Single-family detached homes are the most popular choice of Canadian homeowners, but aspiring first-time homebuyers should consider all their options before starting their house hunt. Don’t overlook the perfect option for your family – you may be surprised by what’s out there, at or below your budget.

According to Statistics Canada, over half (55 per cent) of Canadian households have opted for the classic single-family detached house. While condos are a distant second with roughly a quarter of homeowners opting for them, they are significantly more popular in big metro areas like Toronto and Vancouver. Rounding out the homeowner choices at 17.8 per cent of households, are other housing options like row houses, semi-detached houses, mobile or modular homes, and other single-attached dwellings (such as urban infill homes).

What starter home is right for you? Read on for a look at the most common (and lesser known) home options. Consider all your options, so you can maximize your opportunity to find the perfect dwelling to call home sweet home.

SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED:
Definition: A single-family, standalone house that sits on its own lot
Strengths:
• Privacy
• Less noise from neighbours
• Consistent demand in established neighbourhoods
Considerations:
• Generally costs more to buy
• Maintenance costs
• Highly competitive market in large metro areas, which can include bidding wars and houses selling for well over asking price

SINGLE-FAMILY, SEMI-DETACHED:
Definition: A single-family house attached to another house on one side only
Strengths:
• More affordable to buy than a fully detached home
• Most of the privacy of a single family detached
• Can be more affordable to maintain than a fully detached home
Considerations:
• Less privacy than a detached home
• Some noise from neighbours through shared wall

DUPLEX:
Definition: A structure with two single-family units on separate levels
Strengths:
• Great way to reduce home purchase and carrying costs: live in one unit, rent the second one out
• Flexibility: move adult children or ageing parents into the second unit as needed down the road
Considerations:
• Less privacy than a single-family detached home
• Some noise from tenants through floor/ceiling

TOWNHOUSE OR ROWHOUSE:
Definition: A row of single-family homes, connected on both sides to the next home (except for the end units which are only connected on one side). All have their own separate yards. May be freehold or have condo-style shared ownership rights and responsibilities.
Strengths:
• More affordable to buy than a detached or demi-detached home
• Can be more affordable to maintain than a fully detached home
• Private yard
Considerations:
• Less privacy than a single-family detached home
• Some noise from neighbours through shared walls
• Condominium-style ownership include monthly condo fees/maintenance costs.

CONDOMINIUM:
Definition: Low- or high-rise buildings containing many apartment units. Units are individually owned, with shared ownership rights and responsibilities to the common areas and building.
Strengths:
• Affordable
• Swimming pool, fitness centre, party room and other shared amenities are standard
• Minimal maintenance work required
Considerations:
• Monthly condo/maintenance fees in addition to mortgage payments
• Less privacy/more noise with neighbours on all sides, plus shared common areas
• Typically smaller than detached or semi-detached homes

MODULAR or MOBILE HOME:
Definition: Factory-built homes delivered to a home-site for installation. The home is owned outright, while the land it sits on could be owned or rented.
Strengths:
• Affordable
• Flexibility: if you relocate, you could sell the mobile home in situ, or move it with you to a different home-site
• Useful in areas where it can be hard to build (due to climate or location)
Considerations:
• Less resale demand than other housing types
• Annual rent increases if renting land in a mobile home community

CARRIAGE HOUSE or URBAN INFILL:
Definition: A carriage house is located on the periphery of a single family detached house. Urban infill homes are a modern solution to crowded cities, re-purposing existing spaces in established residential or commercial areas to maximize use and reduce urban sprawl.
Strengths:
• Often located in interesting, urban environments
• Unique, character dwellings
• Often less expensive than a typical single-family detached house
Considerations:
• Limited inventory
• Potential for noise pollution in a busy location
• Limited or non-existent yard space
• Finding the right home for your needs means considering your lifestyle and budget now, as well as where you’ll be a few years down the road. Want more new-homeowner inspiration?

Contact Dominion Lending Centres to learn more about your options when it comes to buying and owning a home. Access more great articles and tips at www.homeownership.ca.

Courtesy of Marc Shendale, Genworth Canada – Vice President Business Development

In a competitive real estate market or a market that is suffering from a lack of available listings, the Purchase Plus Improvements mortgage could be your saving grace. Regardless of whether you’ve just started your search for a new home or if you’ve been hunting for months, this is something that you should be thinking about each time you walk into a potential house.

