The Spring home buying frenzy is well underway. Many listings are starting to get multiple offers on the offer date. The questions we always get from REALTORs and Homebuyers is “How can we write an unconditional offer?”

The simple answer is you really can’t. I know, many REALTORs and many Homebuyers take huge and monumental risks by writing a clean or unconditional offer. A big risk it is too. If for some reason the application is not approved, the homebuyer faces losing their deposit and can also be sued by the vendor.

Before we talk about how to be more competitive and better prepared, I think it important to discuss what a lender and the mortgage insurer is looking for in a mortgage application.

The mortgage application is subject to many factors. The most important is the property itself. The home should be in good to great condition. It is important to review the property disclosure statement if available and to look for any questions where the vendors may have disclosed something detrimental to the application. Some examples of things that can red flag and application are; knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum wiring, foundation cracking, water seepage, wood heating and wood foundations just to name a few.

The next major factor in a mortgage application is the strength of the homebuyers. As mortgage professionals, we must check and analyze your credit, your income, and your down payment. It sounds simple, however, there are many moving parts. Let’s break this down further to give you a better understanding.

Credit: Typically we are looking for a credit score of 620 or higher. While exceptions can be made for lower credit scores, this is generally the lower limit. We are also looking for two active trade-lines. This means a borrower must have two open and active credit facilities such as a credit card, loan or line of credit. If your mortgage professional, bank, or credit union has not checked your credit, then your pre-approval is probably invalid.

Income: A borrower must be a permanent employee and off of probation. You can be Full-Time or Part-time but your hours must be guaranteed by the employer. If a borrower does not have guaranteed hours, then we must use a 2-year average for income at the same job. Lenders will now go the extra step and call your employer to verify your employment and guaranteed hours.

Down Payment: Generally, your down payment needs to be in a Canadian financial institution for 90 days. As mortgage professionals, it is imperative that we can see your banking/financial statements to verify the down payment. We must look for any large deposits in the last 90 days that are unusual. Any large deposits need to be verified. For example, a borrower has sold a car, received a gift, or deposited wedding gift monies. The funds need to be verified or the lender will not be able to fund your mortgage.

Now, how can you be more prepared and competitive in a hot market?

1). When your mortgage professional asks you for a lot of documentation. Provide it as soon as possible. Employment letters, recent pay stubs, 2 years T4s, 90-day confirmation of your down payment, void cheque and ID are standard.

2). Use a professional REALTOR and introduce them to your mortgage professional. I can speak from experience and if the REALTOR and the Mortgage Professional are on the same page, the process goes much faster and smoother for the homebuyer.

3). Found THE house and going to put in an offer? Let your mortgage professional know. Send them the MLS listing and PDS – property disclosure statement (if available) in advance so they can look for potential challenges.

4). Always keep your documentation up to date. Credit bureaus expire after 30 days, Employment letters and paystubs expire after 60 days, and most importantly a borrower must provide up-to-the minute bank and financial statements for down payment.

5). Please ensure that you offer an amount that you are actually qualified for. If you offer more than your pre-approval amount, chances are that you won’t be approved.

6). Have your deposit in your bank account and ready to go. Your REALTOR will want you to have $5,000 – $10,000.

Do not leave anything to chance. Be over-ready and confident in your offer.

I look forward to helping you with all of your home financing needs.

Peter Paley

What usually follows once someone hears the term “Monoline Lender” for the first time is a feeling of suspicion and lack of trust. It’s understandable, I mean why is this “bank” you’ve never heard of willing to loan you money when you’ve never banked with them before?

In an effort to help you see the benefits of working with a Monoline Lender, here is some basic information that will help you understand why you’ve never heard of them, why you want to, and the reason they are referred to as lenders, not banks.

Monoline Lenders only operate in the mortgage space. They do not offer chequing or savings accounts, nor do they offer investments through RRSPs, GICs, or Tax-Free Savings Accounts. They are called Monoline because they have one line of business- mortgages.

This also plays into the reasons you never see their name or locations anywhere. There is no need for them to market on bus stop benches or billboards as they are only accessible through mortgage brokers, making their need to market to you unnecessary. The branch locations are also unnecessary because you do not have day-to-day banking, savings accounts, investment accounts, or credit cards through them. All your banking stays the exact same, with the only difference of a pre-authorized payments coming from your account for the monthly mortgage payment. Any questions or concerns, they have a phone number and communicate documents through e-mail.

Would it help Monoline Lenders to advertise and create brand awareness with the public? Absolutely. Is it necessary for them to remain in business? No.

