Rising Prices, Mortgages Making Real Estate Unaffordable For Many: RBC

RBC’s latest research on the portion of average household income needed to maintain a home shows that affordability deteriorated over the summer, the second consecutive drop in as many quarters.

OTTAWA—Higher prices and an increase in mortgage rates have made home affordability more of a problem for the average Canadian family, says a new report from the Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY).

RBC’s latest research on the portion of average household income needed to maintain a home shows that affordability deteriorated over the summer, the second consecutive drop in as many quarters.

The level of deterioration differs from region to region and between types of homes, but for the average bungalow the affordability measure rose 0.7 of a percentage point to 43.3 per cent nationally in the third quarter, after a 0.3-percentage-point gain in the second quarter.

That means the average household would have needed to devote 43.3 per cent of its pre-tax income to service the cost of owning a bungalow at current market values, including mortgage payments, utilities and municipal taxes. The higher the rating, the less affordable a home is to any particular family.

For two-storey homes, the affordability reading rose 0.6 or a percentage point to 48.9 per cent in the July-September period.

Owning a condominium was the most affordable option, with a cost measure of 28 per cent of pre-tax income, and the most stable, up just 0.1 of a percentage point from the previous period.

RBC chief economist Craig Wright attributed the deterioration in affordability to higher prices and what has been a tightening mortgage market reacting to an expectation of firming interest rates.

“By the third quarter, strong resale activity across Canada heated up home prices a few degrees,” he explained. “At the same time, Canadian bond yields rose in tandem with those in the U.S., climbing in anticipation of the Fed (U.S. Federal Reserve) tapering its bond buying program.”

The most recent Canadian Real Estate Association report pegged the average resale price of a home at $391,820 in October, 8.5 per cent more than a year earlier.

Wright said recent months has seen a divergence in prices for Canadian homes, with price gains for bungalows and two-storey structures outpacing condominiums.

Affordability deteriorated in many of the large markets, but while the average number is only moderately higher than historic norms, RBC notes there is a wide disparity in the associated costs depending on markets, with some appearing out of reach of the average family.

It would take 84.2 per cent of an average household’s pre-tax income to maintain a home in Vancouver, a rise of two percentage points from the second-quarter reading.

In Toronto, the affordability measure rose 1.3 percentage point to 55.6 per cent, the second worst in the country.

Most other major markets had affordability scales that were closer to historic norms: Montreal rose 0.3 of a point to 38.3 per cent; Ottawa was up 0.4 of a point to 37.3, Calgary up 0.7 of a point to 33.7 and Edmonton up 0.5 of a point to 32.9 per cent of household income.

The report says the biggest risk to maintaining manageable affordability levels would be a sharp rise in interest rates, but many analysts believe that is unlikely to occur as long as global economic growth remains moderate and inflation pressures soft.

The RBC says it does not expect the Bank of Canada to start hiking rates until sometime in 2015 as bond yields, the main driver of fixed mortgage rates, are projected to drift only “gently” upwards in the next year or so.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Calls For Greater Transparency In Canadian Real Estate Market

Despite the fact that Canada is attracting more than its fair share of real estate investors, both domestic and international, you may be astounded to learn that there is no public data available on investment ownership of Canadian real estate. Yes, the Canadian authorities are not aware of the split between domestic and overseas investors and are therefore unable to see what is really driving the market.

A number of prominent figures have now stepped forward to voice their concerns at an apparent lack of transparency. When you bear in mind that international investors are now having a major impact upon relatively large real estate markets, London is one which springs to mind, this is something which the Canadian authorities need to address sooner rather than later.

Identifying trends in the Canadian property market
Those who follow the Canadian property market will be well aware that prices have pushed higher over the last few years due to a lack of supply, a relatively strong economy, well-managed government budget and demand from overseas investors. While we are not able to specify the exact levels of overseas investment across the Canadian real estate market, it is significant and it is moving markets.

Quote from PropertyForum.com : “It will come as no surprise to those who follow the worldwide real estate market to learn that Canadian investors seemingly cannot get enough of US commercial real estate.”

