With mortgage rates at historic lows there's never been a better time to buy your first home.
I love working with first-time buyers. The excitement, the nervousness, the thrill of getting the mortgage approval, and finally getting the keys to your new home!
Let me help you understand the options available to you at this important stage in your life.
Take comfort knowing that I'm here to provide you with all the information, sound advice, and assistance you need, every step of the way.
Below is a list of topics you'll want to read over as you plan what may be your largest purchase ever. If there's anything you're unsure about, please don't hesitate to talk to me. I'm always available and prepared to do whatever I can to help make things proceed smoothly, quickly and effortlessly.
Choosing the right realtor can help ensure you get the right house at the right price. You want a real estate agent whose attitude and availability inspire your trust. Start by seeing who's most active in your neighbourhood. An agent who makes regular sales calls and keeps you informed of listings and sales in your area probably pursues business aggressively.
Set up appointments with a few agents from different companies and assess their presentations. Are they prepared? Have they done their homework in advance? Be sure to ask if the realtor is acting for a vendor or for you. Work with someone you relate to, with whom you have some chemistry, and who offers excellent service and value.
Here's a checklist of some questions to ask potential realtors before deciding which is right for you:
Ask to see a personal brochure or resume. Look for experience in your area, in your price range, and letters of reference.
Ask if this is their full-time career and whether they're committed to it in the long term.
How many properties have they sold in the last 3 months? How do they rank among peers? How many current listings do they have? What has their ranking been over the last 5 years? Where does their company rank in sales and market share?
Ask how they'll approach your home search. Will they only rely on MLS listings, or do they have other sources of homes to show you? Are they willing to change their strategy to adapt to market conditions?
How long do they think it'll take? What's the average length of time in your area and in the current market?
What's the current selling price versus asking price in your area and in the current market? Is their personal sell vs. ask price better than average?
Ask whether they have support people to assist in the process. This also gives you an additional contact should you need it.
Do they prefer to pre-book viewing excursions or are they able to show you listings as they become available?
Do they have any special affiliations or packaged discount programs with other corporations that can save you money on your mortgage, moving costs, or on purchases for your new home?
Consider transportation, distance to work, and proximity to schools, daycare, recreational facilities, shopping, healthcare, and so on. If the listing realtor claims "10 minutes to downtown," ask them to quantify with specifics.
Find a real estate agent whose attitude and availability inspire your trust. Start by seeing who's most active in your neighbourhood. An agent who makes regular sales calls and keeps you informed of listings and sales in your area probably pursues business aggressively.
Set up appointments with a few agents from different companies and assess their presentations. Are they prepared? Have they done their homework in advance? Do they have any special affiliations or packaged discount programs with other corporations that can save you money on your mortgage, moving costs, or on purchases for your new home? Work with someone you relate to, with whom you have some chemistry, and who offers excellent service and value. Be sure to ask if the realtor is acting for a vendor or for you.
There's no shortage of information available to help you make an informed purchase decision. Lenders, as well as CMHC, Genworth, the Canadian Bankers' Association, the Kamloops and District Real Estate Association, and the Canadian Home Builders' Association, among others, have information to make home hunting stress-free and fun. Visit their websites for more information.
Take the guesswork out of shopping for a home by taking advantage of professional resources available to guide you through the many choices available when purchasing your first home.
Let's get together at a convenient time either in person or over the phone to review your current income and expenses. I'll help you take into account how your new mortgage may change your monthly expenses. Securing a pre-approved mortgage with a lender that checks your credit rating will allow you to get an idea about how much mortgage you may qualify for, so you can have a price range in mind when you look at different properties.
Lenders determine affordability by looking at your Gross Debt Service ratio (GDS) and your Total Debt Service ratio (TDS). The GDS ratio is based on what you can afford to pay each month; it includes mortgage payments, taxes and utilities. The TDS ratio includes everything covered under GDS plus all your other financial obligations.
Ryan is here to help you do a complete analysis based on net income and projected budgets to determine what you can comfortably afford.
The pre-qualifying stage is also the time to find out about the difference between conventional mortgages and high-ratio insured mortgages. Ask about assistance programs for first time homebuyers.
We will also discuss closing costs, such as land transfer taxes, legal fees, and other disbursements. Before you're pre-qualified, I will run your credit bureau report and ask for written confirmation of income, as well as how much you plan to put down on your purchase.
Once you're pre-qualified, the interest rate may be guaranteed for 60 to 90 or even 120 days from the time of your application. If rates drop, you'll get the lower rate; if they rise, you're covered. And just because you pre-qualified by a certain financial institution does not mean that you're committed to that lender. I will continue to shop the market to get you the deal that will suit your unique needs!
