When tough times put stress on families sometimes the end result is divorce. While no one ever wants to see this happen sometimes it is inevitable. Recently, CMHC changed the rules about how much a house can be refinanced for, they have set the limit at 80% of the property value so that refinances would no longer fall under the insured mortgages. What they also did was set some guidelines for couples who are divorcing.

When a partnership in a home is being dissolved, that partnership can be a marriage, common law relationship or simply two owners of a property, it is now considered a sale. This means that the existing mortgage will most likely be paid out or in some cases one of the spouses can assume that mortgage and possibly increase the amount. Most likely it will mean that one spouse will purchase the home from the other. Here’s the difference when we are in this situation, the home can be purchased with just 5% down payment again as it doesn’t fall under the refinance rule.

One other thing to consider under the divorce rules is child support. As many parents have learned lately, child support and section 7 spousal support are liabilities for many lenders. So if you do have a $2,000 a month support payment, then that is the same as having a $2,000 dollar car payment. Not all lenders are looking at that the same, some have allowed us to reduce the yearly incomes buy the amount of child support. The biggest difference here is of course that the reduction allows you to qualify for more mortgage, it’s just a matter of knowing which lenders work the system which way and a skilled mortgage broker will know the difference.

Ideally, of course, the divorce never happens but one way around child support being paid is joint custody where it is shared 50/50 and no liability is forced upon either spouse allowing them to maximize their purchasing power as the start their new lives.

What also needs to be considered is that this needs to be done in writing, separation agreements are legal binding documents that tell the lenders what your responsibility is to the other partner in the divorce. We have also had situations where a statutory declaration saying that you have no responsibility to the other partner has been sufficient especially in cases of common law separations.

So many in’s and out’s to be considered when embarking on dividing your households and of course we here at Dominion Lending Centres would always advise legal counsel first and then talk to your mortgage brokers about what is required for the mortgage process.

Courtesy of Len Lane, AMP – DLC BrokersFor Life 

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting a 61 year old female client. She was a widow of 4 years and she was living on her husband’s pension. Her home was free and clear and she had lived there since she was married at age 18. Her husband (11 years her senior) was diagnosed with terminal cancer and he had joked to his neighbours that he had a metal roof put on the house for his wife, implying that he was putting a roof over her head for as long as she needed.

Shortly after her husband passed away, she had an unexpected flood in the house to which she had to call contractors to fix. Through the process, she felt she was taken advantage of since the water damage was not extensive but the contractor insisted that her whole kitchen had to be redone and the floors throughout her home had to be replaced. In order to pay for this extensive renovation, she had to take out a secured line of credit. However, the renovation ended up costing more than the line of credit available to her, so she had to pay for the remainder using her cash savings.

I met this lady when her car insurance was about to be cancelled and she was getting inundated with calls about delinquent utility bills. As a result, her house was very cold. When I visited her home in March, she asked if I wanted her to turn on her heat. Among the many things in her home, I noticed a very nice table display with candles and a bottle of wine in a rod iron holder. I asked her what kind of wine it was and she said “it’s my favourite, but it’s filled with water. I haven’t purchased a bottle of wine in 2 years because I can’t afford it.”

Once her reverse mortgage was funded with HomEquity Bank, she was able to pay out her line of credit, pay a year’s worth of car insurance to reinstate her insurance and she even had tens of thousands of dollars left over as a savings buffer.

I felt connected with this client and her situation. Shortly after she funded with us, I visited her at her home and gifted her with her favourite bottle of wine. She was in tears and said she felt like she had a new lease on life. It was very moving to see the difference in her and her lifestyle. She was beaming with joy and she couldn’t stop saying how thankful she was.

I am happy to be able to say that I made a difference in someone’s life. If a reverse mortgage can help you lift your client out from under such circumstances, your job and your efforts are well worth it. These and many other stories inspire me to do what I do every day!

If you want to learn more about reverse mortgages, contact your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional.

