Author Archive

According to the latest article from CMHC, housing starts have picked up the pace and are re-growing.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts increased to 150,400 units in August from 134,200 units in July, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

“Housing starts are trending higher, reflecting improvements in both the single and multiple segments,” said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC’s Market Analysis Centre. “The improvement in housing starts is consistent with our expectation of a stronger second half for 2009.”

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 14.0 percent to in August. Urban multiple starts increased by 23.8 percent, while urban single starts moved up 2.5 percent units in August.

August’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 13.8 per cent in Ontario.

As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making vital decisions.

Special:  Mortgage renewal or closing coming up within 30 days – 5 year fixed rate 3.84%

Call Charmaine at Verico Designer Mortgages Inc  Today to find out more about how you can cash in on this amazing offer. 905.336.5997

For most Canadians, your home is your most important investment. But owning a home also comes with a great deal of responsibility. When unforeseen circumstances impact your ability to meet your mortgage payments, it’s important to take quick action and contact your lender. With early intervention, your lender can help you fund a solution to your financial difficulties.

For mortgages insured by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), CMHC provides lenders with the tools and the flexibility they need to achieve a solution to your unique financial situation. Depending on your circumstances, this might include:

• Converting variable rates into fixed to avoid sudden rate increases
• Temporary short-term payment deferral.
• Extending your repayment period to lower your monthly payments
• Adding any missed payments to your outstanding balance
• Arranging special payments unique to your particular financial situation

CMHC is also willing to consider other alternatives proposed by the mortgage professional to resolve or avoid mortgage payment default. In every case, the options available will depend upon your individual financial circumstances.
CMHC is Canada’s national housing agency. For over 60 years CMHC has shared a wealth of knowledge and housing expertise to help create an informed and reassured homeownership experience for Canadians.
For more information visit: CMHC or call Charmaine at Verico Designer Mortgages Inc. 905.336.5997.
Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Company

It means that you can get a 5 year fixed rate Mortgage for as little as 3.69% Quick Close Special (the lowest in Canadian history) and a variable rate at 2.85% (Prime plus 0.60).

Another important point, never before made, is that the Bank of Canada is going to hold the overnight lending rate steady until June 2010.  

So if you currently have a variable rate, now is not the time to lock in if the Bank holds true to its promise.

Many people who are in fixed rates are looking at refinancing their mortgages into lower rates.  The penalty to break an existing mortgage is the greater of three months interest or what is called the interest rate differential. The interest rate differential is the lost interest between your current rate and market rates.  Whether this is worth your while can only be decided on a case-by-case basis.

I listened to Benjamin Tal, chief economist of CIBC and his comments regarding the variable rate mortgages where as follows:

“You might do better the first two years [of a five-year mortgage] but not the remaining three. I’m convinced long-term interest rates will rise. I can see [long-term] rising 200 basis points. These are emergency rates and at some point this emergency will end,” says the economist.

The banks and the mortgage insurers are becoming more stringent on their lending criteria; minimum credit score requirements have increased, if you are self-employed they are wanting more documentation and appraisals are getting harder too – they look at the appraised value as opposed to the purchase price.  If your credit is less than perfect, this can also be challenging, that is why we are finding more and more people seeking out the expertise of an accredited mortgage professional.

Written by:  Charmaine Idzerda, (AMP) Mortgage Broker   FSCO# M080000747
Verico Designer Mortgages Inc.  www.DesignerMortgages.ca    FSCO# 10194
Tel: 905.336.5997, Tollfree 1.866.824. 8057

 

During Canada’s “Housing Boom”, that occurred roughly from 2002 to 2008, unsound price increases drove up levels of building. Affordability of these prices have diminished significantly leaving a large disconnect between house prices and income. This situation was in great need of a correction. Our view is that house prices exceeded the value of housing that was justified by fundamentals by approximately 9% nationwide. This overpricing forced a level of residential construction that exceeded its fundamental-justified level by approximately 12%, an excess that was exaggerated in the past three years. The current unwinding of house prices reflects both a cyclical downturn and a return of house prices to fundamentally justified levels.