Monoline Lenders also have some of the lowest interest rates on the market, the most attractive pre-payment privileges, and the lowest pre-payment penalties, especially when compared to a bigger bank like CIBC or RBC. If you don’t think these points are important, ask someone whose had a mortgage with one of these bigger banks and sold their property before their term was up and paid upwards of $12,000 in penalty fees. An equivalent amount with a Monoline Lender would be anywhere from $2,000-$4,000 in fees.

Monoline Lenders are not to be feared, they should be welcomed, as they are some of the most accommodating and client service-oriented lenders around! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call your local Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional.

Ryan Oake
RYAN OAKE
Dominion Lending Centres – Accredited Mortgage Professional

KEEPING YOUR CREDIT SCORE HEALTHY
If you haven’t seen your credit score, you’re not alone.

Many of our clients don’t know about their credit score or even know what it is when we first meet with them. During our initial consultation, we go over your complete credit report with you. As an added bonus, we’ll even teach you how to read it.

So, how can you make sure you have a great credit score? Here are a few tips to get you started.

You need to have credit. It may be surprising – but your credit score goes up as more credit is available to you. We recommend at least two facilities: a credit card and a line of credit (or 2 credit cards).
You also have to pay your bills when they are due. That goes for your internet, cell phone and even parking tickets.
It also helps to start as soon as possible. The longer you have a clean record of paying your credit card, loans or other credit facilities, the better your credit becomes.
Finally, make sure to carry a low balance. One of the least known ways to hurt your credit is to have high utilization.
Don’t ever hesitate to contact a Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional about your mortgage related needs when you’re buying a property anywhere in Canada.

Eitan Pinsky
EITAN PINSKY
Dominion Lending Centres – Accredited Mortgage Professional

REFINANCING IN 2018
Recently there were changes to the mortgage rules yet again, and one of the rule changes was regarding refinancing your home. At one point in the last 10 years you could refinance your home all the way back up to 95% of its current value, which in many cases has put that property what we call under water or upside down. Basically, real estate markets ebb and flow and if you refinanced to 95% when we were at the crest of a market wave then as markets rolled back you were underwater… clever huh.

Fast forward a few years and the government said ‘what a minute, that is dangerous’, and it was. Clients now had no options for that property except to keep it, hoping values came back or turn it into a rental and hope to break even. At this point the government now said you can only refinance your home to 80% of the value which of course meant you needed to have equity in the property of at least 20% to make a change. This was an insurable product for many of our monoline lenders at this point, so it was something that was competitive in the market.

Welcome to 2018 and today you can still refinance your home to 80% but the Office of the Superintendents of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and CMHC now say that as a lender you can no longer insure this product. What does that mean for the average consumer? First off, it means that lenders across the board are not offering the same rate for insured mortgages as they are for refinances. The point spread between insured and uninsured mortgages has grown to, on average, .30% higher for 5-year fixed rates and it is .55% higher for variable rates.

To add to this extra cost, the new rules of qualifying at 5.14% which is currently the benchmark rate, applies to all mortgages including refinancing. Overall, the changes make it tougher to refinance and forces Canadians to seek alternative options to take equity out of their homes. In many cases this will mean looking to the private sector at higher rates when they need that money. If you have any questions about refinancing, contact your local Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional.

Len Lane
LEN LANE
Dominion Lending Centres – Mortgage Professional

Our own Pauline Tomkin discusses what you need to know before your mortgage renews. IT is really important to do your due diligence to ensure you are in fact getting the best rate and terms for your personal situation. A 2nd opinion could save you $1000s of dollars in unnecessary interest and fees. Enjoy the blog!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU RENEW YOUR MORTGAGE
What you need to know before you renew your mortgage could save you thousands of dollars. Is your mortgage on your home or other properties maturing in 2018?

Typically you will receive your mortgage renewal notice from your current lender 3-4 months in advance of the renewal date. Sometimes you may receive an offer for early renewal. Either way, always reach out to your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage broker to find out your options and what you need to know before you renew your mortgage.

With the new mortgage rules in effect in October/November 2016 and subsequent changes January 1st 2018 it is more important than ever to know your options before you sign a renewal.

Did you know…?