Only recently we covered an article on Canadian real estate investors looking towards the US with funding in excess of $20 billion pouring out of Canadian real estate investor coffers into the US market over the last 12 months. The US market is transparent, domestic and overseas investor figures are available so why is Canada not operating on a similar basis?

Rightly or wrongly there have been suspicions for many years now that overseas investors in London have been looking for a place to “park their money” with so far unsubstantiated claims of potential money-laundering issues. This is in a market which is highly transparent and is able to monitor both domestic and overseas investment at a glance. If there are potential money-laundering issues under this transparent and strict regime then what about the Canadian situation?

Nobody is for one moment suggesting there are widespread money-laundering issues within the Canadian real estate market but the fact that there are no public figures available differentiating between domestic and overseas investors leaves room for doubt. When you also bear in mind that property markets, and indeed any investment market, are based upon confidence in the regime running the market, could we be storing up problems for the future?

Conclusion

It seems highly likely that the Canadian authorities will eventually look towards a system which will differentiate between domestic and overseas investors. It would be very useful if this information was made public so that particular trends and influences can be monitored on an ongoing basis. Whether we see such a move this year, next year or in 10 years’ time it seems almost inevitable that ongoing pressure will force the government’s hand.

As a side note, this is a system which has worked very well for the authorities in the UK who are now able to differentiate between overseas and domestic investors in the London property market and potentially look to introduce specific taxes. Now, would the Canadian government turn down a new tax income stream from overseas investors?

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Canadian Real Estate Market Is Not In A Bubble, Poloz Says

OTTAWA - Canada’s housing market is not in a bubble and not likely to suffer a sudden and sharp correction in prices unless there is another major global shock to the economy, Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz said Wednesday.

The central banker, testifying before the Senate banking committee on his latest economic outlook, said he believes the most likely scenario is a soft landing where home prices stabilize, although he acknowledged that an imbalance in the market and high household debt remain key risks.

Poloz used the testimony to pointedly disagree with a couple of forecasting organizations that weighed in this week on the Canadian situation — the Fitch Rating service that judged Canada’s housing market as 21 per cent overpriced, and an OECD recommendation that he start raising interest rates in a year’s time.

"Our judgment is (the housing market) is a situation that is improving, this is not a bubble that exists here that would have to be corrected," he said. "If there is a disturbance from outside our country that’s another analysis."

Poloz said most of the fundamentals surrounding the housing market appear headed in the right direction. The prospects for the economy is improving, he noted, which should create more jobs.

As well, he said banks are now demanding higher credit scores from new borrowers and added that he does not believe there has been serious overbuilding in the housing market.

"It looks expensive," he said of home prices. "But which markets are expensive? Well those markets have been expensive my whole life,"he said, noting that Toronto and Vancouver both absorb high rates of immigration.

Asked to put odds on his soft landing scenario, Poloz said he would place it in the 60-to-80 per cent probability range.

Poloz was asked about the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s advice this week that the Bank of Canada start moving off its one per cent policy rate by the end of 2014 and keep hiking until it reaches 2.25 per cent by the end of 2015.

In unusual clarity for a central banker, Poloz said he respectfully disagreed. In his analysis, he said, there remains plenty of slack in the Canadian economy and inflation, at 1.1 per cent, is well south of the central bank’s two per cent target.

"Those things together give us the judgments we reach and obviously they differ in a material way from what the OECD is saying … and it’s our job to reach that final conclusion," he told the senators.

Last month, Poloz surprised markets by dropping the central bank’s official tightening bias and moved to a more neutral stance, which signals that the bank is as likely to cut as to raise interest rates in the future.

Analysts interpreted the move as the bank telling markets it won’t likely start raising borrowing costs until the first or second quarter of 2015. Markets reacted to that assessment by selling off the loonie.

On the overall economic outlook, Poloz said he believes the global economy is “healing” and that Canadian growth will start picking up next year as the U.S. recovery intensifies.

The bank’s official forecast is for 2.3 per cent growth in 2014, following a lacklustre 1.6 pace this year, and for 2015 to see the economy speed up to 2.6 per cent.

The testimony before the banking committee was the first for Poloz, who took charge of the central bank in June, and senators took the opportunity to question him on a wide range of topics, including the dearth of women on the new currency.