Courtesy of Sharon Price, Home Equity Bank – Business Development Manager 

Every good plan starts with building a foundation, the plan will rely on the foundation for years to come. Now that you have decided to pursue the acquisition of real estate (property #1 purchased and successfully rented…check!) as your vehicle to build wealth it’s time to stay the course and add the next layer. We will continue on from Part 1 and build upon it. The information here can be duplicated for property #3, 4…and so on.

For this scenario we are considering the acquisition of property #2 at the end of year 3. Based on the estimated market value, the subject property will cost $245,863 to purchase and (in the perfect world) we are buying another one in the same building. Sticking with a simplistic scenario the current market value of property #1 is $245,863. The plan that had been laid out in the beginning comprised the combination of leveraging equity from other rental properties and savings to acquire the ‘next’ property.

End of Year 3

Estimated market value $245,863
Outstanding mortgage balance $167,227
Access to equity $49,172 (*80% of the market value of the subject property must remain unleveraged, determined by an appraisal)

New mortgage amount on P#1 $196,690
Funds leveraged from P#1 $29,463
Balance from own resources $19,710
20% down payment for P#2 $49,173

Early prepayment penalty P#1 $1,104 (3 months interest)

The balance of funds required were available because instead of making extra payments against your principal residence (up to a maximum of 20%) you were directing that amount into a ‘rental property purchase’ savings account. Over the past 3 years the account has ballooned to over $20,000.

Through the necessary qualifying process we have now established the new (re-financed) term on property #1 for $196,690 to assist with acquiring property #2. We will also utilize an economic rent letter to help service the debt unless there is an existing renter (and rental/lease agreement ) currently in place.

Purchase Price: $245,863
Down Payment: $49,172 (20% minimum, lender may request more)
Mortgage Amount: $196,690

Variable at 2.40% (P-0.30%) 5 year term CLOSED 30 year amortization
Monthly Mtg Payment: $765.77
Est. Monthly Strata: $250 (costs to operate have increased)
Est. Monthly Property Tax: $117 ($1,400/year)

TOTAL Monthly Payment: $1,132.77

Property Transfer Tax:
$2,917.26 (paid at completion, cannot be rolled into the mortgaged. It is calculated based on 1% of the 1st $200,000 and 2% on the remaining balance.) To calculate Property Transfer Tax use this calculator.

Appraisal:
$300 (required to validate the purchase price because there is no mortgage insurer involved; CMHC, Genworth or Canada Guaranty).

Home Inspection:
$400 (highly recommended)

Title Insurance:
$200 (In short, title insurance is an assurance as to the state of title of a given property. In practical terms, it protects lenders and purchasers against loss or damage suffered due to survey problems, defects in title and other matters relating to title as specified in the policy.

Approx lawyer fees:
$1,500

The cost to acquire the property was $5,317.26

The act of buying rental properties should be treated as a business transaction. The thought of falling in LOVE with a potential property should be purged from your mind completely. When you are search for a desirable property do your homework; look into the Official Community Plan with the city, if you have a higher budget you might want to consider a 2 bedroom unit vs 1 bedroom, know what the rental restrictions are within the strata prior to buying and most importantly contact your Mortgage Broker prior to meeting with Realtor so that he/she can assist with the structuring as all lenders employ different ways of underwriting rental mortgage applications. The numbers have to make sense to give yourself a chance to build your real estate empire.

*Based on today’s re-financing guidelines. Please check with your Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Professional before executing your plan.

Courtesy of Michael Hallett, AMP – DLC Producers West Financial 

1. Create yourself a Budget and stick to it, so you can keep your finances on track. Planning a budget will help you identify uneconomical expenditures and help you achieve your financial goals. Having a budget can also decrease your stress levels, prepare you for unexpected costs and help you plan for your future of home ownership.

Some of the things you should consider in a budget are all your sources of income, mortgage payment, all loans, condo fees, utilities, cable, internet, phone bills, credit card debts, entertainment expenses, clothing, food, transportation expenses, Insurance (auto, house, life), personal grooming, pet care, donations, child care and an emergency fund which can assist in those unexpected costs like an exterior leak, plumbing issues or just those unforeseen repairs and maintenance issues that could arise.

