Tips To Paying Your Mortgage Down Faster

Everyone knows they should make extra payments on their mortgage, but life tends to get in the way and make it a low priority on the overall budget.  Most of us will have something they could pay towards the mortgage, yet it doesn’t seem like much compared to the balance, so we spend it on other things…and let’s face it, paying down your mortgage isn’t sexy!

So is it important?  Let me show you an example of the impact of even small extra payments on your mortgage.  For example on a $250,000 mortgage over 30 years at 3.99%, 2 years into the mortgage if you were to start making $100 extra payments alone, you would knock 3.7 years off your mortgage and save $23,468!

So how do make this happen?

One of the easiest ways is to have your Bank or Credit Union deduct a small amount from your pay and have it automatically added to your mortgage or a savings account.  This makes it easier than having to remember every time you get paid to make that extra payment.  If your mortgage is with another institution, you will likely have to use the Savings account to save it up and then contact them to have the money transferred to the mortgage.  Most lenders can take out the extra payment automatically from the account your normal payments come out of.
The other way is to ask the lender to increase your payment amount by $x amount…obviously this is a more permanent solution.

What about Biweekly Payments, or Weekly Payments?
The sooner you make your payment the better.  As well, by paying in an accelerated manner, more money is being paid onto the mortgage, reducing your principal and interest costs.  For example:
$1,000 x 12 (monthly payments) = $12,000/year
$500 x 26 (biweekly accelerated) = $13,000/year
$250 x 52 (weekly accelerated) = $13,000/year
If you can manage this, it makes a significant impact on your mortgage!
Here we see just changing from Monthly to Biweekly accelerated alone knocks 4.1 years off of a 30 year mortgage!

Please note!  Some Bank’s offer weekly & Biweekly payment options which are not accelerated!!  This is useless, as it does not reduce your principal any more than Monthly payments…beware!
Other ways to pay down your mortgage faster!

•    Use your tax return to pay down your mortgage…this can make a big impact on your mortgage over the long term!
•    When you get a pay increase, increase the payment on your mortgage by the same amount.
•    If you receive any “extra” payment or gifts, put them on your mortgage asap!
•    Instead of gifts or presents on your Birthday, your spouse’s Birthday etc, pay extra down…a free & clear home is a much better gift!
•    Check with your lender consistently and ask for a new Amortization Schedule based on your new balance and payments…when you start to see the end date is getting closer (What we call Mortgage Freedom Day!) you will be able to focus on it more.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Top 7 Mortgage Tips For Newcomers

After you have immigrated to Canada, making the decision to buy a home can be an exciting but perhaps unfamiliar journey. As a mortgage broker who has worked with many newcomers, here are my “top 7 tips” to help you on your way to home ownership:

1. If you have not done so already, apply for credit. It is very important that you establish a credit report. When considering a new mortgage application, Canadian lenders will look at your credit standing.

2. Gather relevant overseas documents. Depending on your immigration status, you may need to provide copies of your work visa/permit. Make contact with your overseas bank in the event that you may need to provide a bank reference letter.

3. Get organized. Canadian lenders will need a job letter, pay stub or other forms of proof of income like income tax documents. If you are planning to transfer money from overseas for your down payment, you should also allow plenty of time to complete this.

4. Become informed. Research the basic procedures of buying real estate in Canada. For example, are you aware of the rules when buying a stratified property like a condo?

5. Create a budget. Housing costs in Vancouver and Toronto, for example, can be high. A financing budget can ensure your anticipated housing costs are manageable.

6. Get pre-approved. By providing a short application, a banker or mortgage broker can let you know exactly how much of a mortgage you can qualify for. the loans officer will review the mortgage payments, the interest rate and a closing cost budget with you in advance.

7. Use professional services. Rely on professional guidance, not the advice of friends or family members. Buying your first home can be time-consuming and frustrating at times, and the right guidance from realtors, mortgage brokers/lenders and lawyers/notaries can reduce some of the stress and the risks.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Buyers Today Want a House for the Long Haul

When Amy Lewis sits in her Lafayette, Calif., home, she can envision her three young daughters growing up there. She sees them forming lasting friendships with the neighborhood kids, graduating from the local schools, coming home for visits during college breaks.

It doesn’t stop there: The 43-year-old can also imagine grandchildren running around the halls.

It’s a different mentality than in years past, when people would buy a home, stay for several years and move up to something bigger or better. First and foremost, Lewis said she and her husband wanted an experience similar to one that they had growing up, one where the neighborhood kids went from preschool to high school together. Her parents still live in the same house they moved to when she was 2 years old (and they’re also flush with home equity in their 80s).

