Category Archives: Financing

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Financing

Fixed vs. variable-rate mortgages: Which is right for you?

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Buying a home is likely the biggest purchase you’ll ever make.

But before you can pack up and move in, you’ll need to secure a mortgage. This is often a long-term commitment. The average Canadian expects to pay off their mortgage by age 59, so it’s important to do your research and choose the option that’s best suited to you.

Basically, when it comes to the mortgage interest rate you’ll pay, you have two ways to go, fixed or variable. Which is better? Well, that depends on your risk tolerance.

To help you think through your options, we’ve outlined the differences between fixed rate and variable rate mortgages:

Fixed-rate mortgages are predictable.

With a fixed-rate mortgage, the mortgage rate and payment you make each month (or whichever frequency you choose to pay) will stay constant for the term of your mortgage.

This means you’ll know exactly how much principal (the initial amount borrowed) and interest (the amount paid on the amount you borrowed) you’ll be paying on each scheduled mortgage payment throughout the term you select.

The downside? You won’t be able to tap into a lower interest rate — ensuring more of your payments go towards the principal and less to interest — if interest rates drop during the term of your mortgage.

What a fixed-rate mortgage offers:

  • Your “set it and forget it” choice
  • Doesn’t change if the bank’s prime lending rate goes up or down
  • Eases budgeting anxiety and increases predictability

The drawbacks:

  • You may pay a premium for the stability
  • You may miss out on potential interest rate drops

Tip: Interest rates vary widely depending on the term you choose. For example, the interest rate on a 10-year fixed-rate mortgage could be almost twice as much as the interest rate on a typical 3-year fixed rate mortgage.

Variable-rate mortgages will fluctuate.

With a variable-rate mortgage, the mortgage rate will change with the bank’s prime lending rate. In this case, your scheduled payments will remain the same, but the amount paid towards your principal will vary.

Cautious buyers often choose a fixed mortgage because it means they can budget for the length of their mortgage term without any surprises. Variable rates are more unpredictable, but could work to your advantage if you can handle a bit of risk and uncertainty.

What a variable-rate mortgage offers:

  • Your “let’s see what happens” choice
  • Costs will be less if interest rates drop
  • Offers the possibility to lock in a better rate down the road

The drawbacks:

  • Works against you if interest rates rise
  • May increase your financial uncertainty

Tip: If you’re the type of person that always buys the extended warranty, then a variable rate mortgage is probably not for you.

How to choose what’s right for you

How do you feel about risk? A fixed-rate mortgage means the lender takes the risk; a variable-rate mortgage means you do. While the interest rate may be higher on a fixed-rate mortgage, it will stay constant during your term so you can budget accordingly.

How do you feel about the current market? The difference between fixed and variable rates has narrowed considerably in the last few years, making fixed-rate mortgages more appealing. Interest rates have been at historical lows, and while opinions vary, few believe interest rates won’t rise over time — the question is more likely when.

Tip: It’s really difficult to successfully time interest rates. Going variable to save money in the short run — hoping to lock in a fixed rate “at the right time” — is really tough to do.

And what if interest rates rise? No matter which route you take, it’s crucial that you evaluate the impact of an increasing interest rate on your mortgage costs — a stress test, if you will. For example, if interest rates go up by two per cent, would you still be able to afford your monthly payment? It’s important to plan for the unexpected — you can start by building an emergency fund.

Not everyone prepares for a rise in interest rates. In fact, the main reason home-buyers offer for not considering a rise in interest rates is that they simply didn’t think of it (45 per cent) or didn’t realize it was something they should be doing (27 per cent). You can do better by preparing for multiple scenarios.

The next step

BMO mortgage specialists are here to work with you to help you make the right decision based on your needs and your lifestyle.

Looking for more information? Take our mortgage calculators for a spin, or view our latest rates and special offers.

 

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Financing

Renewing your mortgage?

Renewing your mortgage is an important step, and you should never underestimate the financial impact. Angela Iermieri, a financial planner with Desjardins Group, has a few ideas.

What’s right for you right now?

“Our financial, personal or professional situation often changes,” she says. “If your salary went up, you’re thinking about selling your home in the near future or you want to remodel your kitchen, this new information will have a significant impact on the type of mortgage that will be right for you.”

You also need to consider other factors, like current interest rates and how well you tolerate fluctuations.

Your personal finance advisor will take this information into account when recommending a personalized solution for you. Continue reading →

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Financing

Thinking of buying abroad?

Robert* fell head over heels for a million-dollar home in Costa Rica and closed the sale while he was there. Barely a year later, he asked us how to sell his property without losing all of the money that he invested.

“His home definitely wasn’t worth a million… it never was,” states Louise Rémillard, a realtor specialized in foreign properties.

“If we think a foreign property is a good deal based on our frame of reference, it might not be after all,” she adds. “This is why you need to deal with a professional that knows the local market.”

Local expertise is key

“It’s impossible to know the ins and outs of every country,” notes Rémillard.

“You’d want to work with a realtor specialized in the country — and region — that you’re interested in.”

To find the right professional, contact a Canadian realtor affiliated with an extensive international network who can put you in touch with an expert in the region. Your local advisor can help you determine the best location for your needs, what you should budget, financing conditions and the regulations in effect. They can also help you figure out the local paperwork, which is often in a foreign language. Remember that what may seem straightforward at first can quickly become complex if any issues come up.

“You want to avoid paying too much, or buying a property on the wrong beach, where you can’t swim with your grandkids,” says Rémillard. “And it can be costly to buy a condo in a complex with a mismanaged contingency fund.” Continue reading →

Financing

Ten Steps to buying your first home

Down payment options. Pre-arrange your mortgage. Get ready for your big move! Either way, you need to be financially prepared and comfortable enough to make one of the biggest purchases of your lifetime.

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STEP 1: How much can I afford?

There are many factors that determine how much you can afford when it comes to buying a home and having a mortgage. Some of the key considerations are:

  • family income
  • principal and interest payments
  • outstanding loan and credit card balances
  • property taxes
  • maintenance costs/condo fees
  • money available for down payment
  • closing costs such as legal fees, land transfer taxes, moving expenses, insurance and so on.

Continue reading →

Financing

Your first mortgage: have you thought of everything?

Whether you’re buying a home, condo or cottage, Desjardins advisor Patrick Champagne has some exercises for you to make sure your dream doesn’t turn into a disappointment or hassle. “There’s some prep work to do before you start visiting homes and talking loans, rates and mortgage terms.”

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What can you afford?

The first order of business is to figure out how much you can afford to spend on a home, which you can determine by using our calculator on desjardins.com. Be as financially realistic as possible.

This calculator considers your household’s gross income and overall financial commitments1,  the amount you plan to use as a down payment and the approximate fixed costs of your future home (e.g., municipal and school taxes, condo fees).

Remember that the higher your down payment, the less you’ll have to borrow and the less interest you’ll have to pay. The minimum required down payment is generally 20% of the property’s cost.

However, if your down payment is between 5% and 20%, you’ll have to take out mortgage insurance from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) or Genworth Canada. The premium will be between 0.6 % to 4.5% of the mortgage loan depending on the percentage of your down payment. To pay your premium, you can either add them to your mortgage loan or pay them with a lump sum up front. Continue reading →