Posts Tagged ‘Fixed-Rate Mortgages’

Tips For Boosting Affordability! How Much Mortgage Can I Afford?

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Getting lower mortgage rates mean great saving but increased affordability is what attracts more homebuyers. Anyhow, there are few more ways available to first-time homebuyers that offer affordable housing along with financial tactics that increases our savings to the point where we feel comfortable. Here are some time-tested strategies to consider in the light of our updated present economical situation to further increase mortgage affordability:

Pre-Qualification! Know What You Can Afford

The first thing I recommend to all homebuyers to find a mortgage broker and get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage. A mortgage pre-approval helps you establish a price range and the maximum mortgage you can reasonably afford. There are many lenders who offer pre-approving facility to their potential borrowers for a mortgage to lock-in a rate for up to 120 days.

Fixed-Rate Mortgages! Fix The Rate For A Longer Term You Afford

Consider locking in your rate for a longer period of time! If you’re uneasy about fluctuating interest rates and your ability to meet any increases, then a fixed-rate mortgage could be an ideal fit. Many lenders are open to longer fixed terms that may be up to 10 years in some cases.

Down Payment! Pay Maximum You Can Afford

Increased affordability comes from increasing the size of your down payment that results a lower monthly payment. A common way for first time buyers to come up with more cash for a down payment is to make use of the federal Home Buyers’ Plan. With this Plan, you can now withdraw more than before which is up to $25,000 each from a RRSP (registered retirement savings plan) without tax penalty to buy or build a qualifying home. Also, many lenders allow the down payment to come from a properly documented gift, and a borrowed down payment may be possible for some borrowers.

Debt Restructuring! Revisiting Your Current Debts

Your total debt service ratio (TDS) is what your lender will look at while considering your mortgage application to see how much of your total income is going towards various types of consumer loans, including your personal loans, credit cards, charge cards, child support, car loans and other. To increase your affordability and success that your TDS ratio is acceptable to prospective lenders, your mortgage broker can advise on restructuring your current debt (by increasing the amortization and lowering payments on your consumer loans like car loan, etc.,).

You could get more valuable advice and practical tips to boost affordability specific to your own situation by your mortgage professional. However, first-time homebuyers need to be very careful when finding a mortgage that is several times their income. If you lose your job or get into financial difficulty, you could easily miss mortgage payments and lose your home. It is vital you are borrowing no more than you can afford to spend each month. Although present real estate market and its soft home prices along with the low interest rates have been making affordable house plans to further enhance mortgage loan market about which economists believe interest rates will stay at its lowest position for the next two years or so but you should not treat this as a guarantee.

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Posted in Debt, Finance, Mortgages | No Comments »

Bank of Canada’s Lowest Ever Interest-Rate Relief According To Canadian Consumer View Point

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

Lending rates hit record low when Bank of Canada announced last month, on January 20th that it would cut its key policy rate by half a percentage point. Instant market reaction was detected when BOC chopped its main interest to historical lowest rate ever.

Banking sector depresses Stocks and Loonie down after Bank of Canada cuts interest rate by half a point! The Toronto stock market was down over 100 points in early trading that took composite index tumbled latter at 177.7 points to 8,663.8 while Canadian dollar was down half a cent US after the Bank of Canada cut its key interest rate to one per cent.

On the other hand Canadian senior citizens don’t seem to be happy with the interest cut down because their interest returns on their investment and saving with the bank will affect their already fixed and limited means to squeeze more.

What Does It Affect You As A Debtor On Having Various Forms Of Debt?

  • Canadian Consumer Having A Mortgage Loan!

Fixed-rate pricing on downward trend! If your interest rate is fixed, pricing for fixed rate mortgages is higher than it normally would be, as lenders are accounting for higher perceived risk in the financial services industry.  The spread between a five-year Government of Canada Bond (1.58 per cent) and a competitive fixed rate mortgage rate (4.79 per cent) is now 3.21 per cent – which is much higher than what we have seen over the last few years.

Variable mortgages offer savings! If you have a variable rate mortgage, your payment level in most cases will remain the unchanged, but more of your payment will go towards the principal and less to interest. So you will be paying off your home more quickly. Moreover, whether the lower policy rate from the Bank of Canada will translate to lower interest rates for some borrowers remains to be seen, but variable-rate mortgages are still a cheaper option than they were a year ago.

  • Canadian Consumer Having A Credit Card!

Credit cards will likely remain where they are, at least for the time being. Given the state of the economy, credit-card companies are concerned about potentially higher delinquency rates. Their write-offs tend to be higher in tough economic times.

