As a first time home buyer, the process of purchasing a home can seem
very daunting. From a financing standpoint, here are 10 common
questions I hear from first time home buyers.
1. What’s your best rate?
This is by far the most common question. Rate is a small part of
your mortgage contract but its often the most talked about. People
become “rate sensitive” when they hear their neighbour or co-worker got
2.49% and they want the same rate.
Some lenders will dangle these low rates to entice you but don’t be
fooled. The lowest rates almost always come with conditions such as
high pre-payment penalties or quick 30 day closings.
Is saving $15/month on your mortgage payment worth paying a penalty
up to 9 times higher when you sell or need to refinance in 3 years? No
broker or website can secure a rate without a full application and
credit bureau.
2. What’s the maximum mortgage amount for which I can qualify?
My suggestion is set a budget your comfortable with and let your
Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional tell you how much
mortgage your budget allows.
The two ratios used to determine how much mortgage you qualify for
are the Gross Debt Service Ratio (GDS) & the Total Debt Service
Ratio (TDS). Your GDS is composed of your new housing cost such as your
mortgage payment (principal & interest), property taxes, heating
costs and any strata fees. Your TDS includes your GDS as well as any
other monthly liabilities such as car loans, credit card debts, lines of
credit etc.
Depending on your credit score, the maximum GDS/TDS ratio is 39/44.
This means your GDS shouldn’t be more than 39% of your gross income.
Your TDS shouldn’t be more than 44% of your gross income. If your
gross income is $100,000/yr you could allocate $39,000/yr to GDS &
$44,000/yr to TDS.
3. How much money do I need for a down payment?
For owner-occupied homes, the minimum down payment required is 5% of
the purchase price for homes under $500,000. For homes over $500,000 10%
down payment is required on the amount over $500,000 up to $1M.
Anything over $1M requires 20% down as a minimum. If you want to avoid
CMHC mortgage insurance then 20% down payment or greater is needed.
Any rental properties require a minimum of 20% down.
4. What happens if I don’t have the full down payment amount?
As a first time home buyer you are eligible to use your RRSP as a
form of down payment to a maximum of $25,000. Your RRSPs can be used
without being taxed if you pay back within 15 years.
Another popular option is a gifted down payment. A gift can come
from an immediate family member to form part or all of your down
payment.
Some lenders will also allow a flex down program. This means you
borrow the money from a line of credit and this loan is factored into
your debt service ratios.
5. What will a lender look at when approving me for a mortgage?
Generally speaking, the lender will want to look at your source of
income, employment history, debt levels and repayment history and the
actual property itself.
Lenders want stability. By vetting and checking the above, the
lenders feel confident you are able to make your mortgage payments and
in the unlikely event you default, they know the property is marketable.
6. What’s better, fixed or variable rate?
Not everyone qualifies for a variable rate because the qualification
rate is currently 4.74% vs the 5 year fixed of 2.54%. That’s a big
difference!
Assuming you qualify for a variable, it boils down to risk tolerance
and your plan for the property. Fixed rates give you stability over the
term of your mortgage where a variable rate is tied to the prime rate,
currently 2.70%. This means your mortgage payment could decrease or
increase depending on what the Bank of Canada decides.
Variable rates can save you thousands if you sell or refinance during
your term. The standard penalty on a variable rate is 3 months
interest. The penalty on a fixed rate is calculated using the interest
rate differential and depending on your lender can sometimes be in the
tens of thousands of dollars.
Your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional can discuss all the differences and benefits for you.
7. What credit score do I need to qualify?
Anything over 680 is considered AAA with most lenders. A score above
680 gives you access to all the discounted rates. If your score is
below 680 there are options but often at higher interest rates.
8. What happens if my credit score isn’t great?
Take action immediately to increase your credit score. If possible
pay off all your debts on credit cards and lines of credit as this will
increase your score substantially. Its a good idea to always pay your
balance in full each month as this creates a pattern of positive
repayment.
Don’t take on anymore new debt such as car loans or new credit cards.
Make sure everything is up to date meaning no overdue collections or
old Telus or Rogers bills outstanding.
9. How much are closing costs?
Closing costs vary but lenders typically want to see that you have
1.5% of the purchase price on hand for closing costs. If you bought a
condo for $500,000 you’d need $7,500 for closing costs. This is only a guideline and costs vary.
Closing costs will cover things like, inspections, lawyer fees, property transfer tax, appraisals, and title insurance.
10. How much will my mortgage payments be?
Obviously this depends on your mortgage size, rate, amortization,
repayment schedule, any CMHC insurance and if your lender is collecting
your property taxes for you or not. My suggestion is stick to your
budget!
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact Amy Wilson– I am always happy to answer all your questions.
By Dave Teixteira
No comments:
Post a Comment