Of all the homes that you’ve looked at so far, you have likely walked into at least one home by this point and said to yourself: “Well this house looks great, but if it wasn’t for that incredibly dated _______”. You fill in the blank here… Kitchen, bathroom, flooring, basement, etc. If you have passed up the opportunity to purchase that potentially perfect property because of the costs of required improvements, it’s important that you know there is a solution to your problem. Enter, the Purchase Plus Improvement Mortgage.

In a nutshell, a purchase plus improvements mortgage allows you (the home buyer) to roll the costs of improvements into your mortgage. The new mortgage allows you the ability to finance those much-needed repairs and get you into that home of your dreams! The mortgage comes with a great interest rate and one simple mortgage payment. Had you chosen to purchase the home and not include the renovation costs into the mortgage, then you might end up financing the improvements on a higher interest rate unsecured debt which also give you a second payment to make each month.

The first step to take is a conversation with your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage broker about specifically how that Purchase Plus Improvements Mortgage would apply to your application and specific situation. Understanding the types of improvements that can be included in the financing will help you better understand which potential houses might work great for you.

Working with your Realtor, the mortgage broker will help guide you through the final approval process. The main difference between a Mortgage vs. a Purchase Plus Improvements Mortgage is the need for quotes. As part of the verification process, your mortgage broker and the lender will need to see a quote for the work that is planned for the improvements. The quotes will provide us with the cost and plan details required to secure the final approval. Getting you into a house of your dreams!

If you have questions about how a Purchase Plus Improvements Mortgage could work for you, please call me, 705 623 8658, I’m happy to help!

Courtesy of Nathan Lawrence, AMP – DLC Lakehead Financial

The need to refinance your mortgage can be for many reasons. Whichever the reason you are refinancing, there are a few things to consider. One of the top questions we are asked as a Mortgage Broker is “will refinancing hurt my credit?” The answer to this question brings cause for a closer look at the refinancing process in itself.

First, you need to know that when you refinance there will be consequences outside of affecting your credit. To refinance you are essentially restructuring terms of a contract and therefore a penalty will apply.

Every lender is different in how they calculate penalties, but in general:

• Breaking a fixed mortgage will result in you paying the interest associated determined by the current interest rate for the remainder of your term or three months’ interest. Whichever of the two are greater.
• Breaking a variable mortgage will result in you paying out three months’ interest.

There are also limitations on the amount you can borrow with refinancing against your mortgage or tapping into your home equity line of credit.

• For borrowing or securing a line of credit against your property you will borrow up to 80% of the appraised value of your home, less the mortgage you have.

• For a Home Equity Line of Credit, you can take out a line of credit up to 65 per cent of the value your home, with the total Home Equity Line of Credit and mortgage totaling 80 per cent.

Now that we have covered the penalty and borrowing limitations, we can tackle the true question—will refinancing change my credit?

The answer to that is yes. No matter how you look at it, debt is still debt. Whether you are looking to refinance to gain access to your home’s equity, gain a better rate, or utilize your home’s equity for investment purposes you are still borrowing money thus your credit is going to change.

Let’s take a look at 3 examples to put this into better perspective.

No matter what your reason for refinancing, remember that debt is still debt and you credit may be impacted.

We advise that before you refinance consider the reasons you are doing so. Ensure they are justified. For example, if you are refinancing to do a much needed home renovation, purchase an investment property or pay for your child’s university tuition then those are all wonderful reasons for refinancing. On the flip side, refinancing to take a family vacation—maybe not a good reason. Look at what your reasons are and then decide if this option is the right one for you.
As always, Dominion Lending Centres is here to help! Give us a call and we can help you navigate your refinancing.