If your current mortgage is funded before October 2016, regardless if you were a high ratio borrower or conventional borrower, the old rules for qualifying still apply
If you want to renew your mortgage at best rates you can transfer that mortgage to another lender without qualifying under the new rules
If you have any fees for transferring the mortgage they may be covered
Lenders are currently offering high renewal rates as they know 65%+ of borrowers will simply sign without doing any homework
Lenders are currently offering lower rates only after clients decline their first offer. Doesn’t seem fair does it?
Mortgage brokers have access to lots of great renewal programs from the banks, mortgage companies and credit unions.

Be informed before your mortgage renewal. Consult with an independent mortgage broker to review your financing needs for all of your properties and to set a plan well in advance of any mortgage renewal. If you are looking to make any large purchases such as investments, real estate, an automobile— know your options and the impact of these purchases on your financial situation.

Pauline Tonkin
PAULINE TONKIN
Dominion Lending Centres – Accredited Mortgage Professional

Our Ryan Oake explains to be more conscious about your down payment in the blog below. I would like to add that it is very important to review your retirement plan at the same time as your mortgage application. It is key to make sure that the amount of the down payment you do choose will align with your retirement goals.

I hope you enjoy today’s blog

MAKING SMARTER DOWN PAYMENTS
Mortgage Insurance Premiums. Many people know what they are- an extra cost to you the borrower. But not many people realize how they are calculated. Understanding the premium charges and how they are calculated will help lead you to making smarter down payments.

5%- 9.99% down payment of a purchase price is a 4% premium
10%- 14.99% down payment of a purchase price is a 3.10% premium
15%- 19.99% down payment of a purchase price is a 2.8% premium
So, that means with a $300,000 purchase price and a $30,000 down payment (10%), you would have a 3.10% premium added to your mortgage, making your total mortgage amount $270,000 + $8,370 for $278,370 total. The $8,370 being 3.10% of your original $270,000 mortgage.

Now let’s say you have a down payment potential of $60,000 and have the income to afford a $350,000 purchase price but you found one for $325,000. Using your entire $60,000 down payment (18.46%), your new mortgage amount would be $272,420, where $7,420 of it represents the mortgage insurance premium.

But what if you change that $60,000 (18.46% down payment) to say $48,750 and have a down payment of exactly 15%? Well, your premium is still the exact same as it would be with an 18.46% down payment because your premium is still 2.8% of the mortgage amount. That means you will now save $11,250 (difference in down payments), while only paying $7,735 in premiums (an increase of $315).

I don’t know about you, but if someone told me I could put $11,250 less down and it would only change my insurance premium by $315, I am holding onto that money. You now have more cash for unexpected expenses, moving allowance, furniture, anything you want. You can even apply it to your first pre-payment against your mortgage and pay the interest down while taking time off your loan. Obviously if cash is not an issue, putting the full $60,000 would be better seeing as you are borrowing less and paying less interest. However, if cash is tight, why not hold onto it and pay that difference over the course of 25 years?

Consult with a Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional when it comes to structuring your mortgage request with a bank. It is small little things like this that make all the difference.

Ryan Oake

Dominion Lending Centres – Accredited Mortgage Professional
Ryan is part of DLC Producers West Financial based in Langley, BC

Getting a commercial mortgage is a tricky business to begin with. Commercial Mortgage Brokers, do not have any magic wants when it comes to commercial mortgages. We do however have access to alternative lenders. Please read below our DLC Colleague’s blog.

Need A Commercial Mortgage?

If you’re an entrepreneur, business person or commercial investor then you probably have or need a commercial mortgage.

Where should you start?

Do you call your bank, or do you call a commercial mortgage broker?

I recommend you call your bank.

Yes, that’s right; I’m a commercial mortgage broker and I am telling you to start with your bank (unless you are already out of time).

Most business people have financial resources, a good credit rating and a relationship at a chartered bank or credit union.

Common sense says: start with a commercial account manager at your bank. Take your documents with you: financial statements, your mortgage request (written down), latest appraisal (if completed) and any lease agreements. Tell your account manager you want indicative rates and fees before moving forward with a mortgage application.

Spend thirty minutes in the manager’s office, no longer. Do this quickly; don’t waste time. After all, this is just one lender and you have no idea whether your bank is competitive or even if it wants to do the loan. Tell your banker you need an answer in two days. If the account manager cannot give you an indicative rate and fees in a short timeframe, you are speaking with someone who will ultimately cause you headaches down the road.

Once you have the bank’s rates and fees, it’s time to verify the information with a commercial mortgage broker who has access to multiple lenders. Now, you could call ten lenders yourself, but again, common sense says that would be a waste of time.

