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Residential Mortgages
If you are a first-time homebuyer, getting professional mortgage advice is a great place to start. We specialize in the kind of education that can help get new homebuyers off to a great start! Although mortgage debt is 'smart' debt, buying your first home is a huge financial decision and there is a lot to think about. It's one of the most important financial decisions that most Canadians will make in their lifetime.
You want to take advantage of today’s low rate environment but it can be overwhelming to sort through all of the options out there. Your Mortgage Broker will help get you the right combination of mortgage features, privileges and rate that is best matched to your needs. The right mortgage goes beyond just the rate–it’s important to also consider term, prepayment options, refinancing penalties, restrictions, and fees.
Determine what you can afford. Before you start shopping for a home – and long before you consider putting an offer on one – let us help you determine how much home you can comfortably afford. Having a realistic budget to start will bring you confidence, knowing that you are not overextending yourself. Remember that home ownership involves costs beyond the monthly mortgage payment such as utility bills, insurance, taxes, home upkeep.
Be sure to talk to us about getting pre-approved, so you’ll get your interest rate guaranteed for a set period, typically 90 to 120 days.
Downpayment options. Downpayment is one of your most important considerations before you look to purchase your new home. If you’re in the “saving up” stage of preparing for home ownership, this is a great time to meet with us so we can discuss your downpayment options. In most cases you want to save five percent of the purchase price. Five percent down is required on homes up to $500,000.
For any home over $500,000 but less than $1 million, you need 5% downpayment on the first $500,000 and ten per cent for any amount over that. If your purchase price is $1 million or more, a minimum 20% downpayment is required.
Build a team of professionals. We’d be happy to help you build a strong away team so that all aspects of your home buying experience are efficient and professional. Your team will include a realtor, lawyer, and a home inspector.
Plan for closing costs. There are additional costs that come with buying a home so you’ll need to have some extra funds set aside to cover these costs. Generally, you can expect to pay between 1.5% and 4% of the home’s selling price in total closing costs. Your mortgage broker can outline all of your closing costs so you won’t be caught by surprise.
Your Mortgage Broker will also provide strategies to help you pay your mortgage off faster and shave thousands off interest costs.
There’s so much to consider. Work with your mortgage broker today so you can get into the market and start your wealth building with smart debt! Your mortgage broker will help you get off on the right foot in your home buying journey.
Self Employed
Borrowing money is harder for many self-employed Canadians. While there is broad recognition that self-employed Canadians are reliable borrowers, it may be difficult to navigate the mortgage process and the different options available specifically for this group. We can help turn the tables. These individuals may run their own businesses, or work in a profession where the main source of their income is predominately capital gains, a form of income that is generally not considered by most “A Lenders”.
We work with self-employed homebuyers every day and understand the challenges that they may face when arranging a mortgage especially with no standard proof of income. Our brokers are experts when it comes to mortgage solutions and have access to multiple options, including mortgage products designed specifically for self-employed Canadians. They can pinpoint which lenders have more favourable terms and requirements and advise you on how you can improve your options to get the best possible rate and terms.
The more complex your mortgage situation, the more sense it makes to use an experienced mortgage professional who can help simplify the process and help you achieve both your short-term objectives and your long-term financial plan. Most of all, they allow you to stay focused on your business, alleviating the burden of many time-consuming and frustrating tasks and meetings associated with securing a mortgage and will also work around your busy work schedule. Many will even travel to your work site if required to make the transaction as convenient as possible for you.
Remember, that independent mortgage professionals work for YOU, not the lenders or banks, so you can rest assured that their advice is unbiased and in your best interest when it comes to finding the right lender and right product to meet your needs. Find out what your options are, give us a call.
First-Time Home Buyer
Here's to buying like a pro the first time!
Buying your first home is one of the most important financial decisions you'll ever make and getting the right advice from a mortgage professional is a great way to start.
Before you start looking for your dream home, your Mortgage Alliance professional can help you find out how much you can qualify for so you can shop with confidence. They'll explain the process and even assist in getting you a mortgage pre-approval so you can take advantage of today’s low rate environment by locking in today’s rate for you for a set period of time, typically 90 to 120 days.
Understanding your down-payment options is important as you get ready to buy your first home. This is right time to consult with your mortgage professional who can explain the requirements and options available to first-time buyer only when it comes to down-payment. Generally, the min down-payment required depends on the purchase price with the min being 5% down. For homes $500,000 and under 5% down is the min required. For homes over $500,000 but less than $1 million, you need 5% down-payment on the first $500,000 and 10% for any amount over that. If your purchase price is $1 million or more, a minimum 20% down-payment is required. Mortgages with less than 20% down are subject to default insurance which is usually added to the mortgage amount.