  • Canadian Consumer Having A Car Loan!

Car industry is going through a hard economic situation globally and so does here in Canada, although sluggish export results low production, high prices and cut jobs but government has taken timely steps to improve its efficiency in a way domestic sales on car prices will stay at moderate level. So, car loans seem to have remained fairly steady.

  • Canadian Consumer Having A Lines Of Credit!

Reduction in the prime rate leads to immediate savings for those who have variable rate mortgages, lines of credit and other floating interest rate loans. If your line of credit is tied to the prime rate and you are paying interest only, your payment will decrease. If you have a set payment, more of it will be applied to the principal and less to the interest.

  • Is It A Best Time For The Investors!

In trading business, your success depends on your purchase, that’s why big companies have more margins in their sales than the smaller companies because they cant get the benefits associated with the bulk purchases. Anyhow, it’s a best time especially for those who are having a right investment plan or opportunity where they can reinvest their borrowed money on such low interest rate. Although, most of the people will also planning to take advantage of more low interest rate by a half-percentage point which is expected to fall in June 10, 2009. But remember this next interest rate fall is not confirmed because it will only implemented if economy required to keep moving. But if you have a right investment today, tomorrow you may not, so don’t pass it away I guess I can see it being somewhat attractive.

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Posted in Banking, Credit, Debt, Finance, Investing, Mortgages | 1 Comment »

Canadian Mortgage Strategy Choosing Between Fixed or Variable Mortgage Rates

Monday, September 15th, 2008

New mortgage application has an incredible number of options from which to choose. However, with shifting interest rates, it can be a confusing time for those looking to acquire, renew or refinance a mortgage. Getting the most advantageous mortgage strategy is important and this challenging task cant be solve with anybody else accept you. This is the question you should ask yourself: Do I want the stability of a fixed rate mortgage or am I comfortable with the potential risks and rewards of a variable rate mortgage?

A variable mortgage rates allow the borrower to take advantage of low interest rates where the interest rate is calculated on an ongoing basis at prime minus a set percentage where prime is the base rate that banks use in pricing loans to their most creditworthy customers.  A variable rate mortgage can pose challenges for some, such as financially stretched first-time buyers who may not be able to handle an increase in their mortgage payments that would usually accompany a significant rise in interest rates, and there are those who simply prefer the greater sense of stability that a five to ten year fixed term mortgage can provide.

Faced with today’s competitive mortgage market and a changing interest rate environment, credit consumers need access to the timely and quality information through a recognized and trustworthy source. Which can help them decide while looking carefully at their current situation and personal goals to determine which mortgage strategy will best meet their individual needs. Moreover, you should try to get an answer yourself after consulting your mortgage broker whether a fixed or variable mortgage is best for you.

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Posted in Debt, Mortgages | 8 Comments »

Bank of Canada Reduces Key Interest Rate January 2008

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

Bank of Canada steps ahead in providing better rates by reducing its key interest rate by a quarter point, for the mortgage loan seekers who are planning to get the mortgage in the year 2008, it have been a better time, there are lot of people who will benefit the offer because of heavy snow and cold weather have prolonged their planning to get into the mortgage financing requirement and formalities. So maximum people will get the opportunity by providing maximum business to the banks and other lenders in the beginning of the year.

Bank of Canada\’s lowering key interest rate announcement, where provide enthusiasm for the mortgage shoppers to act now but on the other hand this overnight rate change has given the home-work to the mortgage lending companies and brokers who have been ready with their calculations and looking for the better time and weather in which maximum people will come out. Canadian mortgage lenders will be under competitive pressure to decrease their rates for the variable-rate mortgages and lines of credit based on the prime rate. Moreover, most of the lenders will need more information and consultancy service about how a particular lender may implement a variable rate change, because its possible their calculation will differ with the other when exactly they adjust their variable rates. However, this overnight interest rate fall by the Bank of Canada will not likely to create any impact directly on the fixed-rate mortgages as compared to the bond market, which is the key factor primarily responsible for direct and instant affect over the fixed-rate mortgages rate and market.

Although, Canadian fixed-rate mortgages are fairly steady in their interest rates in these days, but still you have an option to get an opportunity to adopt the new interest rate for your fixed-rate mortgages, if its lower than the previously adopted interest rate and if you are on hold for the low interest rate on your fixed-rate mortgages then you still have an opportunity to stick with the prevailing lower interest rates while at the high interest time.

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Posted in Credit | 13 Comments »