Call your friendly neighborhood Dominion Lending Centres commercial mortgage broker

Depending on who you call, the commercial mortgage broker will do one of three things:

• ask you to sign a representation agreement,

• give you a song and dance about the low rates they have achieved for clients, or

• tell you the truth.

Top commercial mortgage brokers cut to the truth.

Why? They are busy. They don’t waste time on deals they can’t close.

As a commercial mortgage broker, it makes no sense to sign a representation agreement until I know I can add value. Step one is simply to determine whether the mortgage is bankable. To do this, I need documents. Yes, top commercial mortgage brokers are like bankers. With the right information, transactions can be digested in 20 minutes and can be summarized in six pages or less.

Top commercial mortgage brokers say things like:

• Tell me about your deal in 5 minutes or less; nature of transaction, deal size, legal structure, cash flow, quality of financials and timeline.

• What documents can you send me? I’ll review them in 24 hours and call you back.

• Have you called your bank yet? What rate did they give you?

Tell your commercial broker the truth. If your bank offered 4.5% fixed for 5 years then say so. Why? Because no one wants to waste time. Your commercial mortgage broker doesn’t set the rates; the lenders do. Your commercial mortgage broker knows when a rate makes sense and whether lower rates are available. For example, if I can’t save you 25 basis points (that’s 0.25% per year), the reality is, by the time we pay to move the mortgage to another lender, you’re probably better off taking your bank’s initial offer.

Top commercial mortgage brokers understand this, and they will be truthful with you.

“Hey, if you have 4.5% fixed in this market for that building, in that area; take it, don’t hesitate; it’s a good deal.” I say this to entrepreneurs who call. It serves no one to enter an agreement that won’t add value. In fact, its our fiduciary duty to tell you.

Some entrepreneurs say they already have good rate (even when they don’t). “Oh, my bank offered me between 4.6 and 5.2%.” The thinking being, if they imply they have 4.6%, then the broker will work even harder to get a lower rate.

Beep. Wrong.

Brokers don’t set the rates; lenders do. This just muddies the water. If the broker thinks you already have a good rate (and best-in-market is 4.5%, only 10 basis points less), then the broker will move on right away.

About Commercial Mortgage Brokers

All a commercial mortgage broker wants, is serve you; and that means delivering the best rates and terms. There is no financial incentive for a broker to hold back information or low rates. Similarly, holding back your bank’s interest rate just wastes everyone’s time, including yours.

As a commercial mortgage broker, if I think I help you, I’ll tell you right away. I’ll review the deal quickly, determine if its bankable and touch base with a few lenders. If lenders express interest, I’ll call you to discuss what they told me.

Transparency and open communication are the keys to saving time and to getting the most from your commercial mortgage broker.

If you are getting a runaround and want the straight scoop, call me.

Pierre Pequegnat
PIERRE PEQUEGNAT
Dominion Lending Centres – Principal Broker

TIPS FOR YOUR VARIABLE RATE MORTGAGE THAT COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS
With changes to mortgage rules and interest rates on the rise here are some tips for your variable rate mortgage that could save you thousands.

Since 2009 the prime lending rate has shifted from a high of 6% down to 2% range remaining fairly level for the past few years before rising to a present day level of 3.45%. During that time, lenders have offered consumers high discount variable mortgage as low as 1.2% when rates were at their lowest, to current rates of 2.45 (depending on the lender and if the mortgage is insured or not).

Historically the choice of a variable rate mortgage over a fixed term has allowed borrowers to save in interest costs.

I always recommend if my clients can qualify and it makes sense for their specific situation to choose variable only if they will take full advantage of the lower rate. By setting their payment to the equivalent of the 5 year fixed rate at the time, the difference in payment goes directly to principal pay down.

Every 10% increase in payment shaves three years off the amortization of a five-year term so every bit extra matters and can make a difference.

If your mortgage is maturing in the next 90-180 days, it is time to talk to your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional for tips for your variable rate mortgage that could save you thousands.

You may feel the pressure to lock in to a fixed rate after the recent increases in the prime lending rate. For some this may be an option. However, I have the same advice every time someone asks me this question: It depends on your situation and we need to do a review. Take the extra time to review the current rate, remaining term of the mortgage, the new offer, how that will impact payments and your plans for staying in your home, moving and/or if this is an investment property.

For example Amy and Jake have a current balance of $300,000 on their mortgage with a variable rate at Prime minus .80% (2.65%). Current payments set at $703 bi-weekly. The mortgage matures in 24 months but they are considering to lock in for a new five-year term offered at 3.34%. New payments would be $739. They love their condo but not sure if they will stay or move in two years or not.

