Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Pay Your Mortgage Down Faster With Advice From Trusted Saskatoon Mortgage Brokers

Purchasing your home is one of the biggest and most important decisions that you can make. In the latest Saskatoon Mortgage tip we explain how you can pay your mortgage down faster! 

How You Can Pay Your Mortgage Down Faster 

You found a house. You made an offer, and you got approved for your mortgage.

You locked down a phenomenal mortgage rate and chose a lender with flexible repayment options.

Don't Stop There 

There are LITTLE ways you can make a BIG impact on your mortgage’s overall balance and life (amortization).

If you chose a variable rate mortgage:

  • Assuming you got a fantastic discount, your rate was (and likely still is) significantly lower than a fixed-rate mortgage.
  •  Use this opportunity as a strategy and increase your payments as soon as possible to what they would be equal to a fixed-rate mortgage payment
    • That will mitigate some risk with fluctuating Bank of Canada Prime lending rate changes and avoid seeing a payment shock if rates move up a touch.
    • Increasing your payment slightly will mitigate some long-term risk in the variable vs fixed conversation.
    • Assuming the Prime lending rate stays low, you will be saving significant interest in the first years of the mortgage, mitigating the risk of increases on the back end of the mortgage term.
    • This strategy allows you to see the biggest ‘bang for your buck’ while rates are low.
      • More money every month is going to your principal (vs interest) because rates are already so low
      • Every penny in addition to your regular payment goes directly to your principal balance and pays down the mortgage significantly faster.

Payment Frequency Options:

There are multiple options on how you can make your payment

The TWO options that will save you the most money in interest will be ACCELERATED Biweekly and ACCELERATED Weekly

(the accelerated is the crucial part)

An accelerated bi-weekly mortgage payment is when your monthly mortgage payment is divided by two, and the amount is withdrawn from your bank account every two weeks

(vs a Semi-Monthly payment:  your monthly mortgage payment is divided by two and the amount is withdrawn on the 1st and 15th (twice per month) VS every 2 weeks.

Let’s look at an example:

  • The example below uses an example 5-year insured variable rate discount as of June 22/2021
  • The example below is assuming the Bank of Canada Prime lending rate does not adjust through the entire 5-year term
  • Bank of Canada Prime lending rate is subject to change (up or down)
  • Lender discounts (variable and fixed) are subject to change
  • The information below is for example and illustration purposes only

In June of 2021, you took a 5-year variable rate mortgage at Prime (2.45%) Less 1.10 =1.35%

  • Purchase $400,000
  • Downpayment (5%) $20,000
  • A total mortgage with CMHC premium =$395,200.00
  • Amortization=25 years

OPTION (1)

MONTHLY required payment (assuming Prime stays at 2.45%)=$1552.15/month 

Balance at maturity making MONTHLY payments=$326,422.03

OPTION (2)

ACCELERATED BIWEEKLY required payment (assuming Prime stays at 2.45%)=$776.08/every 2 weeks (=approx $1681.50/m when we average it over the year)

Balance at maturity making ACCELERATED BIWEEKLY payments=$318,366.65

(that is a difference of $8055.38 owed in 5 years)

Taking it one step further: 

OPTION (3)

Increase that minimum required payment (calculated on the low variable rate discount) to a payment equal to a fixed rate (we are using 2.09% in this example)

ACCELERATED BIWEEKLY =$845.35

Balance at maturity =$309,963.24

(that is a difference of $16,458.79 owed in 5 years) 

Prepayment Options:

Every lender has flexible prepayment options (allowing you to make extra payments on the mortgage throughout the year without penalty)

This can be done by increasing regular payments (usually a 10-20% increase per year option depending on the lender) OR by doing lump sum extra payments throughout the year.

Each lender has a different policy relating to this- but the flexibility is there, and we are here to help you navigate those options.

By considering OPTION (3) above – you are using your prepayment options to manipulate your payment and lower the amortization (life) and interest paid on the mortgage.


  • HRun some example amortization schedules for you so that you can see the different options and balances owed at maturity depending on your affordability
  • Move in, get your feet wet with the new bills for the first 3-6 months.
  • Then do a review on if you can afford to do even a touch more than your required payment
  • Every little bit counts!
  • Need some help calculating your best options?  
  • We are happy to do complete reviews for our clients whenever you require some extra info! 



Check out our Trusted Saskatoon mortgage brokers 



Trusted Saskatoon Mortgage Brokers Tip About The 2020 Housing Market


 Homebuilders Deals & Incentives on New Construction

Mike and Crystal Green couldn’t have picked a worse time to look for a new home. In mid-February, Mike was offered a promotion to be a regional sales manager at a computer security company. The catch was the couple would need to relocate 

The Greens accepted an offer on their home two days after it went on the market in early March. But by then, the Greens didn’t feel safe flying to check out houses given the coronavirus pandemic. The government was urging workers to stay home if possible and practice social distancing when out in public to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

That wound up working in their favour. The Greens went online and took a virtual tour of a home they liked. It was in a new development. They were able to choose custom details via Zoom and email—and got a discount on their new home

If they closed in March, and the builder would throw in a free Whirlpool refrigerator, washer, and dryer as well.