2. Before you start looking at homes, meet with your Mortgage Broker so they can assist you in figuring out how much home you can afford, get you pre-approved for a mortgage loan and give you the information you need for planning and preparing to save for your down payment. It can be very disappointing to find your dream home only to find out you don’t qualify.

During your qualification period and before you purchase a home, avoid making any big purchases like a new car or buying furniture as these expenses will have to be factored into your debt servicing ratios and could seriously jeopardize your loan approval.

3. Part of your budget plan is to know and consider the additional costs before the purchase of your home. Legal fees, mortgage insurance premiums, life and disability Insurance, Fire Insurance, house insurance, strata fees, appraisal, home inspection, property survey, moving costs, appliances, home maintenance equipment, purchase deposit, down payment, GST if it’s a new construction, property tax, and possibly property transfer taxes. The amount of this property transfer tax will depend on your province and the amount of your home purchase price.

4. Your realtor should be someone you can trust, who understands your needs and will take the time to educate you through the home buying process and the current real estate market conditions in your chosen area.

Your realtor will provide a variety of services to make the complexity of purchasing a home seamless. For example, they will arrange appointments of potential homes, assist in the Contract Of Purchase And Sale agreements, obtain and review the strata minutes, negotiate the home offer on your behalf, inform you of facilities and public services that are available in your neighborhood and current future zoning regulations. Simply, they will streamline the biggest investment purchase that you will ever make.

5. Have your home or strata property inspected. This is one of the most important steps to consider when buying a home, to make sure your home is a sound investment and a safe place to live. If significant defects are revealed by a home inspection, you can back out of your offer, free of penalty, within a certain time frame. Condominium buyers will tend to focus on the Form B certificate that will identify any major issues and costs by the condominium corporation.

6. If there is anything unclear to you while you are preparing the Contract Of Purchase And Sale have the Purchase And Sale Agreement reviewed by your real estate attorney before signing this legal document.

7. Subject Clauses on your Offer To Purchase is highly recommended, especially for first time home buyers. For example a

• subject to a satisfactory home inspection
• subject to arranging your mortgage financing

It is of great significance to know that “subject clauses” do not “elude” you to avoid your legal responsibilities in the contract and you must make every attempt to fulfill the conditions that you have set. During this time, it is the seller’s discretion to continue to accept other offers even after the seller has accepted your offer with subjects.

8. On Closing Day, all parties will sign the papers at the lawyer’s office, officially sealing the deal. This is the day that ownership of the property will be transferred to you. On this day it is your job to provide your mortgage broker with your lawyer’s information, as they will be the ones to forward a copy of the Purchase And Sale Agreement to your lawyer as well as inform your lender of your lawyer’s information.

Proof of insurance will need to be obtained, so arrange your Home Insurance before closing and bring the policy with you to your appointment, have your certified cheque or bank draft with closing balance payable to the lawyer’s firm’s trust account, a VOID cheque or a pre-authorized payment form and bring two pieces of valid identification with you like a valid driver’s license or passport. The second piece of identification can be your social insurance card, birth certificate or credit card from a major bank.

Closing funds will be arranged by your lawyer to the seller’s lawyer, the transfer and mortgage will be registered and you will be given the keys to your new home! Finally you take possession.

There are many aspects to consider with your mortgage and home purchase so it would be wise to contact your trusted Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Professional who can navigate you through the home buying process and give you the resources you need for a successful first home! Give us a call today so we can help you through these steps of home ownership!

Courtesy of Josee Picco, AMP – DLC CIty Wide Mortgage Services 

Welcome to your free financial check-up, discussing 5 key factors to assist you in ensuring you are on the right track to a solid financial future.

Credit

Ensuring you are using credit wisely will pave the way to making sure you have options available to you if or when you need them. One thing we can all do is check our credit report on a regular basis – at least once each year – so you know where you stand and whether your credit score has been compromised in any way, especially through fraud. You can contact Equifax at 1-800-465-7166 or go to the website at www.equifax.ca for more information.

