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The-Mortgage-Gal

Creative ways to finance the purchase of a new home

Home purchase financing

One of the things I love about my work is I am able to connect with all types of homebuyers.

I am able to support first-time homebuyers as they make the leap into the housing market, clients looking to upsize from their first homes, clients who want to refinance for renovations or to consolidate consumer debt and more established clients looking to downsize.

Lately it feels clients who want to downsize are having a tough time.

They want to confidently write a subject-free offer on their next home but are concerned about listing their current home for sale in the event it doesn’t sell in time. They don’t want to list their current home for sale and potentially find themselves without a suitable property to buy.

What is the answer?

If the current home is mortgage-free, there are several mortgage options available. There are also private lenders that will register a mortgage for both the current home and the home being purchased (provided the numbers work). Provided the current home is mortgage-free, we can look at registering a credit line against that home in preparation for finding the next home to buy. When the clients find their next home, we can use a combination of the funds from that credit line plus a mortgage on the new property to move forward with the next home.

This strategy is not for everyone. In the Okanagan, people who are making this move may be downsizing, but downsizing to what in terms of purchase price? Often the next home is still priced near or over $1 million. To carry financing on a purchase at that price can cost upwards of $7,000 per month plus significant fees if using a private mortgage option.

One creative option clients used recently was listing and selling their current home knowing that they were prepared to wait for the right home to pop up. As they neared their sale date, they had not found their next home yet, so they rented a storage container and packed everything up temporarily.

They were fortunate they were able to stay with family for several months until the right home popped up. That put them in a brilliant position to buy with no financing subject in their offer.

Another option clients have used recently was truly downsizing in both price and space. Their home in Kelowna was appraised at $1.75 million. Based on their financial picture, we were able to secure a credit line for $800,000.

It took just over a year but they fell in love with a beautiful patio home in West Kelowna. Their new home was priced at just under $700,000, so they knew they had the funds available if they listed their home and it did not sell in time.

Over the last few months, I have spent time at several open houses in West Kelowna with realtors I know. It was interesting to chat with people about the specific things they are looking for in their retirement home.

Part of what we have talked about are future life plans. Many people have talked about wanting to do more travelling and/or spend winters in warmer places. As people ease into retirement, their needs change. Homes in age-restricted gated communities with amenities like pools and recreation centres are becoming more popular.

This coming weekend (Saturday, March 16, from noon to 2 p.m.) I will be at 3407 Ironwood Drive in West Kelowna, which is listed by Sharon Walton with Royal LePage Kelowna (MLS ®10302186). If you are looking to right-size for retirement, a home like that might be exactly what you are looking for.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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Helpful changes coming for first time home buyers

Property purchase tax break

There were several announcements made recently that I am very excited about – changes that will help make it easier for people to afford to buy homes.

Effective April 1, the B.C. government will increase the purchase price for first time home buyers (FTHB) and buyers purchasing newly built homes to qualify for the Property Transfer Tax (PPT) exemption.

Up until then, FTHB who buy a home with a fair market value of $500,000 or less (assuming they meet all the program qualifications) were exempt from paying PPT. The tax on a home priced at $500,000 would normally be $8,000, so this is a considerable help.

After April 1, the exemption will be granted for FTHB purchasing homes up to a fair market value of $835,000. There will be a partial exemption up to $860,000. On a home with a purchase price of $800,000, that means a savings of $14,000.

This is particularly significant because it is a closing cost that cannot be added to the mortgage, it must be paid up front. Using this same example, the minimum down payment on an $800,000 home is $55,000.

One of the biggest challenges people face is trying to save their down payment, so this increase in the exemption will be a huge help for many clients.

There are other exemptions to the PPT that have also changed. People buying newly built homes, regardless of whether they are a FTHB or not, can be exempt from paying the tax too. Now, the purchase price for this exemption is $750,000. Effective April 1, this exemption will increase to $1.1 million, with a partial exemption up to $1.15 million.

The second program to be introduced April 1 is the Secondary Suite Incentive Program.

In a nutshell, the provincial government will provide a forgivable loan of up to 50% of the cost of renovations to add a secondary suite to an existing home, to a maximum of $40,000.

Applications for this program will be accepted starting April 17.

For the loan to be fully forgiven, there are conditions that must be met:

• The unit must be built in the same location where the homeowner lives.

• The unit must be rented out below market rates for five years.

I attended a learning session about the program with one of my favourite lenders this week and they are still trying to sort out how we will be able to combine this with a purchase or a refinancing to help clients get the funds they need to participate in the program.

There are many details we do not have yet, but you can find the initial information at Secondary Suite Incentive Program | BC Housing .