But Lewis adds there is another financial reason to staying put: Mortgage rates are very low, and there is a good chance it will be hard to trade in that monthly payment in several years.

“Definitely, for the next 30 years, we feel confident we want to be there,” Lewis said.

More home buyers today are planting deep roots in their communities, according to research from the National Association of Realtors. That’s especially true for buyers younger than 45 years old—those most likely to be move-up buyers, said Paul Bishop, NAR’s vice president of research.

In 2012, 27% of home buyers between the ages of 25 and 44 and 18% of buyers between the ages of 18 and 24 said that they planned to be in their homes for 16 years or longer, according to a NAR survey of 8,501 home buyers. In a comparable survey in 2006, 18% of buyers between the ages of 25 and 44 and 8% of buyers between the ages of 18 and 24 said the same.

Expectations have adjusted, and trading up is no longer the goal for many, Bishop said. People became accustomed to the move-up mentality when they’d see their neighbors move for extra square footage or a more desirable area. Now, your neighbors probably aren’t going anywhere.

“[Buying a home] is a very complex procedure—much, much more than before,” said Sherry Chris, chief executive of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, a national real-estate brand. “People are in it for the long haul, and it’s not just ‘I’m going to buy a house and see what happens in a few years.’”

Added Cara Ameer, broker associate with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty in Ponte Vedra, Fla.: “A lot of people tend now to think more logically than irrationally. They are really scrutinizing ‘do I need this?’ They’re looking at hard costs, and not throwing caution to the wind.”

Simple math

For many homeowners, it is a matter of simple math, said Jeff Taylor, co-founder of Digital Risk, a mortgage processor. Today’s buyers are capturing mortgage rates near historic lows—and that’s allowing them to get “double the house” today compared with what they could get several years ago. The monthly payment on a $300,000 mortgage for a home bought in 2005 at a 7% rate is roughly equivalent to a payment on a $600,000 mortgage obtained in 2013 at a 3.5% rate, he said.

These buyers may never even have the desire to refinance in the years ahead, since doing so would likely increase their rate. The Mortgage Bankers Association predicts rates on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage will rise to 4.8% in the fourth quarter of 2013, and to 5.1% in the fourth quarter of 2014. A decade from now, a mortgage obtained this year will likely look very reasonable, Taylor said, compared with what’s available in the future market.

What’s more, these days home values don’t appreciate at the same rate they did seven, eight or nine years ago, Ameer said. So people don’t plan on their home appreciating by $100,000 in two years, giving them the equity to move up to a bigger home.

That said, “as you’re paying that [mortgage] down and home prices appreciate, 10 to 15 years down the road, that equity will build,” Taylor said. “We’re going to see the home being the nest egg.”

Of course, some homeowners will be tempted to tap their equity during their tenure in the home. For that, those who buy today are more likely to turn to home-equity loans instead of cash-out refinancing, so as to keep their low mortgage rates, Taylor added.

Seeing into the future

The tricky part about buying a home to live in for decades is anticipating your needs at different points of your life. Most importantly, make sure you’re buying in a prime location. A good school district might be important to you, or walkability to public transportation or shopping.

Another telltale sign of a neighborhood where you might be able to live for the long term: Blocks of homeowners who also have deeper ties to the community.

“Every area has those little places where no one moves. It can’t be replicated anywhere else,” whether the appeal is a good school district or highly sought after neighborhood amenities, Ameer said. Typically, “these areas are the best for that, for staying for a longer period of time.”

For Amy Lewis and family, their new neighborhood hits many of those points. In addition to good schools, there are many restaurants, mom-and-pop stores and ideal weather (without the kind of fog that nearby San Francisco gets). In fact, Lafayette almost feels like a “mini San Francisco,” she said.

“I grew up about 40 minutes from here, and it has a similar feel,” she said. “This is a perfect location.”

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

The Pros and Cons Of A Reverse Mortgage

The Pros and Cons Of A Reverse Mortgage

A Reverse Mortgage is a means for homeowners to access a portion of the stored value of their home to use today, while still retaining ownership of their home. In effect, converting the equity to cash, which can be received as a lump sum, regular payments, or a combination of the two. The agreement is a “life-term” loan, which is a loan for either the lifetime(s) of the owners or the life of the ownership of the home.

Reverse mortgages are marketed very effectively. The portrayal seems undeniably convincing. Stay in your home. Remain independent. Maintain your financial freedom. Enjoy your money now, you deserve it. Renovate your house. Give your family money. Your home will continue to appreciate in value and offset interest costs and loss of equity.