Poloz repeated previous remarks that he was “wide open” to the idea of finding images that include more women in the next roll-out of bank notes, but cautioned that won’t happen overnight — the current new bills took eight years to develop.

On the issue of Dutch disease — the theory that a commodity bubble such as oil exports pushes up the value of a nation’s currency and undermines manufacturing — Poloz said that while generally a “myth,” there was a certain element of truth to the theory.

He said oil exports helped maintain the Canadian economy during the recession and did contribute to the loonie’s appreciation, increasing competitive pressures on the manufacturing sector.

But he said the collapse in global demand also was a major factor and overall, revenues from the oil exports were a net benefit to Canada

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

MBS RECAP: Bond Markets Improve On Weak Data, Friendly Fed

MBS Live: MBS Afternoon Market Summary
Fed speakers will be an ongoing theme this week as market participants refine their outlook for potential December policy changes. While we heard from several Fed members today, it was really only Dudley whose comments noticeably correlated with market movement. The opening salvo of Dudley newswires contained a slightly more optimistic stance than he usually conveys. This counteracted some of the gains that followed the weaker-than-expected NAHB Housing Market Index.

Dudley later qualified his apparent optimism, saying he anticipated that monetary policy would be accommodative for a considerable period of time due to low inflation and high unemployment. This restored the bid for bond markets--which had only wavered slightly at first. MBS and Treasuries are now coasting toward 5pm at the best levels of the day--albeit in fairly low volume.

Afternoon Reprice Alerts and Updates
Below is a recap of instant Reprice Alerts and updates issued via email and text alert to MBS Live subscribersthis afternoon.

New House Prices Fall, But Real Estate Sector Still Strong

After rising steadily since 2008, Statistics Canada’s new housing price index has flattened out in September, following on a 0.1 per cent increase in August, but a new report says that's no cause for concern as Canadian real estate development will remain strong.

New housing prices fell in Edmonton, Windsor, Ottawa and Montreal, but those decreases were offset by a 0.5 per cent jump in Calgary, which is seeing higher labour and materials prices as it recovers from floods this summer.

The flat housing prices are no cause for concern, according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate report from Price Water house Coopers and the Urban Land Institute.

Canada’s relative economic health, especially compared to our neighbours to the south, has kept residential real estate strong, says the report, released Wednesday.

Trend to urbanization
Tighter mortgage rules and increasingly cautious banks have helped flatten condo prices, especially in North America’s hottest condo market — Toronto, the report said. But, cranes are expected to remain visible along major city skylines as projects already in the pipeline are fully built and but the trend toward urbanization keeps demand buoyant.

The trend among young Canadians to live, play and work all in the same neighbourhood is driving a boom in both condos and urban office development, says the report.

The outlook for development of all types of property – from residential to commercial – is good in Canada, according to PwC partner Lori-Ann Beausoleil.

Transit is of increasing importance to all forms of real estate development, she said.

Look for transit
“With challenging infrastructure in all major Canadian centres coupled with the urbanization trend, there will be a continued demand for retail, office and residential space in our urban centres where there is easy access to mass transit,” she said.

Redevelopment of urban areas and creation of mixed use real estate are key trends for the coming year, she said, especially in centres such as Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.

But the report says real estate that is far from transit, or a long way from residential areas may become underused and is less likely to be redeveloped because of a significant shift in where people want to live.

Increased automobile commute times and snarled traffic are turning people off suburban living and many Canadians are choosing condo living over the house with a yard which comes with a frustrating commute.

These include the 20-somethings, who are establishing lifelong habits of urban living, and baby boomers, who want to give up snow-shovelling and be closer to the symphony, the report said.

Changes to office market
Older commercial or suburban properties that are not close to transit may wait in limbo for redevelopment.

The office development business is changing with more demand for open layouts, shrinking space use per capita, technology impacts and demands for energy efficiency, Beausoleil advises.

She said the Canadian real estate sector is likely to remain strong for the coming year, and the U.S. market is likely to recover.

“The forecasts show that Canadian real estate players are able to both invest and attract investors. With the U.S. economy on the upswing, we are likely to see even more activity between the two countries, Beausoleil said.