After a review of their mortgage we offer a second option. Keep the remaining variable rate mortgage in place for the remaining two years. Set payments at 3.34% or $739 bi-weekly.

They decide on this second option because:

In 24 months the savings on interest is $4,000 and their outstanding balance is $4,000 less than by staying in the fixed rate
They won’t be locked into a mortgage for another five years
If they choose to sell before the maturity date, the penalty on a variable mortgage is only three months interest
In two years they can either choose to stay with the same lender or move to another lender without penalty
With this strategy they don’t have to feel pressured into locking in today and they can continue to take advantage of the lower variable rate.

So if you are in a variable rate mortgage and not sure what to do. Remember my tips for your variable rate mortgage that could save you thousands.

Pauline Tonkin
PAULINE TONKIN
Dominion Lending Centres – Accredited Mortgage Professional
Pauline is part of DLC Innovative Mortgage Solutions based in Coquitlam, BC

In 2008, the Federal Government started making some changes to how mortgage applications are approved in Canada. I think it important to recap some of these changes.

Prior to the first rule change:
– No down payment required – finance 100%
– Maximum amortization was 40 years.
– Refinance up to 95% the value of your home.
– With excellent credit scores 680+, you could have a Total Debt Service Ratio (TDSR) of
49%
– Minimum credit score for CMHC was 580.

Fall 2008:
– Reduction of maximum amortization from 40 years to 35 years.
– Introduction of a minimum score for Insured mortgages of 620 (But lower scores were
considered on an exception basis).
– 100% financing was eliminated. (However, you could still use a Cash Back Mortgage for
down payment).
– Maximum TDSR lowered to 45%.

Spring 2010:
– Stricter rental property guidelines. The amount of rent for income/debt servicing
purposes was reduced from 80% to 50%.
– A Mortgage Qualifying Rate was introduced for all insured mortgages on all variable
terms and all fixed rate mortgage terms 4 years and less. (5-year fixed rate mortgages
were still allowed to qualify at the contract rate).
– Rental Mortgage down payment minimum was raised from 10% to 20%.
– Insured refinances reduced from 95% Loan to Value to 90%.

Spring 2011:
– Insured Home Equity Lines of Credit discontinued.
– Insured refinances further reduced from 90% Loan to value to 85%
– Maximum amortizations lowered further from 35 years to 30 years.
Summer 2012:
– Implementation of a New Gross Debt Service Ratio maximum of 39%
– Refinance loan to value reduced further from 85% to 80%
– Maximum amortization reduced from 30 years to 25 years for insured mortgages.

Not bad for 4 years worth of work. Now the OSFI (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) changes begin with the B-20 and B-21 Legislation. This occurred between fall 2012 and spring 2013.

OSFI B20 – 2012-2013:
– A new maximum Loan to Value for Home Equity Lines of Credit of 65%, down from 80%.
– The Bank of Canada’s qualifying rate is now applied to all variable and fixed rate
mortgage terms of 4 years or less for conventional mortgages.
– Self-employed borrowers are mandated to provide reasonable income verification. Stated
Income Programs disappear.
– Cashback mortgages are no longer permitted to be used for down payment.

OSFI B21 – Winter 2014:
– Tighter regulations around how to calculate payments on Secured and Home Equity Secured
Lines of Credit.
– All revolving credit payments for debt servicing are now calculated at 3% of the
outstanding balance instead of the interest-only payments. For example, a $10,000 credit
card balance would now have a qualifying payment $300/month up from about $45/month.
Are you feeling a little mad, disappointed or discouraged yet? Now for the greed. For
the next part of this article, remember that default rates in Canada have almost always
been below 0.5%.

Summer 2015:
– Default Mortgage Insurers increase premiums. At a 90.1% – 95% Loan to Value the premium
increased from 3.15% to 3.6%. This cost to consumers would be an additional $1,350 of
default insurance on a $300,000 mortgage.

New Year 2016:
– Increase to the minimum down payments for mortgage amounts between $500,000 and
$999,999.

Fall 2016:
– Mortgage Insurance limited to purchase prices not exceeding $999,999
– Insured refinances were eliminated altogether.
– To avoid the abuse of capital gains exemptions, foreign property owners need to prove
that they are selling a primary residence.
– The mortgage stress test expands to 5-year term mortgages but excluded uninsured
conventional mortgages.