Advantages:

• Payments from a reverse mortgage are tax-free income, so income-tested benefits such as OAS and GIS will not be affected.
• Reverse mortgages do not have to be repaid until you sell your home or you or your surviving partner pass away.
• The freedom to eliminate monthly payments can be a benefit for stretched budgets.
• You can repay the loan at any time.
• If the investment market takes a downturn, a reverse mortgage could fill the gap until your investments stabilize or reach maturity.
• The amount you owe can never exceed the value of your property.
• You and your beneficiaries will not be responsible for any shortfall if interest rates increase and housing values drop.
• Depending on the provider, funds can be received as a lump sum, regular payments or a combination of lump sum and regular payments.
• Interest paid on the reverse mortgage is tax deductible if the proceeds were used to earn investment income (interest or dividends).

Disadvantages:

• While your home may continue to appreciate in value and offset some of the interest costs and loss of equity, interest will rapidly accumulate on the amount you borrow.
• Providers market the benefit of using a reverse mortgage to increase savings by shifting wealth from your home to your investments. This form of leverage adds risk.
• Due to start-up fees and higher rates of interest, reverse mortgages are more costly than conventional lines of credit or mortgages. Early payment of all or a portion of the amount borrowed could subject you to prepayment penalties. Borrowing against your home will impact the amount available to pass on to your beneficiaries.
• There are limited options as only two companies in Canada offer reverse mortgages: Canadian Home Income Plan (CHIP) and Seniors Money Canada.
• Reverse Mortgages can be an expensive way to access some of the value built up in your home. Start-up fees can be significant and interest rates on reverse mortgages are much higher than standard mortgage rates. Start-up fees depend on options selected but typically include an application fee, home appraisal fee, and costs for independent legal advice. Fees can easily reach $2000 to $2500 which is deducted from the principle received.
• The amount you can borrow through a reverse mortgage varies dramatically based on geographic location, the type of housing you own, your age and gender, and the amount of your current debt.  A reverse mortgage may not be an option depending on these circumstances.

Reverse Mortgage Lines of Credit

Reverse Mortgage Lines of Credit are available at some Credit Unions in British Columbia and Ontario. A reverse mortgage line of credit functions like a reverse mortgage in that no payments are required until you sell your house, or you and your surviving spouse pass away. You may make payments of interest or interest and principal if you wish. The limit on the line of credit is based on similar criteria to the reverse mortgage: property value, geographic location, type of housing, and amount of current debt.

Providers:

Only two companies in Canada offer reverse mortgages: Canadian Home Income Plan (CHIP) and Seniors Money Canada. The Canadian Home Income Plan (CHIP) is a private corporation that has offered reverse mortgages since 1986, and is the leading provider. Seniors Money Canada, a division of Seniors Money International, was introduced to the Canadian Market from New Zealand in August 2007, and expanded offerings to include Western and Atlantic Canada in January 2008. Due to world economic conditions, Seniors Money has ceased accepting new loans. Many mortgage brokers or Accredited Mortgage Professionals (AMP) will provide information and advice regarding reverse mortgage products. Reverse mortgage providers partner with banks, credit unions, mortgage brokers, financial and investment advisors, and other financial professionals who are then compensated for providing client referrals.

As opposed to a standard mortgage, reverse mortgages are a growing debt that consumes the equity in your home. Though the balance, principle borrowed plus accumulated interest, does not need to be repaid until you sell or pass away, it is quietly mounting and can reach a level that your remaining equity is too depleted to allow you consider alternative types of housing, i.e., downsizing. You can run down your equity far faster than you built it. Both providers in Canada expect you to seek and pay for independent legal advice, to ensure you are entering into the agreement freely, that is, without pressure, and that you understand the contract and any potential risks.

Borrowing minimums and maximums vary between providers and are generally based on a percentage of the value of your home. However, the amount you can borrow through a reverse mortgage varies dramatically based on geographic location, the type of housing you own, your age and gender, and the amount of your current debt.

These products are complex and all costs, advantages, and disadvantages should be carefully contemplated within the context of your overall financial plan. 

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Settling Debt

In times of economic stress, people turn to seemingly simple methods for erasing debt and lessening the monthly stress of bills. One of these relief options is debt settlement. Debt settlement is a promising carrot hanging before an overwrought consumer. It’s the promise that if the consumer can reach the carrot, 40-75% of his/her debt will be forgiven by the credit agencies. That’s a nice prize, if one can reach it.

What Is Debt Settlement?