Courtesy of Geoff Lee, AMP – GLM Mortgage Group

When someone calls me up out of the blue for a mortgage , I often ask them, “Why did you call me?”
Often the reply is that a family member suggested it. I then ask, “Do you know what I do?”
Once again , I will get a reply that they aren’t sure. I will then explain to them that while banks do mortgages, they don’t specialize in them. They also do deposits, GIC’s, RRSP’s , insurance ,car loans etc.
I only do mortgages, day after day. As a result, I have more experience in unusual situations and we are getting more of them all the time. Sometimes you need to think outside of the box.
Here’s an example, Sally and Ted want to buy a home but they don’t have a down payment. A recent study found that 37 per cent of young Canadians count on the Bank of Mom and Dad for their down payment.
Unfortunately in many cases, Mom and Dad would like to help them out but they don’t have the cash.
They own their home or have a low mortgage balance but their savings are tied up . This is where thinking outside of the box comes in handy. A blanket mortgage is a mortgage that covers the subject property and another property that has sufficient equity in it to carry both properties. If the parents are willing, a mortgage can be placed on the parents  home and the new home. If the property value for the two homes is more than 80 per cent of the mortgage amount the new home can be purchased without the young couple having to save a down payment and pay expensive CMHC fees.

What risks or down sides are there to this idea? If Mom and Dad want to sell their home and move to Arizona, the children will have to get a new mortgage to cover their home. There may be penalties for breaking the mortgage which will have to be paid. There’s also the risk that the children may fall behind on their mortgage due to layoffs or maternity leaves and that could jeopardize the parent’s home.

Is a blanket mortgage a good idea for everyone? No. Discuss your issues with your mortgage broker and they may find this to be the best solution for you or they may suggest something else is better for you.

Courtesy of David Cooke, AMP – DLC Westcor

Ever wonder how your mortgage rate is determined? What factors make it jump from percentage to percentage? We are getting down to the nitty gritty today and giving you the facts on what impacts mortgage rates.

What affects a Mortgage Rate?

There are 10 factors that affect a mortgage rate:

1. Location
Depending on which province your home is located in, this will have an overall effect on your mortgage rate. Generally speaking, provinces with more competitive markets will have lower rates.

2. Rate Hold
A rate hold is a guarantee on a rate for 90-120 days. If your closing dates do not fall within this timeframe, then your hold will be re-assessed. If your rate hold is re-assessed and the lender’s rates at that time of re-assessment are higher than your initial rate, then your rates will go up accordingly. We always follow up with all of our clients on a regular basis to avoid this situation whenever possible!

3. Refinancing
Movement on your mortgage of any form can affect your rate typically when you are working with your existing lender. New buyers will have lower rates than refinances, but refinances will have lower rates than mortgage transfers. Mortgage Brokers can access multiple lenders to find the most suitable product for their client’s unique needs.

4. Home Type
Lender’s assess the risk associated with your home type. Some properties are viewed as higher risk than others. If the subject property is considered higher risk, the lender may require higher rates.

5. Income Property/ Vacation Home
As previously mentioned, lenders assess the risk on your property. If you are buying an income property or a vacation home than the lender can assess at a higher risk and a higher rate may apply. This is one of the major benefits to having a mortgage broker on your team! They have access to a variety of lenders that can offer you a rate lower than others as they can compare a large variety.

6. Credit Score
We have talked a lot about credit on our blog, and there is a reason for that. Your credit score is a large determining factor for your rate. Lenders want to see that you have a history of managing your credit well and that you will be able to pay back the lender overtime. For more information on fixing your credit, check out our free e-book, Credit Medic.

7. Insured or uninsured
With the changes that the federal government made back in October 2016 this has had a significant impact on mortgage rates if your mortgage is insured or not. Read our Change of Space guide to find out the full impact of these changes.

8. Fixed/Variable Rate
The type of rate you are wanting to get will also affect your rate. Fixed rates are based on the bond market and variable rates are based on the Bank of Canada (economy).

9. Loan to Value (LVT)
The higher the Loan to Value the higher the risk. You can have someone who has a $1 million mortgage but has $2 million in equity in that property and they would be viewed as a lower risk than someone who has a $200,000 mortgage and their property is only worth $220,000. To boot with the federal changes, the person with the higher risk mortgage (insured) is likely to get a more competitive interest rate than the client with $2 million in equity.

10. Income level
The final part in this rather large equation is your income level. Although this does not necessarily impact the rate itself, it does impact your purchasing power and the amount you are able to put down on a home. Essentially indirectly impacting the rate.

