Monday, February 22, 2010

New Canadian Mortgage Rules to Come into Force April 19th, 2010


Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced changes to mortgage insurance rules which are set to come into force on April 19th, 2010.

This means the government will adjust the rules for government-backed insured mortgages as follows:

1) Require that all borrowers meet the standards for a five-year fixed-rate mortgage even if they choose a mortgage with a lower interest rate and shorter term. This initiative will help Canadians prepare for higher interest rates in the future.

2) Lower the maximum amount Canadians can withdraw in refinancing their mortgages to 90% from 95% of the value of their homes. This will help ensure home ownership is a more effective way to save.

3) Require a minimum down payment of 20% for government-backed mortgage insurance on non-owner-occupied properties.

There were no changes to down payment requirements or length of amortizations for owner-occupied residences.

Click here for additional details on the changes.

DLC supports the Government's measures as a prudent and balanced approach.

We've seen a rise in consumer debt and we anticipate interest rates will go up in the future, so it makes sense to put policies in place early to protect consumers.

These changes will help moderate the market without being too severe. They help protect first-time home buyers.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Budgeting Towards Homeownership


Transitioning from renter to homeowner is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make throughout your lifetime. It can also be a stressful experience if you don’t plan ahead by building a budget and saving prior to embarking upon homeownership.

Budgeting is a core ingredient that helps alleviate the stress associated with money issues that can sometimes arise if you purchase a home without knowing all of the associated costs – including down payment, closing expenses, ongoing maintenance, taxes and utilities.

The trouble is, many first-time homeowners fail to carefully think about their finances, plan a budget or set savings aside. And in this society of instant gratification, money problems can quickly escalate.

The key is to create a realistic budget based on your goals. Track your spending and make your dollars go further by sticking to your budget once it’s in place. Budgeting offers a step-by-step formula for figuring out how to best save your hard-earned money to invest in homeownership.

Start by listing your household income, then your household expenses, and review your spending habits. All of this can be done on a pad of paper or on a computer spreadsheet.

Keeping receipts for everything that you purchase will enable you to accurately keep track of where your money is going each month so that you can review and make necessary changes to your plan on an ongoing basis.

Examine all areas of your life from entertainment to the type of food you buy, where you buy your food and clothes, and how and where you travel. Also look at your spending personality and make necessary adjustments. Are you a saver, a splurger, a spontaneous shopper or a hoarder? Become smarter with your money and avoid impulse buying.

If you find you’re spending a lot of money in one area, such as entertainment for instance, set aside a reasonable amount each month and prepare to stop spending money in this area once your budget has been exhausted.

Budgeting provides you with the opportunity to re-evaluate your needs and wants. Do you
really need the magazine subscriptions, the gym membership and all the other things you may spend money on each month? Although everyone needs some “me time” to wind down, could you not get that by taking a walk or reading a good book you borrowed from the library?

If you can set your budget solidly in place before you head out home or mortgage shopping, you will be far more prepared to purchase your first home.

Following are three top tips to help you prepare for the purchase of your first home:

1. Set up a savings account. You can deposit a predetermined amount into this account each pay period that you will not touch unless it’s absolutely necessary. This will enable you to put money aside for a down payment and cover closing costs, as well as address ongoing homeownership expenses such as maintenance, taxes and utilities.

2. Save up for big-ticket items. As you accumulate money in your savings account, you will be able to also save for specific purchases to help furnish your home – avoiding the buy now, pay later mentality, which can have a negative impact on your credit when you’re seeking mortgage financing.

3. Surround yourself with a team of professionals. When you’re getting ready to make your first home purchase, enlist my services as a licensed mortgage professional and find a trusted real estate agent. Experts are invaluable to you as you set out on the road to homeownership because we help first-time buyers through the home purchase and financing processes every day. Experts can answer all of your questions and set your mind at ease. I have access to multiple lenders, and can help you get pre-approved for a mortgage so you know exactly what you can afford to spend on a home before you head out house hunting, while a real estate agent will be able to match your needs with a house you can afford. Both parties will negotiate on your behalf to ensure you get the best bang for your buck. And, best of all, these services are typically free. Experts will also be able to refer you to other reputable professionals you may need for your home purchase, including a real estate lawyer and home appraiser.

[Source - Dominion Lending Centres]


Visit my website: www.gregbarrow.ca, there you will find helpful mortgage calculators to help out with your budgeting. Also please feel free to call if you would like to get together in person to get your budgeting started.


Friday, February 5, 2010

Home Trust releases short-term variable products


[Source - mortgagebrokernews.ca]
Following last week's news that Street Capital introduced two new short-term variable mortgages, Home Trust announced the launch of one-year and three-year term variable-rate products.

"We've noticed there has been an increased demand for shorter-term mortgages because some people think that rates have not bottomed out," said Armando Diseri, vice-president of mortgage lending for Home Trust's Accelerator program. "In order to satisfy this demand and give our brokers and consumer more options, we felt introducing the one-year and three-year variable-rate mortgage was the sensible thing to do."

The products are offered through Home Trust's prime-focused Accelerator program. The features and guidelines are the same as its five-year variable-rate Accelerator product, including a prepayment penalty.Home Trust will announce its 2009 fourth-quarter financial results on Monday.




To get the latest best mortgage rates, visit my website: www.gregbarrow.ca


Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Toronto existing home sales skyrocket 87 per cent


By Tony Wong, Business Reporter - Toronto Star

The January real estate market started 2010 at full gallop, with sales up 87 per cent from the year before, according to figures released today.

There were 4,986 existing home sales in January, compared to 2,670 sales the year before when sales hit an all-time low for the month, according to a report by the Toronto Real Estate Board.

“The Greater Toronto Area home market has rebounded well from the lows in sales experienced at the beginning of 2009,” said Tom Lebour, president of the board.

Placed in perspective, this January’s sales were slightly higher than the January average in the years preceding 2009 when the economy faced recession.

The average price of a home this January hit $409,058, up 19 per cent compared with $343,632 in the same month last year.

TREB warned comparisons to last year will continue to be extreme in the first quarter of this year as “we continue to make comparisons to weak market conditions at the beginning of 2009.”

Jason Mercer, senior manager of market analysis for TREB said sales and price growth is expected to be slower in the second half of this year.



If you have been considering a move and want to take advantage of the low interest rates before they start to go up, please feel free to call me or visit my toronto mortgage website and use my mortgage calculators to see how much you can afford.

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