The Greens have plenty of company on the receiving end of a wave of aggressive incentives for buyers of new construction. With a global health crisis raging and the ensuing financial fallout with many workers laid off,  homebuilders around North America are offering discounts, throwing in freebies, and covering closing costs to attract buyers and close deals.

They had to do something. Tours of new-homes have dropped and more potential buyers deciding to put off their new home searches until things truly settle.

CMHC

2020 summer edition of the Housing Market Outlook report provides forecasts for Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. It builds on the Spring 2020 edition that focused on housing market activity for Canada and the provinces.

These reports give high and low range projections on new construction, home sales, house prices and rental market activity.

Housing forecast overview for Canada’s major urban centres

  • Sales and construction have dropped
  • House prices will likely fall because of uncertainty over the economy’s path
  • It is possible that vacancy rates increase in the rental market
  • Recovery in major markets is highly uncertain and will vary considerably

For Canada’s 3 largest cities, there had been steep employment declines according to Statistics Canada:

  • 18% in Montreal
  • 17% in Vancouver
  • 15% in Toronto 
Such large employment and income declines, coupled with uncertainty over the future trajectory of the virus, will lower the demand for housing in the urban centres. Housing starts should rebound by year-end, as projects, settled before the pandemic, should be starting soon.  Rental apartment starts will benefit from the slowdown in the demand for homeownership. 

By 2022, housing prices should be following a slight upward trend and even exceed their pre-pandemic levels.

Read the full CMHC report here 

Buyers may also get deals on custom homes

While deals on newly constructed homes abound, buyers can also shop around for discounted lots where they can have their dream homes built.


Trusted Saskatoon Mortgage Brokers Tip About Your Phone and Low Mortgage Rates

Buying a home is one of the most important and exciting steps in your life.... now that pesky financing! Deal with people who can offer you and your family the best options for you. 

So How Does Your Phone Affect Your Mortgage Rates

What many people aren’t aware of is that your cell phone payment history DOES affect your credit score.
 
Cell phone accounts work differently than a credit card or a line of credit. A cell phone is an open or “O” account, which means the balance has to be paid in full at the end of each month.
 
There is no such thing as a minimum payment with an “O” account like there is with credit cards and lines of credit. You can’t just pay a portion of your bill. The amount that you see on your statement has to be paid in full otherwise your credit score will suffer.
 
Unfortunately, many Canadians don’t view paying their cell phone bill in full or on time as being as important as other payments. Lenders disagree. The bank underwriters (the people who review your application) are thinking, “If you can’t make or keep track of a cell phone payment, what are the chances that you are going to be responsible with your mortgage payment?”

Costly Missed Payments

Let’s take a look at one borrower, John, who was declined for best-rate mortgage financing on the purchase of a new house because he had three late payments on his cell phone bill during the last two years. His argument wasn’t unique. “I called (the phone company) before the payment was due and asked if I could pay half of the bill this month and the remainder of the outstanding balance the following month,” he said. “The customer service rep told me that it was okay to take a couple of months to get caught up.”
 
Susan and Frank found themselves in a similar situation. They were approved for mortgage financing but were then declined at the last minute due to a recent late payment showing up on their report in the same week they were supposed to be moving.
 
Arranging a mortgage and preparing for a move is stressful enough without having a financing issue in the eleventh hour. In the end they were able to find a resolution, but it resulted in a delayed closing. They had to get approved by a different lender at a higher rate. In addition to all the stress and time, this small mistake ended up costing them $3,459.28.
 
Despite what they tell you, late payments will continue to be recorded until your account is caught up. Underwriters will look at an applicant with an outstanding balance as someone who is not in control of their finances. It will drop your score and hurt your chances of being approved for the best rates and terms.

A Matter of Principle

It’s common for consumers to not make a payment because they were unfairly charged or they found a mistake on their bill. On principle, I understand that you might not want to make the payment, however, even if you are disputing the charge, it will not stop the negative item from showing up on your credit report.
 
And keep in mind that one late payment can be enough to negatively impact your best rates and terms for future financing. Your cell phone company will start the collection process if an overdue balance is not paid within 60 to 90 days.
 
As you can guess, a collection appearing on your report does not help your credit score. Many of my clients echo my caution, and in hindsight wished they had simply paid the bill in the first place. If you find yourself in this situation, my suggestion is to clear the amount owing first and then dispute the charges. That way it doesn’t lower your score or cause you to get charged higher rates just because of one account. 

Warning…Warning

If you have paid out or closed your cell phone account, make sure you get something in writing to confirm that there is no outstanding balance owing.
 
The same goes for an outstanding amount or settled collection. Don’t take anyone’s word for it or assume that it will be updated on your credit report. Are you starting to see a trend? Whatever you do, get a confirmation in writing! If you don’t, it will make trying to correct the error even more difficult.
 