Each of these factors plays a factor in the rate you will be able to get through a lender. The easiest way to get the lowest rate is to work with a dedicated mortgage professional. They will put together a fail-proof plan to get you the sharpest rate. They also have access to a variety of lenders which saves you the time and trouble of shopping for your mortgage on your own. As a final point, mortgage brokers can also assess your unique situation and find the right mortgage for you. Their goal is to see you successfully find and afford the home of your dreams and set you up for future success.

Courtesy of Geoff Lee, AMP – GLM Mortgage Group

Renew (the mortgage industry meaning): to remain with the current lender by simply signing the renewal letter that comes in the (e)mail.

Switch (again, the mortgage industry meaning): to move from the existing lender to a different lender without leveraging any additional funds/equity; the outstanding balance remains the same.

Is renewing your mortgage with the current lender the best option, or should you consider switching to a new lender? The answer is provided with some simple math. As mortgage consumers, we want to save as much money as possible, plain and simple.

Seventy percent of borrowers that currently hold a mortgage simply sign the renewal letter they get. Most of the time they are leaving 20 – 40 basis points or 0.20% – 0.40% on the table. This puts millions of dollars back into the pockets of the lenders and their shareholders.

There are times when the current lender does not offer the best market rate or product for your situation. How will you know you are getting the best rate for your scenario? By contacting Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Professional who works for you… not the lender.

So first things first: contact your DLC Mortgage Broker four months before the term matures to discuss the next term’s strategy. What do the next two, three or even five years look like? This will then lead to an interest-rate discussion. Can there be some money saved?

I have been working with a client over the past couple of weeks as her current mortgage is coming to maturity. Had she just signed at the bottom of the renewal letter she would have been overpaying by 30 basis points.

Current lender offered 2.84% for a 5-year Fixed term (Renew)

New lender offered 2.54% for a 5-year Fixed term (Switch)

Here’s what that looks like. Note the mortgage balance used was $330,000 (25-year amortization). This just happens to be the average mortgage amount in British Columbia.

The biggest saving is in the total interest saved over 5 years. At the end of the day this borrower saved $4,656.50. Guess what she decided to do? Yes, SWITCH lenders.

In this scenario, it will cost the borrower $0 to make a switch. Would you put four 1000-dollar bills, six 100-hundred-dollar bills, one 50-dollar bill, one five-dollar bill, one loonie and two quarters in the fire? No, you would not.

Bottom line, make sure you have a discussion with your independent Mortgage Broker before (potentially) burning thousands of dollars.

Courtesy of Michael Hallett, AMP – DLC Producers West Financial

Since 2012, it’s become the wild west of mortgage options out there for those folks who are living the Canadian dream of being Self Employed (also known as BFS, Business for Self). 

In 2012, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions introduced Guideline B-20, which required federally regulated banks to tighten the rules for approving mortgages. Without boring you with what that mortgage jargon translates to you, the bottom line means you “generally” have to qualify now from your Line 150 of your tax return. That’s NET income, not GROSS income.

Don’t freak out yet! There is good new below…

As BFS folks, one of the perks of being self-employed is we don’t pay as much in taxes as we have business write offs we can use to lower our GROSS income. We are now being penalized with many lenders with higher rates and fees with these new rules.

I wish there was a simple book with straight up rules for the BFS mortgages, but there really isn’t.
Why?
• It depends on your credit
• It depends on where your income is coming from and how long. Is it commissioned, contract, invoiced, under the table or under your mattress?
• It depends on your down payment.
• It depends on so many factors…hence you really need a mortgage consultant who really understands BFS mortgage programs.
There are a few programs you may fit under: Stated Income, BFS Conventional, or Alternative or Private lender. All of them are slightly different, but you will fit somewhere with someone.

Not to pick favourites, but here are a few lenders and their programs (through your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional):
• B2B Bank has a fantastic BFS Expanded Program (actually nine in total) that allows 12 months of bank statements showing income vs those Notice of Assessments. They also don’t charge any mortgage premiums or fees!
• Street Capital has an insured Stated Income to 90% (i.e. 10% down payment) program. You have to be two years in business filed, 5% of your down payment has to come from your own savings, and no “commissioned sales” folks here.