Debt settlement also goes by the moniker “debt negotiation.” Doing exactly what its name claims, it benefits the creditor in that the company receives the majority of its money back and benefits the consumer by relieving a portion of the debt owed. It’s not a “get out of jail free” option, however. The negotiation will take months, and it’s a risky business.
For those interested in a debt settlement company that works on behalf of the consumer to settle the debt, there’s risk there as well. There’s risk in finding a reputable company that will do just what it says, and these companies will charge 25-35% of the forgiven total, meaning that the consumer is really only forgiving 15-25% of the original debt.

Who Qualifies?

Creditors will not consider debt settlement unless a person is at least three months behind on payments, preferably six. In order to qualify, the consumer must stop payments to the company, banking what would be the monthly payments for the future payoff. Then, negotiations begin. Ultimately, the creditors want all of their owed money, so they will be tough in negotiations.

What’s the difference between debt negotiation and bankruptcy?

The main difference is that debt negotiation doesn’t involve the court. There is no risk of losing your home to pay off a bankruptcy, but you will have to pay off the settled debt. You will also be charged a COD, cancellation of debt, tax on your yearly taxes.
While credit companies are at first unwilling to negotiate debt, they would rather a consumer negotiate than file for bankruptcy. When a consumer files for bankruptcy, the credit companies get paid none of the owed amount. In debt negotiation, they receive an agreeable portion of the total.
Another difference is that only smaller loans such as credit card debts, personal loans, and medical bills qualify. Larger loans such as mortgages and fees such as child support and taxes cannot be forgiven.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Buying Real Estate: Advice You Should Follow

A lot of people want to buy the best kind of real estate as they invest their money, but they aren't sure how to go about it. What you have to keep in mind is the more you know the better chances you have at buying real estate at the best price.

Considering hiring an agent to guide you whether you are buying or selling. Going it alone when buying or selling a house is possible, but difficult. A good agent will help you find the right house or the right buyer. Agents will also handle the overwhelming paperwork that comes with real estate transactions.

Know the laws in respect to real estate inspections. You do not need to be an expert on the subject, however, a working knowledge of the basics can give you some helpful insight in what to expect from your inspector as well as preventing them from costing you money on surprise repairs.

Before looking at homes to buy, take stock of your current financial situation. Look at the level of your current debt, look at the stability of your income, and decide on the amount of house you can afford before you get your heart set on a home that is too expensive for your budget.

If you are serious about buying a home, do a thorough inspection of the residence and the grounds yourself. Although you want a professional to look at it as well, trust your instincts. You may be surprised at what you stumble across. Make sure to ask the seller to repair as many things as possible.

Do not let your real estate agent change your mind for you about a particular property. They do not make money until a property changes hands, so unscrupulous agents may not have your best interests at heart and may try to get you to buy a property that isn't right for you.

Search in your local paper, the courthouse and even other real estate agent offices for foreclosure listings, or homes that are being sold by HUD for the greatest profits when investing in real estate. These properties are sold at a deep discount in order to get them off the books.

The information in this article is a great place to start when thinking of strategies you want to use towards buying real estate. Remember that the tips in this article is only a portion of the information you can know about how to be successful in buying the real estate that's right for you.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Searching, Viewing, Buying: Advice To Help You Buy Your Home

Purchasing real estate is one of the most significant undertakings in an individual's life, given the huge investment it typically represents. Thoroughly understanding the entire process is key to making a wise decision. Using the tips that follow will help ensure that you are satisfied with the deal you ultimately make.

When it comes time to choose a realtor for your real estate purchase look to friends and family for help in your selection. Many of the people you know may have a realtor in their contact list. Make sure the experience for them was positive and then research the agent. Realtors are more responsive to referrals since their reputation is the factor that put their name forward.

If you are a first-time home buyer, don't make the mistake of buying the first house that you like. You need to view at least three other houses that are comparable in value, before making a decision. Too often, people get caught up in the mere idea of buying a house, not realizing that there may be something better out there.

Know what you are able to pay each month before even looking at the homes that are listed on the market. Knowing your budget before you look at a home will save you time and energy when you find the home that you really want but learn that it is out of your budget.

As the government is subsidizing your home purchase, buying a home not only provides housing to you and your family, but it has tax advantages too. All of the property taxes and mortgage interest you pay on the property can be deducted from your gross income, which may significantly reduce your taxable income.

Real estate buying is a topic that brings fear into the hearts of many upon first glance. However, the true key to any successful transaction is knowledge. By taking advantage of the tips and information in this article, you will be well on the way to owning the property best suited to your needs.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.