“Over the last several years, Canada has been the interesting real estate story while the U.S. markets were in distress, but now, we expect that the continuing U.S. recovery will be the real story. Still, Canada’s strong market and the spending power of our consumers will continue to position us well in the international community as we head into 2014.”

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a real estate mortgage professional. 

What is the “Best Mortgage Rate” ?

It’s not synonymous with the “lowest mortgage rate.”

The best mortgage rate corresponds to the mortgage and advice that saves (and in some cases makes) you the most amount of money long-term.

Mortgage professionals routinely advise, “It’s not all about the rate.” To some, that sounds like evil sales-speak meant to boost commissions. The reality is that mortgage flexibility, contract restrictions and advice all have a definitive impact on borrowing costs. And most people don’t discover how much impact until after their mortgage closes.

That said, consumers are obliged to negotiate the very best deal they can. Three years ago, we asked ourselves, what kind of mortgage comparison website would we want if we were shopping for a mortgage ourselves? We thought up RateSpy.com.

RateSpy’s edge is data, lots and lots of rate data — more so than most other Canadian rate comparison sites combined.

Now, why on earth would someone need access to 3,000 mortgage rates and 300+ lenders, you ask? It boils down to probability.

At any given time, different mortgage providers are motivated to offer more heavily discounted rates. They may have:

Surplus liquidity (e.g., a credit union with excess deposits),
A need to replace assets in securitization programs (which is why we see big discounts on mortgages with odd terms, like 3.4 years), or
Internal volume targets that haven’t been met, thus encouraging more competitive pricing.
By definition, the more lenders and brokers one has to compare, the higher the probability of finding a lender motivated to discount below the market.

Of course, once you find a low-rate provider, that doesn’t mean its rate entails the lowest borrowing costs. Asking the right questions is mandatory to ensure the mortgage balances renewal risk with interest savings, and lets you make changes down the road—penalty free. This mortgage rate & features checklist can serve as a guide in that respect.

For these reasons, the interest rate alone can be a misleading number. If your lender or mortgage broker is quoting you a rate 10-15 basis points higher than what you’ve found online, it means nothing until you compare the features, restrictions and speed/quality of service from both providers

Our responsibility
Mortgage shoppers are, and will continue, flocking to rate comparison websites. But the information on these sites is vastly inadequate at the moment. Why, for example, don’t rate comparison sites speak to the penalty facing consumers if they break the mortgage early? Variations in penalty calculations can, and do, cost borrowers thousands more than small rate differences.

We have a responsibility to help consumers find the best overall deal, not just the best rate. The best deal factors in things like term selection, penalty cost, refinance restrictions, porting flexibility, advice on properly structuring an application, advice on building equity and so on.

Every Canadian rate comparison site I’ve seen underperforms in these areas. Even ours…for now. Our mission is to address these information deficiencies so consumers can identify the right combination of rate savings, flexibility and advice in an objective forum with no sales pressure.

Thereafter, we have to make it easier for folks to find competent mortgage professionals for a second opinion. Think about it. If you don’t have a trusted referral, where do you look to find a great broker or banker? How do you know the person you’re calling has the tenure, experience, qualifications and competitiveness to serve you best? Most existing advisor directories help you screen by little more than company, province or city.

Expect mortgage comparison sites to significantly evolve along these lines in 2014.

Sidebar: Rate comparison sites, in their present form, cater only to AAA fully-qualifying clients. Subprime,business-for-self and investor clients are a whole different conversation. There is currently no good mortgage comparison site for these customers, making knowledgeable mortgage advisors even more essential.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

3 Ways To Use A Mortgage Calculator

1. Planning to pay off your mortgage early.

By the time a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is paid off, the typical mortgage holder will have made total interest payments significantly larger than the original principal on the loan.

Use the “Extra payments” functionality of Bankrate’s mortgage calculator to find out how you can shorten your term and net big savings by paying extra money toward your loan’s principal each month, every year or even just one time.

To calculate the savings, enter a hypothetical amount into one of the payment categories (monthly, yearly or one-time) and then click “Show/Recalculate Amortization Table” to see how much interest you’ll end up paying and your new payoff date.