We consider “overbuilding” of two forms: “demand driven” where home buyers buy up too many houses and that this demand cannot be sustained; and “supply-driven” where builders accumulate excessive inventories. Although there is evidence of both types, we contend that Canada’s “overbuilding” was mainly of the first type, where home buyers pushed homebuilding to an unsustainable pitch that is now being rapidly reined in. While most markets won’t face U.S.-style overhangs, the construction of too many new homes over the boom means a deepened slump.

While Ontario homebuilding will reel from a cyclical downturn, the degree of structural weakness appears limited – with the important exception of the Toronto condo market. Both in Toronto and Vancouver, historically high levels of apartment-style units presently under construction mean that record numbers of condos will reach completion during 2009. If absorption rates fall, as cyclical factors would indicate, condo inventories could spike severely.

However, Canada will not experience a U.S.-style housing crash, owing to less overbuilding and more conservative lending institutions.

Source:www.td.com/economics

As home buyers keep hearing about the “credit crunch” and doom and gloom, they wonder if they will ever be able to realize their dream of home ownership.

I guess it depends how you look at life, is the glass half empty or half full. I personally believe there is a wonderful opportunity, right now. Interest rates are at an all time low, plus there are tremendous “bargains” in the real estate market.

A little over a year ago we were paying 5.79% for a 5 year fixed rate. Today at a rate of 5.79% some financial institutions will give you 5% cash back that can be used as your down payment.

If you would like to find out about this program and many others please feel free to post a question or contact us www.designermortgages.ca

Whether you intend to finance your renovation yourself or borrow money, you should talk to a financial adviser and to your lender before you make firm plans. They can help you understand your options and advise on how much you can borrow. This information will help you plan realistically.

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS

• Your own resources: For smaller renovation projects, you may consider self-funding material costs, especially if you plan to do the work yourself.
• Credit card: Likewise, you can use your credit card to pay for materials for smaller renovations. But be careful not to carry the balance for too long as credit card interest rates can exceed 18%.
• Personal loan: With a personal loan, you pay regular payments of principal and interest for a set period, typically one to five years. You also have the option of a fixed or variable interest rate for the term of the loan. The interest rate on a personal loan is typically less than that of a credit card. Unlike a line of credit, once you pay off your loan you will have to reapply to borrow any new funds needed.
• Personal line of credit: It is ideal for ongoing or long-term renovations since it lets you access your funds at any time and provides a monthly statement to help track expenses. A line of credit offers lower interest rates than credit cards, and charges interest only on funds used each month. And, as you pay off your balance, you can access remaining funds, up to the line of credit’s limit, without having to reapply.
• Secured lines of credit and home equity loans: These options offer all the advantages of regular lines of credits or loans, but are secured by your home’s equity.
• Mortgage refinancing: When funding major renovations, refinancing your mortgage lets you spread repayment over a long period at mortgage interest rates, which are usually much lower than credit card or personal loan rates. This type of financing can allow you to borrow up to 80% of your home’s appraised value (less any outstanding mortgage balance).

This provides an overview of financing options available to you. But also make sure to research grants and rebates offered by the federal and provincial governments and local utilities to help fund your next renovation project.
(Source: CMHC)

Whether you intend to finance your renovation yourself or borrow money, talk to your Verico designer mortgage broker and to your lender before you make firm plans.

Charmaine Idzerda (AMP)
Mortgage Broker (FSCO Lic#: M08000747)
VERICO Designer Mortgages Inc. (FSCO#: 10194)
Office: (905) 336-5997

Economic forecasting seems to be getting more and more difficult. Who would have thought a year ago that interest rates would fall to the current level? We had an increase in fixed rates that started in 2007 and pretty much continued to December 2008. During this time many buyers thinking this was the trend decided to lock into fixed rates. Home buyers locked in their mortgage at the 5 year fixed rate which was around 5.75%. Today we can get a 5 year rate as low as 4.29%. If you have a fixed rate mortgage it makes sense to re-evaluate whether it would be worthwhile to switch to a lower interest rate mortgage.

Breaking your mortgage will result in a prepayment penalty payable to your current lender. The question is whether the savings from the lower interest rate is enough to cover the penalties and any closing costs on the new mortgage. Each situation would have to be addressed on an individual basis. I have run into several cases where there has been significant benefits to switching to a lower rate.