The only way to avoid having your cell phone report on both Equifax and TransUnion is to go with a pay-as-you-go contract. If you are on any other type of plan, keep your fingers crossed. You don’t want to be one of the unlucky ones to have a cell phone error or problem tarnishing your credit. To improve your chances of avoiding any issues, ensure you pay the full amount owing each month and keep good records.

Trusted Saskatoon Mortgage Broker Asks, Is Your Mortgage Coming Up for Renewal?


Is Your Mortgage Coming Up for Renewal?


Did you know… Over the next 1-2 years, half of all Canadian mortgages will be up for renewal?


If you’re unsure about your renewal date, now’s the perfect time to find out. But, whatever you do, be sure to have an experienced mortgage broker negotiate on your mortgage at renewal with multiple lenders – including banks, credit unions, and trust companies – to ensure you secure the best mortgage product and rate based on your specific needs.


Brokers can pull one credit report and shop your deal with numerous lenders. If you try to do this yourself, each lender will pull a report, which will negatively impact your credit score and could prevent you from qualifying for the best possible mortgage.


Too many people simply sign the renewal form sent by their bank/lender up to six months prior to the renewal date without shopping their options. In fact, this is one of the biggest mistakes a homeowner can make.


Accepting this offer most often means you’ll be paying way too much for your mortgage – on average, 1-1.5% higher than you should be paying – and/or your new mortgage won’t adapt to your changing needs as a borrower. It’s important to remember that lenders are in the business of making money, so they won’t often offer the best rate in the renewal letter.


On a $300,000 mortgage, this higher interest rate could translate into a difference of more than $250.00 per month… and over five years you would have paid $15,000+ in additional interest! That’s a lot of money that could have been paid towards the principal balance and helped pay down your mortgage faster.


Mortgage renewal is also the perfect time to take out equity in your home to renovate, pay down debt, send a child to school, take a dream vacation or use however you choose. The benefit of taking money out during renewal is you don’t have to pay any fees to break your mortgage early.


And if your mortgage isn’t up for renewal just yet, it may also be beneficial to have a mortgage broker conduct a free annual mortgage checkup to ensure your mortgage is working for you and keeping more of your hard-earned money in your bank account each month. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain from staying on top of both your short- and long-term mortgage needs.



Kari Calder A Trusted Saskatoon Realtor tip on the new tax implications of selling your home

The decision to purchase your home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and will also be one of your largest investments. Done right, it can also be one of the most exciting and fulfilling times in your life! Kari Calder a saskatoon Realtor with Century 21 Fusion is there to help you through the process, and provide you and your family with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have a realtor working with your best interests in mind. In Kari's latest real estate tip Kari explains the tax implications of selling your home.  Kari Calder is a Trusted Saskatoon Real Estate Agent!

   

In 2017, Finance Minister at the time Bill Morneau introduced changes to the current tax model around selling your primary residence. This, along with the new mortgage rules is an attempt to ensure foreign investors abide by our current tax laws. Although these changes are focused on foreign investors, the changes will also have an effect on those Canadians who inadvertently did not pay tax when selling their principal residence.

Disposing of your principal residence

When you sell your home or when you are considered to have sold it, usually you do not have to pay tax on any gain from the sale because of the principal residence exemption. This is the case if the property was solely your principal residence for every year you owned it.

Reporting the sale of your principal residence 

If you sold your property in 2021 and it was your principal residence you have to report the sale and designate the property on Schedule 3, Capital Gains (or Losses). In addition, you also have to complete. page 1 of Form T2091 if the property you sold was your principal residence for all the years you owned it, or for all years except one year, being the year in which you replaced your principal residence.

You have to report the sale. 

For the sale of a principal residence in 2016 and subsequent years, the CRA will only allow the principal residence exemption if you report the disposition and designation of your principal residence on your income tax and benefit return. If you forget to make this designation in the year of the disposition, it is very important to ask the CRA to amend your income tax return for that year. The CRA will be able to accept a late designation in certain circumstances, but a penalty may apply.

Here’s another important part to note. If you fail to report the sale, you won’t be entitled to the principal residence tax exemption. If you forget to designate a property as your principal residence in the year of the sale, you could ask CRA to amend your tax return for that year. They likely will do so for a fee.

The onus is placed on the homeowner to understand the rules. What can you do going forward?

  • Ensure you’re filling out a Form T2091 to designate a property as your principal residence.
  • Talk to your accountant if you have any questions about whether or not your real estate sale was considered the sale of a principal residence (for example, adding or removing a suite to the home you live in may require you to report even if you haven’t sold)
  • You’ll also want to track the cost of capital improvements you make to your residence going forward. Keep your receipts! This could save you money later on taxes if it turns out the sale of your property is no longer qualified under the principal residence tax exemption.

Kari Calder is one of Saskatoon's top Century 21 Fusion real estate agents. Kari can assist with all of your Saskatoon buying and selling real estate needs and she is a TRUSTED SASKATOON REALTOR


Kari Calder is a Trusted Saskatoon Real Estate Agent!



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