Choices in selecting a mortgage include:
If you are putting less than 20% down on your home, odds are your mortgage will be 'default insured'. The principal amount (the amount you owe) is usually more than 80% of the purchase price. An insured or high-ratio mortgage may also be referred to as an CMHC mortgage, although there are actually 3 companies in Canada which offer these insurance programs. As the borrower you'll have to pay an insurance premium, which fortunately can be added to your mortgage and paid off over the lifetime of the mortgage. Learn More HERE
If, on the other hand, you are putting more than 20% down on your home OR are refinancing (i.e. already own your home) then it's likely you will have a 'conventional' mortgage. A conventional mortgage comes with the advantage of no insurance/CMHC fees due (saves you $$) as well as more flexible qualifying guidelines (30 year amortizations, greater affordability, alternative/private lenders). When it comes to having the most flexibility and more options to qualify with, conventional mortgages are king. They can sometimes come with higher rates than insured mortgages, but in most cases the higher rate is still less expensive than the cost or insuring the mortgage.
Closed mortgages generally offer lower interest rates than open mortgages of the same term, but open mortgages let you pay off as much as you want, any time, without paying a prepayment charge.
The term you select is important, too. Short term mortgages are appropriate if you believe interest rates will be lower at renewal time. Long term mortgages are suitable if you feel current rates are reasonable and you want the security of budgeting for the future. This may be especially important for first time homebuyers.
You can choose a fixed or variable interest rate. A fixed rate mortgage makes it easier for you to budget for whatever term you select. A variable rate mortgage fluctuates with the market.
Specialty mortgages creatively combine the best of all worlds. Your Mortgage Centre specialist can help you select the options that are best for you.
When applying for a mortgage, you will need:
Together, we will determine how much you can afford, obtain a pre-qualified approval, and select the mortgage that's right for you. This allows you to act quickly when you find the home you want. After your real estate agent draws up an Offer To Purchase between you and the vendor, contact your mortgage broker. Your deal is almost complete!
Select a lawyer as you'd select a real estate agent: seek competitive fees, excellent service, knowledge, and approachability - in other words, value.
Involve your lawyer before you sign the offer, which becomes a legal Agreement of Purchase and Sale once you and the seller sign it. Have your lawyer read the document carefully and review it with you. Once it's signed and accepted, your lawyer will order a series of searches from various municipal offices to ensure that the vendors haven't been sued, that they've paid all of their property taxes and major utility bills, and that there are no outstanding mortgages or liens on the property once you become the owner.
Your lender and lawyer will co-ordinate and draft the appropriate documents. Your lawyer should disclose whether he/she is representing the lender as well. Your lawyer will notify the property tax offices as well as the utility offices that you will be the new owner as of the closing day.
A few days before closing, you'll visit your lawyer's office to sign the closing documents. Bring a certified cheque for the balance of the closing funds, because the lawyer pays the relevant parties on your behalf. Part of that amount covers the lawyer's fee and disbursement costs. The lawyer obtains the mortgage funds directly from the lender funding your mortgage.
Your lawyer will close the transaction with the vendor's lawyer. At this time, the balance of the purchase price will be exchanged for the keys to your home and closing documents will be exchanged. Your lawyer will register the deed or title transfer and the mortgage. Finally, you pick up the keys to your new home!
After closing, your lawyer will send you a reporting letter and copies of all the documents you signed including the deed, the mortgage, and the survey, as well as a summary of the flow of funds. Be sure to keep these important records in a secure location.
It's a good idea to seriously consider mortgage life insurance. Generally, the cost is low and can be incorporated into your mortgage payments. In the event of death, terminal illness, or permanent disability, your balance will be paid in full (because details vary among financial institutions, it's a good idea to read the policy carefully). Quotes are available with each approved mortgage.
Financial institutions vary in their prepayment privileges, which let you pay down your mortgage faster. Your Mortgage Centre specialist can discuss your prepayment options with you, based on the mortgage you select. Also be aware that the longer the amortization period (the time it takes to pay off a mortgage), the more interest you'll end up paying. Amortization periods usually range from 5 to 25 years.
Weekly or biweekly instead of monthly payments could shave a considerable amount on your overall mortgage interest payments, depending on current interest rates.
Another option to consider is portability, which may help to ensure that you have financing if you sell your original home and purchase a new one. You may also wish to consider whether, if you sell your home, your mortgage may be assumed by the buyer. This can be a major advantage if your mortgage rate is below current market rates.
Your house is like a savings account. Start making convenient withdrawals!
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