At Mortgage Alliance, we work with over 60 lenders from major banks to private lenders. Your mortgage professional gives you access to multiple lenders and finds the right mortgage for you with only one application. They help you navigate the process, explain your options and present you with mortgage solutions that best meet your need. Having the right combination of mortgage features, privileges and rate is key. The right mortgage goes beyond just the rate--it's important to also consider term, prepayment options, refinancing penalties, restrictions, and fees.
Your mortgage professional will not only find the right mortgage for you but also provide strategies to help you pay your mortgage off faster and shave thousands off interest costs in the process.
Rental Property / Investment
Are you considering buying a multiplex property in the near future to enter the rental market? While this type of investment is a great way to diversify your income and put money aside, it is important to be well prepared. Buying income-producing real estate is more than an investment, it also means starting a business. But where should you begin? Before you get started, it is important to quantify and analyze the financial implications to ensure that your project is viable and profitable. The return on investment is calculated by subtracting the operating expenses from your income. This amount is then divided by the down payment on the building. The percentage obtained represents the annual return, which should ideally be higher than the mortgage rate.
Another aspect to consider is your ability to manage risk. Rental real estate does not guarantee constant profits, so it is important to assess your tolerance for risk and financial uncertainty.
The financial aspect is not the only aspect to consider. When entering the rental real estate market, you have to manage tenants and take care of the building maintenance. It is therefore important to be familiar with tenants’ rights in Québec and to have an interest for manual work. This will greatly help!
The down payment required for your project will depend on the number of units in your plex and whether you want to live in the building. Usually, you need a down payment equal to 20% of the property value. However, if you intend to live in one of the two apartments of a duplex, the required down payment is 5% and that will increase to 10% in the case of properties with 3 or 4 units.
Mortgage Alliance brokers are there to help you make the right decisions. They can give you advise and guide you through the investment process. Contact us today to start making your project a reality.
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Bank of Canada maintains policy rate, continues quantitative tightening
October 26, 2023
The Bank of Canada today held its target for the overnight rate at 5%, with the Bank Rate at 5¼% and the deposit rate at 5%. The Bank is continuing its policy of quantitative tightening.
The global economy is slowing and growth is forecast to moderate further as past increases in policy rates and the recent surge in global bond yields weigh on demand. The Bank projects global GDP growth of 2.9% this year, 2.3% in 2024 and 2.6% in 2025. While this global growth outlook is little changed from the July Monetary Policy Report (MPR), the composition has shifted, with the US economy proving stronger and economic activity in China weaker than expected. Growth in the euro area has slowed further. Inflation has been easing in most economies, as supply bottlenecks resolve and weaker demand relieves price pressures. However, with underlying inflation persisting, central banks continue to be vigilant. Oil prices are higher than was assumed in July, and the war in Israel and Gaza is a new source of geopolitical uncertainty.
In Canada, there is growing evidence that past interest rate increases are dampening economic activity and relieving price pressures. Consumption has been subdued, with softer demand for housing, durable goods and many services. Weaker demand and higher borrowing costs are weighing on business investment. The surge in Canada’s population is easing labour market pressures in some sectors while adding to housing demand and consumption. In the labour market, recent job gains have been below labour force growth and job vacancies have continued to ease. However, the labour market remains on the tight side and wage pressures persist. Overall, a range of indicators suggest that supply and demand in the economy are now approaching balance.
After averaging 1% over the past year, economic growth is expected to continue to be weak for the next year before increasing in late 2024 and through 2025. The near-term weakness in growth reflects both the broadening impact of past increases in interest rates and slower foreign demand. The subsequent pickup is driven by household spending as well as stronger exports and business investment in response to improving foreign demand. Spending by governments contributes materially to growth over the forecast horizon. Overall, the Bank expects the Canadian economy to grow by 1.2% this year, 0.9% in 2024 and 2.5% in 2025.
CPI inflation has been volatile in recent months—2.8% in June, 4.0% in August, and 3.8% in September. Higher interest rates are moderating inflation in many goods that people buy on credit, and this is spreading to services. Food inflation is easing from very high rates. However, in addition to elevated mortgage interest costs, inflation in rent and other housing costs remains high. Near-term inflation expectations and corporate pricing behaviour are normalizing only gradually, and wages are still growing around 4% to 5%. The Bank’s preferred measures of core inflation show little downward momentum.
In the Bank’s October projection, CPI inflation is expected to average about 3½% through the middle of next year before gradually easing to 2% in 2025. Inflation returns to target about the same time as in the July projection, but the near-term path is higher because of energy prices and ongoing persistence in core inflation.
With clearer signs that monetary policy is moderating spending and relieving price pressures, Governing Council decided to hold the policy rate at 5% and to continue to normalize the Bank’s balance sheet. However, Governing Council is concerned that progress towards price stability is slow and inflationary risks have increased, and is prepared to raise the policy rate further if needed. Governing Council wants to see downward momentum in core inflation, and continues to be focused on the balance between demand and supply in the economy, inflation expectations, wage growth and corporate pricing behaviour. The Bank remains resolute in its commitment to restoring price stability for Canadians.
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