There are many listings my clients look at that can be easily renovated to facilitate a secondary suite, so it will be interesting to see how we can use the program to help them generate income to help cover their mortgages, while at the same time creating more affordable housing options for renters.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



When applying for a mortgage be prepared

Mortgage paperwork

“Why do they need that? It wasn’t like this the last time I bought a house”.

One of the common frustrations shared by mortgage applicants is the amount of paperwork required to get a mortgage.

With interest rates higher now I’m finding lenders are even more particular about what they require to approve mortgage applications. While it may seem like a tremendous amount of documentation is required, we need to step back and think about the fact we are asking a lender for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Would you lend this amount of money to someone you barely know?

Lenders don’t ask for additional paperwork to make your life difficult. They are doing their due diligence to ensure you will be able to repay your mortgage. Under Canada’s anti-money laundering legislation and anti-terrorist financing laws, potential lenders are required to document large or suspicious deposits.

How can you make this a little more straightforward on your end? If you are getting ready to buy a home, make sure your paperwork is organized.

Process-wise, I send my clients a list up front of the documentation they will most likely need for their mortgage approval. It may seem like overkill in some cases but by being organized upfront, I am often able to have an approval within a few days or sometimes, even the same day.

Regardless of how prepared you are upfront, lenders will sometimes ask for additional information, so don’t be surprised if you are asked for even more documentation. Many lenders require verification of two years consistent employment so it is helpful to dig out T4s and Notices of Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency for the last two years.

You will need to ask your employer for a letter that outlines your salary, position and start date. You will also be asked for a current pay stub. You will need to demonstrate where your down payment is coming from. Lenders need a 90-day history, so that means you will need to provide bank statements for the last three months. It is key that the statements you provide clearly show your name and account number. D0 not scratch out the transaction list as lenders will not accept that.

If you have any large deposits during the last three months (generally over $2,000), you will also have to show a 90-day history for those funds.

If you are self-employed, you will likely require additional information. Depending on the mortgage product you are using, expect to be asked for your Notices of Assessment and complete T1 Generals for the previous two years. If you are incorporated, you will likely be asked for confirmation of that.

A mortgage broker recently used an analogy with one of his clients. The client was a tradesperson. The broker explained that, if the client didn’t have all of the materials and supplies needed he would not be able to complete his construction project. For a mortgage broker, your paperwork is the equivalent of those materials and supplies. Without the proper paperwork, we cannot get your mortgage approved.

If you are thinking about buying a home, or already out looking, the more prepared you are with your paperwork the smoother your approval will go. And your mortgage professional will be very grateful.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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When renewing your mortgage, know your options

Mortgage renewals

It feels like I’m harping on the subject of mortgage renewals, and that may well be the case.

Many of my conversations with clients right now are deep dives into renewal options.

One of my calls this week really struck me. I was talking to a new client whose mortgage is currently with one of the big banks. After we worked through the initial questions I start with, he shared that the renewal department of his current bank started calling him in December. His mother just had a stroke and he was at the hospital with her.

He tried to tell the renewal officer that it was a bad time. The person calling kept pushing him to commit to locking into a five-year fixed term for his renewal and told him this ”great rate” would not be available if he didn’t commit that day. He hung up. The renewal officer called repeatedly, sometimes up to three times per day.

Once I had a better idea of my client’s situation and plans for the future, we chatted about options. As it turns out, he is on the home stretch towards having his mortgage paid out. More important is his plan to retire in three years, sell this home and move to a smaller home he already owns in the Oliver area.

He had no idea he could even choose a three-year term. He has always gone with a five-year term, thinking that was his only option.

We played with some figures to see how he could pay his mortgage off within his three-year plan. In his case, he will stay with his current lender because that makes the most sense given his timeframe to retire and sell his home.

The eye-opening takeaway for me was the high-pressure sales tactic used by the renewal officer. Not all banks nor renewal officers operate the same way, but they often don’t take the time to get to know the clients they are working with, never mind offer them options and solutions with the clients’ needs in mind.

If you have a mortgage renewal coming up over the next few months, I encourage you to reach out to a mortgage professional to look into your options. Your renewal is the best time to make changes to your mortgage, so it is important to invest some time to make sure you make the decision that is best for you, not your bank.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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About the Author

Tracy Head helps busy families get a head start on home ownership.

With today’s increasingly complicated mortgage rules, Tracy spends time getting to know her clients and helps them to better understand the mortgage process. She supports her clients before, during, and after their mortgage is in place.

Tracy works closely with her clients, offering advice and options. With access to more than 40 different lenders. She is able to assist with residential, commercial, and reverse mortgages in order to match the needs of her clients with the right mortgage package.

Tracy works hard to find the right fit for her clients and provide support for years down the road.

Call Tracy at 250-826-5857 or reach out by email [email protected]

Visit her website at www.headstartmortgages.com

Download her app: Headstart Mortgage Architects

 

 



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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