2. Decide if an ARM is worth the risk.

The lower initial interest rate of an adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, can be tempting. But while an ARM may be appropriate for some borrowers, others may find that the lower initial interest rate won’t cut their monthly payments as much as they think.

To get an idea of how much you’ll really save initially, try entering the ARM interest rate into the mortgage calculator, leaving the term as 30 years. Then, compare those payments to the payments you get when you enter the rate for a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage. Doing so may confirm your initial hopes about the benefits of an ARM — or give you a reality check about whether the potential plusses of an ARM really outweigh the risks.

3. Find out when to get rid of private mortgage insurance.

You can use the mortgage calculator to determine when you’ll have 20 percent equity in your home. This percentage is the magic number for requesting that a lender wave private mortgage insurance requirement.

Simply enter in the original amount of your mortgage and the date you closed, and click “Show/Recalculate Amortization Table.” Then, multiply your original mortgage amount by 0.8 and match the result to the closest number on the far-right column of the amortization table to find out when you’ll reach 20 percent equity.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Apply With More Than One Mortgage Lender?

Unlike applying for a credit card or auto loan, there is little benefit in applying to more than one lender for a mortgage loan. You might believe you are increasing your chances of getting the best available deal or giving yourself “insurance” that you will receive an approval. But, there are reasons that it is usually not in your best interest to do this.

• In addition to filling out lots of paperwork, it will cost you money to apply (credit report, property appraisal, and, possibly, an application fee).
• A full credit report, usually a “tri-merge” (reports from all three major credit reporting agencies) is required. This will cost you money (around $15) and also bring down your credit score, as each inquiry takes some points off.
• You will end up paying for more than one property appraisal (from $200 to $450).
• You may be required to pay one or more application fees (around $200 each).
• If you want to lock (guarantee) a rate at application and a fee is involved, more than one application will involve multiple fees, only one of which will benefit you.

If you locate an experienced, honest mortgage professional and provide him/her with the correct information, he/she will advise you of the best available terms for which you qualify. Therefore it is usually unnecessary and always costly to make more than one application with multiple mortgage lenders.

Information You Need to Apply for a Mortgage
Since the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) purchase the majority of home loans in the U.S., their standards are followed by most mortgage loan buyers. 

This means most lenders will require the same information from you. The differences relate to either the type of property being financed or the specific type of loan being used. The most common information all lenders require:

• Credit report : The mortgage source will get your report, but you should get one of your own BEFORE you apply so you know your current status in advance.
• Income verification : Keep your pay stubs for at least two months prior to making application. Also have copies of your last two years’ personal income tax returns in the event you need them, including W-2’s. If you earn overtime or other additional compensation, be prepared to prove that it is regular and consistent over time. To verify this, you will need more pay stubs, as many as you can collect. The same rules apply if you earn a significant portion of your income from commissions and fees. You must justify the level of income you wish to get credit for.
• Liquidity (Cash) : Regardless of the type of mortgage you receive or the property you’re financing, there will be costs to close your new loan. In all cases, you will need third party verification of the cash you claim to have. Have your bank or credit union statements for the past twelve months handy. Also gather up all information on investments, mutual funds, and other “cash equivalents”. If some of your cash is coming in the form of a gift, have the giver sign a “gift letter”. You can find appropriate wording from the Internet or you can probably get a demo letter from your mortgage source. Be aware that most lenders will allow a gift letter ONLY from an immediate family member (mother, father, sister, brother, son, or daughter).
• If you’re buying a property, you will need a Purchase & Sale Agreement : Once you make an offer that is accepted, your real estate broker will prepare a formal agreement to purchase the property. Most lenders will require this agreement before they will accept a formal application, since there is no deal without it.
• If you’re refinancing a property, have your current tax bill, hazard insurance information or policy, a copy of your deed and/or legal description of your home: This will greatly facilitate the processing of your application and result in a faster approval.
• If you’re purchasing or refinancing a condominium : Have your condominium documents (e.g., bylaws, budget, master insurance policy declaration page, homeowner’s dues information, etc.) ready.