There are many people who believe that it is more responsible to not use credit at all but, in fact, if you don’t have any credit accounts reporting to the credit bureau, financial institutions have no way of knowing how responsible you are with credit and you will likely be turned down if you need a loan or credit card in the future.

Making payments on time is critical to maintaining a good credit score but also keeping your account balances below 75% of the maximum limit is another way of boosting your credit score. If you have multiple accounts, spreading the balances evenly among them using balance transfer methods can help to bring some accounts in line.

It’s wise to pay off your higher interest credit accounts first but that decision needs to be balanced with whether to pay down the higher-payment accounts.

Savings

The old adage, “10% of the money you earn should be tucked away into savings” is a good one. Although it may be difficult to be disciplined enough, if you “pay yourself” every month, the savings will start to build and you may find you don’t need to rely on credit to handle those unexpected expenses.

I personally have a monthly allotment that I transfer to my savings account the same day each month. I have a reminder in my phone to physically do the transfer and it is built into my budget as if it were another utility payment I have to make.

Taking advantage of a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) is a great way to earn higher interest on your savings as opposed to the low rate you are paid for a standard bank savings account. If your TFSA is managed by a Financial Planner you can see very good returns on your investments. Any money earned within your TFSA is tax-free and can be withdrawn at any time.

Retirement

Part of the savings picture is, of course, planning for retirement. If you can, work an RRSP contribution into your budget as soon as possible so you will be much further ahead when you want to put your feet up and enjoy.

I follow my Financial Planner’s recommendations when it comes to how much I contribute each year. As I am self-employed, the amount I contribute each year varies but I always make a contribution.

Contributing to an RRSP also gives you a tax break at the end of the year and you can use your tax return money to put towards paying down your mortgage or put it towards a vacation. Both of those are win-win scenarios.

Mortgage

Being the largest loan most Canadians will ever have, your mortgage deserves attention and regular check-ups. Choosing the right mortgage structure for you and taking advantage of today’s historically low rates, can put you on track to huge savings.

Take a look at your debt-structure. If you are making high monthly payments on high-interest loans and/or credit cards, you could easily restructure your circumstances by refinancing your credit accounts into your home. In most cases, this reduces the amount of interest you are paying overall and lowers your monthly payments. At the same time, if you take advantage of an accelerated payment structure (bi-weekly or weekly) and bump up your minimum required payment by the 15-25% that your institution allows, you can pay down your principal and be mortgage free much sooner!

In today’s mortgage climate, if you currently have a mortgage rate anywhere over 4% you should do yourself a favour and have me do a Free Mortgage Analysis for you so you can see apples to apples whether there are any financial advantages to breaking your existing mortgage for a better rate. When you can see the costs vs. benefits in black and white, the answer as to whether to refinance will be crystal clear.

Insurance

Making sure you have adequate insurance is essential in protecting yourself and your family in the event of a crisis or emergency. Whether it be home, health, life or disability insurance, it is always a good idea to review all of your insurance coverage at least once a year to make sure you are fully covered.

Mortgage insurance is a great idea but most clients benefit more from having independent mortgage insurance coverage as opposed to taking the insurance coverage offered by the institution that has your mortgage. The average Canadian makes a change to a mortgage every 38-42 months, you may have to re-apply for the same coverage at an older age and higher premiums. If your mortgage insurance is through a company that is independent of the bank, you would have the ability to keep the coverage and premium you initially had even if moving your mortgage to another institution at a better rate works better for you.

Another way to go is Term Life Insurance. Securing a policy that will cover all costs and pay out all obligations should anything happen to you will give your family peace of mind in the worst circumstance.

Critical Illness Insurance offers protection should you become affected by one of the approved conditions and is often paid in a lump sum amount once you have survived the specified waiting period. It gives you the assurance that the costs of a serious medical condition, as well as living expenses, will be covered.

Wrap Up

I recommend talking to your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional to make sure you make the best decision on all insurance needs.

I hope you have found some value in the information provided. As always, I recommend seeking out the experts and gaining knowledge before making any important decisions that will affect your future.