you. Here are our 4 critical questions to ask any mortgage broker you work with:

Question 1: What is the sharpest rate you can get me?

Keep in mind, that if you are shopping for your own mortgage, you do not have access to the same resources that a mortgage broker does. A broker can do mortgage comparison to show you what you qualify for. In addition, a good broker can help you compare apples to apples and shops your deal to more lenders.

Question 2: What payout options are available with each loan?

Different lenders offer different payout options varying between 0-20% lump sum payments each year. Some institutions allow you to double your payments monthly and/or once a year. Others will allow you to increase your payments by 20% once per year. There are many varieties of prepayment options, so you really need a broker to seek out the best prepayment options for you.

Question 3: What are the penalties for paying out a mortgage early?

Penalties are three months of interest, or the interest rate differential (whichever happens to be greater) and pending on the type of mortgage you are in (fixed or variable). In another case, a lender may calculate your penalty based on the Bank of Canada’s 5 year posted rate as the penalty payout and not the discounted rate you are in. Unfortunately, since no one can predict the future, you can enter into a 5 year term, and you don’t know what may happen in 2-3 years. If there is a reason you need to get out of a mortgage, you must know your payout penalties.

Question 4: What about amortization?

Your amortization period is the number of years it will take you to become mortgage free. The more that you pay on a payment, the lower your amortization will be. A typical mortgage amortization is 25 years although some opt for 15-20 but others may need an extended amortization up to 35 years. There needs to be flexibility in amortization.

Note: Different lenders, especially working with people with bruised credit don’t always allow the extended 35 years.

Asking these 4 questions will help you to make critical decisions about your mortgage, and can give you peace of mind regarding your mortgage broker’s ability to get you the sharpest rate. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and if you don’t understand something always ask for a more in depth explanation. Your home may be the biggest purchase you make in your lifetime, understanding the terms and working with a skilled DLC mortgage broker is worth an investment of your time.

1 Mar

What Happens When a Home Sale Falls Through? By: Marc Shendale

General

Posted by: Vladimir Britch

Every homebuyer eagerly anticipates closing day. With the home purchase process completed, ownership of the property transfers from the seller to the buyer – you!

Closing date is negotiated as a condition of sale. You’ll typically have several weeks between the date that your agreement to purchase (sales contract) is signed and your closing date.

During that time, you and your real estate team will work to ensure that all the conditions of the sale are met so you can take possession on the agreed-upon date.

But what happens if a home sale falls through and you are unable to close?

Reasons why a home sale could fall through

It’s worth noting that the vast majority of purchase agreements close as expected. But the most common reasons why a sale may fall through are the following:

The homebuyer fails to qualify for a mortgage.
The homebuyer makes an offer to purchase a home based on the condition that they can sell their existing property first – and fails to do so.
The homebuyer’s lender appraises the property at a value significantly lower than the agreed-upon purchase price. If the buyer can’t make up the shortfall from savings or the seller won’t lower the price, the buyer can no longer afford the property.
There are title insurance or home inspection surprises. If a title report shows claims against the property or if a home inspection reveals serious flaws, it will jeopardize the sale.
The homebuyer gets cold feet, changing his or her mind for any reason.
TIP: The best way to reduce the odds of failing to close on a home you want is to get mortgage pre-approval from the mortgage professionals at Dominion Lending Centres before you start house hunting.

Avoid making an offer on a potential money pit by scheduling a pre-sale inspection.

Your home sale falls through. Now what?

If you ever experience a sobering “it’s just not gonna happen” moment, contact your REALTOR® immediately.

If appropriate, they will send the seller’s agent a mutual release form, which releases both parties from the purchase agreement. As the buyer, you will endeavor to get your sales deposit back, and the seller is free to sell the home to someone else.

Problems arise if the seller refuses to sign the mutual release form.

Who gets the deposit?

If the seller refuses to sign the mutual release form, your deposit, which is held in a trust account, remains in trust until it is released by court order.

A disgruntled seller may decide to sue for damages that result from the failed purchase agreement. For example, they may end up selling the property to another buyer for less, resulting in a financial loss.

Or let’s say they purchased a home conditional on the sale of their existing home, and because you backed out, they either fail to close on that home or they must take out bridge financing to save the sale. They’ll probably want compensation for the extra costs and hassle.

While failure to close is an uncommon occurrence, it causes headaches for both buyers and sellers. Try avoiding it by getting mortgage pre-approval before you start house hunting, and by booking a pre-sale home inspection.

Most important, hire a real estate team. These experts can use their experience and professionalism to guide you through your sale, managing any bumps along the way.