There may be some other information you need to provide for different lenders but your mortgage source will make you aware of anything further they want.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

10 Tips About Mortgages And Refinancing In 2013

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the best time to refinance or get a mortgage to buy a home, think of 2013 as your last chance to act.

With good credit, persistence and some shopping skills, you can still snag phenomenal deals this year — even if you are underwater on your loan.

Here are 10 mortgage tips to help you with your mortgage decisions in 2013.

Tip 1: Stop procrastinating and refinance

If you haven’t refinanced recently, you’re probably paying a higher interest rate on your mortgage than you should. Take advantage of today’s record-low mortgage rates while they last. Rates are expected to remain low during the first few months of the year, but they should gradually increase. When they do, many borrowers will regret having missed the opportunity to grab the lowest mortgage rate in history.

Tip 2: Buyers, get moving

With rates near the bottom and home prices on the rise, it’s still a perfect time to buy a house. If you can afford a home and qualify for a mortgage, this may be your last chance to take advantage of the market and own a home for less. To speed up the homebuying process, get a mortgage preapproval before you start shopping.

Tip 3: Compare FHA vs. conventional loans

Many homebuyers opt for a Federal Housing Administration mortgage because it allows them to buy a home with as little as 3.5 percent down. But the already costly FHA fees that are added to your loan will increase again in 2013. As the costs of FHA mortgages rise, some buyers may consider saving a little extra for a conventional loan. Buyers need at least 5 percent down to get a conventional mortgage, depending on their credit. If you can afford the slightly higher down payment, get quotes for FHA and conventional loans, and compare the costs.

Tip 4: Ensure that your credit is golden

Credit standards remain tight. As new mortgage rules are unveiled in 2013, the standards are not expected to loosen. If you plan to get a mortgage anytime soon, you must treat your credit as one of your most valuable assets. Most lenders want to see a spotless credit history of at least a year on your credit report. You’ll need a credit score of at least 720 to get the best rate. Borrowers with a credit score of 680 or more can still get a good deal, but the lower your score, the harder it will be to get approved.

Review your credit report before you apply for a mortgage. Sometimes, paying part of your credit card balances can boost your credit score quickly. Generally, if you are using more than 30 percent of the available credit on your cards, you may be hurting your score. Also, check for credit errors and have them corrected before you apply for a loan.

Tip 5: Want to pay off your mortgage earlier?

If you are one of those homeowners who dream about being mortgage-free, the low-rate environment may be a good opportunity to refinance your 30-year mortgage into a 15- or 20-year loan. But make sure you can really afford the slightly higher payments on the shorter loan and that you have some money saved for emergencies.

Tip 6: Underwater refinancers: Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer

If you owe more than your home is worth and have tried and failed to refinance, why not give it another shot in 2013? The Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP 2.0, was revamped to allow homeowners to refinance regardless of how deeply underwater they are.

Even after revisions to the program, many borrowers still found obstacles when refinancing. But the situation is improving. Lenders are much more open to HARP 2.0 refinances these days than they were a few months ago. If one lender says you don’t qualify for a HARP refi, don’t take “no” for an answer, and try to find a lender willing to do it.

Tip 7: Give your lender a chance

If you have trouble paying your mortgage, don’t ignore your mortgage servicer. There are new programs available for borrowers who struggle to keep up with their mortgage payments, including forbearance for those with FHA mortgages. Lenders have been more willing to work out delinquent loans through loan modifications and even short sales for homeowners who can’t afford to stay in their homes. It can be a frustrating process to deal with your lender, but communication is still your best tool.

Tip 8: Shop for a low rate and good service

Even with rates hovering near record lows, you should still shop for the best mortgage deal. Get quotes from at least three lenders and compare not just the interest rate but closing costs and the quality of their service. Favor lenders that have a reputation of closing on time. Start with referrals from friends and relatives when shopping for a lender and read online reviews from other borrowers about the particular lender or mortgage broker you are considering.

Tip 9: Approved for a mortgage? Leave your credit alone

Most lenders order a second credit report for the borrower a few days before closing. Don’t open new accounts or charge up your credit cards at the furniture store while you wait for closing day. New credit lines and maxed-out cards may hurt your score. If you were on the edge when you qualified, your mortgage loan could be rejected at the last minute.