Here is one such scenario:

• Mortgage amount – $188,393
• Term – 5 yr term with 2 yrs remaining on mortgage, – 22 year amortization
• Interest rate at 5.75% – interest payable over next two years – $20,923
• Interest rate of 4.29% – interest payable over next two years – $15,587
• Difference equals $5336
• Prepayment penalty of $1,865 – 3 months interest penalty

Difference in monthly payment: $153.95
The other huge benefit is that you are now in a 5 year mortgage at a rate of 4.29%, imagine the additional savings you will receive from the remaining 3 years.
What if you are only 1 year into a 5 year term, most lenders would charge you interest rate differential!

• Mortgage Amount – $230,615
• 1 year into a 5 year term
• Interest rate at 5.75%
• New interest rate 4.29%
• Remaining interest on current mortgage $50,250
• Interest on new mortgage $37,274
• Penalty would be Interest rate differential =

Difference in monthly payment: $189.85

The borrower had 2 options in this case – switch to a 4 yr term mortgage at 4.39% or get a variable rate at 3.8%. Here is the total interest he would pay over the remaining 4 years of his mortgage based on these terms:

• 4 yr term – $59,263
• Variable rate mortgage – $50,037
• Stay at the current mortgage for the next 4 years – $75,500

The client saves $25,463 (or $75,500 less $50,037) by switching to a variable rate mortgage. The net savings is $15,463 (or $25,463 less $10,000 penalty).

Effective January 29, 2009, any Canadian who spends money on home renovations will be eligible to receive up to $1,350 in tax relief thanks to the new Home Renovation Tax Credit proposed in Harper Government’s Economic Action Plan.

“Every time Canadians invest in home renovations, they are helping to create construction and building-supplies jobs in their own communities,” said the Prime Minister. “By providing an incentive for Canadians to invest in their homes, we are also encouraging them to invest in local jobs.”To highlight the kind of projects that will be eligible under this plan, the Prime Minister visited an Ottawa-area home renovation site and met with a local contractor who will be better able to protect and create jobs thanks to the additional home renovation projects that will be encouraged through this tax credit.

The Home renovation Tax Credit will provide a one-year, temporary 15% income tax credit on eligible home renovation expenditures for work performed, or goods acquired between January 27, 2009 and February 1, 2010. The credit may be claimed on eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000 but no more than $10,000.

The Home Renovation Tax Credit is one of several initiatives to help homeowners and homebuyers that is contained within the Harper Government’s Economic Action Plan. Before homeowners, homebuyers, and local construction and building supply workers can benefit from these new initiatives, Parliament must pass the 2009-2010 Federal Budget. (Source: Office of the Prime Minister – pm.gc.ca)

This morning I met with Carole, a single mother, this wonderful lady has been fending for herself from the age of 14. She can be so proud of herself. She came to me, to help her and her 15 year old daughter obtain their dream of home ownership. They are not ready now and won’t be ready for at least 6 months, today they have walked away with a concrete plan so that their dream will become a reality.

If you are thinking of buying a home in the next 6 to 12 months or even longer, now is the time to contact your trusted mortgage agent/broker. Two tips I gave Carole this morning, firstly for her to look at reducing the interest she is paying on her auto loan and credit card. We worked out the reduction in her credit card interest alone would equate to $112 a month – this can be used to pay off her visa card. Secondly to draw up a budget, in order for the budget to be effective, I have suggested that she track her spending for the next month. Once she sees where her money is going she can create a budget that is realistic and at the same time she can eliminate unnecessary spending.

Another point I want to make is regarding credit card payments. Please pay your credit card before the due date. I have seen where clients’ credit scores have been drastically affected, not for a missed payment but a late payment. One client actually paid on the due date however he paid online, which takes 2 to 3 days to get credited to your account. On his credit bureau it showed up as a R2 (which previously used to mean 60 days in arrears). Due to the falling property prices, banks are also moving quicker to foreclosure when a mortgage payment is missed. If you find you are unable to meet your mortgage payments, please contact me so that we can discuss different strategies.

Charmaine Idzerda

Tel: 905.336.5997 or 1.866.824.8057