Happy New Year’s 2017:

– Insurers realized revenues are down from all the previous changes and increase premiums
AGAIN! With a 5% down payment, the mortgage insurance premium jumped from 3.6% to a
WHOPPING 4%. This means that you as a homeowner would have a mere 1% equity interest in
your home.

Jan 2018:
Allconventional mortgages will need to qualify with their own stress test or
the contract rate +2.0%. So that means that if the 5-year fixed rate is 3.49%, you
would have to qualify at a rate of 5.49%.

All these changes. How did it affect consumers? It made buying a home and qualifying for a mortgage way more difficult, it has affected purchasing power by about 45% from pre-2008 up until today.

If you are looking for a mortgage professional I would be happy to help you.

Peter Paley.

Fixed Interest Rates

This is usually the more popular choice for clients when it comes to deciding on which type of interest rate they want. There are many reasons why, but the most unsurprising answer is always safety. With a fixed interest rate, you know exactly what you are paying every month and you know that the amount of interest being charged for the term of your mortgage will not increase and it will not decrease. Fixed interest rates can be taken on 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 5-year, as well as 7 and 10-year terms. Please note, term is not meant to be confused with amortization. When you have a 5-year term but a 25-year amortization- the term is when your mortgage is up for renewal, but it will still take you the 25 years to pay off the entire debt. The biggest knock on fixed interest rates when it comes to mortgages, especially 5-year terms, is the potential penalty. If you want to break your mortgage and pay it out, switch lenders, take advantage of a lower rate, or anything like this and your term is not over, there will be a penalty. With a 5-year term, a fixed rate penalty can be anywhere from $1,000- $20,000 or more. It all depends on the lender’s current rates, what yours currently is, the length of time remaining on your term, and the balance outstanding. The formula used is called an IRD (interest rate differential) and the penalty owed will either be the amount this formula produces or three month’s interest- which ever is greater. Fixed interest rates, especially 5-year terms can be the most favourable. They are safe, competitive interest rates that you will not need to worry about changing for the term of your mortgage. However, if you do not have your mortgage for the entire term, it could hurt you.

Variable Rate Interest

The Bank of Canada sets what they call a target overnight rate and that interest rate influences the prime rate a lender offers consumers. A variable rate, is either the lender’s prime lending rate plus or minus another number. For example, let us say someone has a variable interest rate of prime minus 0.70. If their lender’s prime lending rate is 5.00% in this example, they have an effective interest rate of 4.30%. However, if for example the prime rate changed to 6.00%, the same person’s interest rate would now be 5.30%. Written on a mortgage, these interest rates would look like P-0.7. Variable interest rates are usually only available on 5-year terms with some lenders offering the possibility of taking a 3-year variable interest rate. When it comes to penalties, variable interest rates are almost always calculated using 3-months interest, NOT the IRD formula used to calculate the penalty on a fixed term mortgage. This ends up being significantly less expensive as breaking a 5-year term mortgage at a fixed rate of 3.49% with a balance of $500,000 will cost approximately $15,000. That is if you use the current progression of interest rates and broke it at the beginning of year 3. A variable interest rate of Prime Minus 0.5% with prime rate at 3.45% will only cost $3,800. That is a difference of $11,200. You can expect to pay this kind of amount for the safety of a fixed rate mortgage over 5-years if you break it early.

Which one is best?

It completely depends on the person. Your loan’s term (length of time before it either expires or is up for renewal) can be anywhere from a year to 5 years, or longer. A first-time home buyer typically has a mortgage term of 5 years. Within those 5 years, the prime rate could move up or down, but you won’t know by how much or when until it happens. Recently, variable rates have been lower than fixed rates, however, they run the risk of changing. With fixed interest rates, you know exactly what your payments will be and what it will cost you every month regardless of a lender’s prime rate changing. If you go to the site www.tradingeconomics.com/canada/bank-lending-rate you can see the 10-year history of lender’s prime lending rate. Because lenders usually change their prime lending rate together to match one another (except for TD), this graph is a good representation. As you can see, from 2008 to 2018, the interest rate has dropped from 5.75% to 2.25% all the way back up to 3.45%. Canada has had this prime lending rate since 1960, and in that time it has seen an all-time high of 22.75% (1981) and all-time low of 2.25% (2010). Whether you want the risk of variable or the stability of a fixed rate is up to you, but allow this information to be the basis of your decision based on your own personal needs. If you have any questions, contact a Dominion Lending Centres mortgage professional near you.

Ryan Oake
RYAN OAKE
Dominion Lending Centres – Accredited Mortgage Professional