Common Questions I get:

Q: I was working with a company as a computer systems analyst for the past three years. Now I am self employed as a computer systems analyst. Can I still qualify for a mortgage with less than two years as filed self employed?
A: Yes, as long as you are in the same job role, you should have no issues.

Q: I heard you need 20% down to qualify for Self Employed Mortgage.
A: There are a few lenders that allow for 10% down now.

Q: I am a waitress and make most of my money in tips. How can I use this to qualify for a mortgage.
A: If you’re not declaring your tips on your taxes, then some lenders will look at 6 months deposits into your account.

Q: Can I refinance to pay off my Canada Revenue debt I owe:
A: Yes, very common practice.

Kiki’s Korner of Self Employed mortgage tips:
1. Keep your business money deposited in one account. Separate your expenses and your income accounts.
2. Leases or Loans on vehicles for business should come out of your BUSINESS account.
3. If your company is paying you a “stipend” or “allowance” for you vehicle, make sure it’s taxable income. You will need two years to use this as income.
4. Make sure your invoices match your deposits.
5. When depositing “other monies” i.e.: tips, tag it on your deposit slip so it shows up online with your deposit.
6. Keep important documents such as articles of incorporation, GST/HST registration or business licence in one folder with all your tax returns. Keep records for three years from the date you filed your original return or two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, if you file a claim for credit or refund after you file your return. Keep records for seven years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction. Be organized.
7. If you’re not filing business financials, file T2’s if you are incorporated. Filing business financials may be more expensive, but worth it for mortgage qualifying with more lenders.
8. If you pay yourself dividend income, you will need two years of this form of income.

If you’re in business for yourself, congratulations! Keep up the good work. There are many moving parts to planning and qualifying for a self-employed mortgage, so if you’re just starting to look at the idea of a mortgage – plan NOW!

I too am self-employed and work with many professionals such as lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, management consultants and self-employed folks such as truck drivers and waitresses. You’re all important and have different incomes we can use to make your dream come true.

Courtesy of Kiki Berg, AMP – DLC Hilltop Financial

Buying a home can be a really exciting time, so the last thing we want is for you to be hit by any surprises. Let’s take a look at five things to keep in mind before you write an offer.

1. Get your mortgage in place before you write an offer. Meeting or speaking to an actual person who will take your application and pull your credit is the best strategy. You will get a firm amount of how much of a mortgage you may qualify for. This is also a great time to make some decisions like if you want a fixed rate or variable rate, if you want a monthly or biweekly payment. You are far removed from stress of meeting any condition of financing dates at this time so you have the luxury of time to ask your questions.
2.  Be ready to provide the necessary paperwork. If I was lending someone $300,000 I would want to know that they could pay me back and so would you I’m sure. You are going to be required to provide a lot of paperwork. Getting a complete list ahead of time and starting to gather it really makes it less stressful for you once the offer is accepted.
3.  There are extra costs. It is not just a matter of having the down payment. You will also have to pay for legal fees, title insurance, property tax adjustment if necessary, mortgage default premiums and on and on. That is why you have to have at least five per cent down and an additional 1.5 per cent of the purchase price in your account to cover these costs. The banks also really like to see that you have a fallback position of extra cash in case you get sick or downsized.
4.  You can get extra funds for improvements to the new home added to your mortgage. Most lenders allow up to $40,000 for upgrades. These have to be things such as flooring, windows, exterior, kitchen, bathroom or any other manner of upgrade which will stay with the property. The funds are held at the lawyer’s office until an appraiser verifies the work is complete so you will have to be able to cover any costs in the short term.
5.  Here is how the process goes.

• You get the mortgage pre-approval
• Find a home and place an offer with a condition of financing date and likely a home inspection one as well
• The application is sent off for approval based on both you and the property and you provide all the necessary paperwork
• The bank says they are 100% happy with you and you say you are 100% happy with the offer of financing and you remove the financing condition. Do not make any changes to your financial picture after you remove the condition. It can be cancelled if you leave your job, take on more debt or rack up the credit cards.
• You meet with the lawyer to provide the balance of the down payment, cover the other costs
• Day of possession you are given the keys once it is confirmed that the funds have transferred to the seller
• Congrats! You own an home

This has been a crash course in buying a home, but there are so many resources online or available to you for free over the phone that it shouldn’t be too awful. Happy house hunting and we look forward to helping you at Dominion Lending Centres!