Tip 10: It’s not over until the loan closes

You’ve submitted your mortgage application and locked a rate. The race has just begun. Submit any documents requested by your loan officer or mortgage broker within 24 hours, if possible. Any delays in responding to the lender or in letting the appraiser into your house are wastes of valuable time. Lenders will remain overwhelmed with the large volume of refinance applications at least through the first few months of 2013. It doesn’t take much more than lost paperwork or last-minute requests from your lender to delay your closing. If that happens, you risk losing the locked rate. Follow up with your lender or mortgage broker at least once a week to ensure the process goes smoothly.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

20 Questions To Ask Before You Pick a Home Loan

Home loans can be complicated. But choosing one that meets your needs can be much easier if you gather enough information before you make a decision. Here are 20 questions that might apply to your situation.

Rate, term and payment

The most fundamental questions about any loan concern how long you’ll have to repay the amount you borrowed, how much interest you’ll be charged and whether the interest rate and payments are fixed for the entire term or subject to periodic adjustments as market interest rates fluctuate.

Here are four questions to ask:

1. What is the term of this loan?
2. What is the initial interest rate?
3. Is that rate fixed or adjustable?
4. How much would my initial monthly payments be?

Adjustment periods, caps and negative amortization

If the interest rate on the loan is adjustable, your monthly payment likely will change in the future and could be much higher than your initial payment.

Here are some questions to ask on this topic:

5. When can the interest rate be adjusted?
6. How will the interest rate be calculated?
7. What is the maximum interest rate increase for each adjustment period?
8. What is the maximum interest rate increase over the lifetime of the loan?
9. How much would my payment be today if the interest rate were calculated as it will be at the first adjustment period?
10. How much would my payment be at the maximum interest rate?
11. Could the amount I owe increase over time?

Costs and fees

Along with the interest rate and payment, you’ll want to consider the upfront and ongoing fees and costs you’ll be charged in connection with the loan.

Here are some questions to ask regarding costs and fees:

12. Can I see a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) for this loan?
13. Which of the costs on the GFE might change and by how much?
14. Are there any other costs that aren’t on the GFE?
15. Does this loan have a prepayment penalty?
16. Would this loan require an escrow account for homeowner’s insurance and property taxes?
17. Would I need to pay for mortgage insurance on this loan?

Needs and qualifications

Not all loan products are available to all borrowers, so you’ll want to explore your options before you decide which loan would be right for you.

Here are three questions that may help:

18. What are the qualifications for this loan?
19. Why would you recommend this loan for my needs?
20. Which other loans might also meet my needs?

These 20 questions can help determine if a loan is right for you. Don’t be afraid to ask your lender these and any other questions you may have. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to choose your loan.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Committing To A Mortgage With Your Honey? Consider These House Hunting Essentials

House-hunting couples have many important decisions to make together – from deciding on a new-build condo or century-old bungalow to agreeing on the ideal neighborhood and the type of mortgage that will work best for them.

According to research from TD Canada Trust, 73% of Canadians bought or expect to buy their first home with their significant other. Since a home is the biggest purchase most couples will make, Farhaneh Haque, director of mortgage advice at TD Canada Trust, provides her top three tips to ensure couples are on the same page before hitting any open houses.

Air out financial closets – Couples should be open and honest about their current financial situation and financial history. If anything could affect the ability to secure a loan together, afford monthly mortgage payments or interest rate increases, be upfront about it.

Start on the same foot – From a home office to a kitchen made for entertaining, couples should set a budget and discuss the key characteristics they want in a home, and what they are and are not willing to compromise on.

Saying ‘I do’ to a mortgage – Couples need to give as much thought to their mortgage as they do to their dream home. This includes discussing the size of the down payment, amortization period, type of mortgage and payment schedule.

“The last thing couples want is an unwelcome surprise when they’re about to sign on the dotted line,” Haque said. “By speaking with a mortgage specialist well before you’ve entered the pressure-cooker of the house hunt, couples can make informed decisions that can save money and stress in the long run.”