Courtesy of Pam Pikkert, AMP – DLC Regional Mortgage Group

When it comes time to get your mortgage, or perhaps look at investing in an investment property, income qualifying is one of the first steps you will have to take. This first step though can also be the most challenging. Let’s walk through the steps you should take:

1. What is your Employment?

Are you employed by a company and receive a consistent paycheck with a T4 slip? OR

Are you self-employed—a sole proprietor, incorporation, or a limited company (same as incorporation)?

If you are employed, you may need the following documents to provide to your broker/lender:

2 most current years T4’s

2 most current Notices of Assessment

Most recent pay stub

Letter of employment

Up to 90 days of bank history to show you have the down payment and closing cost (usually 1.5%)

If you are a proprietorship, you may need the following documents to provide to your broker/lender:

T1 Generals for the most recent last 2 years – all pages

2 most current Notices of Assessment (proof that no personal taxes are owing)

Verification of Business for Self

Business Licences

Registration of your proprietorship

Last 2 years GST/HST remittance forms

Etc

Up to 90 days of bank history to show you have the down payment and closing costs necessary

If you are incorporate/a corporation, you may need the following documents to provide to your broker/lender:

2 most current Notices of Assessment-You need to show you HAVE AN INCOME!

Up to 90 days of bank history to show you have the down payment and closing costs

Verification of Business for Self:

Last 2 years business licences

Articles of incorporation

Last 2 years GST/HST remittance forms

Last 2 years of Financial Statements

Business Registration Form

Etc

2. Work with a good Accountant or use Stated Income

Make sure you are working with a good accountant who knows what you plan to accomplish in the future and sets up your business accordingly so that you can show at least an average income on your notice of assessment (NOA).

You can also use “Stated Income” which is simply stating your income to be REASONABLE and to reflect the time you have been working within that industry instead of what you are personally reporting to Revenue Canada and paying taxes on.

For stated income be aware that you can only use this on refinancing, or purchasing primary residence, purchase plus improvements of primary residence, Second Homes, and investment properties.

3. Insurance considerations

For stated incomes, there are insurance guidelines that you need to be aware of.

Genworth and Canada Guaranty:

GDS (Gross Debt Service) and TDS (Total Debt Service) Ratio:

Credit Score of >680 and GDS/TDS ratios of 39/44

Credit score of <680 and GDS/TDS ratios of 35/42

Also, make sure that there are no personal taxes owing

Finally you will need to ensure that you are following the 2-2-2 rule. Check out our article for more information on this.

Plese note that CMHC does not have a STATED INCOME program.

Insurers give the following rate premiums for Business For Self (BFS):

As always we are here at Dominion Lending Centres to help. Contact us today!

Courtesy of Geoff Lee, AMP – GLM Mortgage Group

Recently a video appeared on Linkedin and a few other places singing the praises of porting your mortgage and making it seem like a walk in the park. If you have ever done one, then you would know that it is anything but that scenario.

Porting is not much different than qualifying for a new mortgage, the video talks about the client moving to a new town and just porting their mortgage along with them. Truth is if that you are moving to a new town and a new job you may be on probation and not qualify for the mortgage. The lenders also have to approve the new property as well so a lot more factors that need to be considered.

If you are porting the mortgage and don’t need any more money as in the new house is the same value, then there isn’t much issue. What if the new home is more money and you need to increase the mortgage then the lender has an opportunity to blend the two rates and your mortgage payment could go up. If you need to reduce the mortgage amount, then you may also face a penalty on the amount reduced.

Another factor not talked about is that you still need a down payment for the new home it’s not just going to be a simple move over and continue on with your mortgage. The other thing that happens is that your lender will usually take the full penalty out of the sales proceeds and refund it to you after the sale has completed. In some cases, this process could take up to a month meaning you need to cover the short fall at closing and wait for it to come back to you.

And last but not least how long of a period do you have to port your mortgage, did you know they range from 1 day to 120 day’s maximums? In the case of one day that mean the lawyer has to close both sales in that time frame.

Overall its prudent to get professional advice from your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional.

Courtesy of Len Lane, AMP – DLC Brokers For Life