Being a First Time Home Buyer can increase the difficulty in the process of obtaining finance, not only due to the lack of credit history that it implies but because of the inexperience and lack of knowledge on the field. Following, you will find some tips to help you get started.
The Down Payment Issue
A Down payment in the range of 10% to 20% is usually required for obtaining a home loan to buy a house. There are also closing costs that you’ll need to pay in order to secure the loan. If you add up these two factors, very few can afford putting down so much money.
The financial industry, however, has found a solution to this problem and offers a new financial option. Zero Down Mortgage Loans are meant for those who cannot put away enough money for a down payment. With these loans you can finance 100% of the property’s value. Moreover, for those who cannot even raise the money for closing costs, there are lenders offering 103% or 105% Finance Home Loans. The extra percentage is used for covering the closing costs which will then be included in the overall debt that you’ll have to repay in monthly installments.
Drawbacks of Lack of Down Payment
Zero Down Mortgage Loans sound tempting but though not having to put money down in order to purchase a house can seem to be a fabulous waiver, it has many drawbacks and unless strictly necessary, it should be avoided by all means possible.
A down payment has not only direct positive financial consequences but it also can be a positive factor when the lender has to decide whether to approve your loan or not and on what terms. When the lender has to consider your application, a down payment tells him that if you were able to save enough money to make a considerable down payment, you’ll probably be able to meet your monthly payments without any difficulty.
A down payment will also imply that you have the ability to obtain finance elsewhere and so, the lender will try to offer you a more tempting loan proposal in order to keep you as a client. Those who can offer a down payment always get a considerably lower interest rate than those who cannot.
As you can see, a down payment reduces dramatically the risk implied for the lender in the financial transaction, and thus, you’ll be able to get a better deal on your loan. A down payment won’t only reduce the interest rate you pay; it will also lessen all the other loan requirements and will turn the loan terms more flexible. You’ll be able to get stretchy monthly payments and larger loan lengths too.
Home Equity Loans
If you wanted to use that money for making home improvements or for other expenses, you don’t need to worry. Once the deal is closed, the amount you had to put down will become home equity and you’ll be able to request a home equity loan for the difference between your home value and the amount owed on the mortgage. These loans are secured and carry low interests; they are the perfect solution if you ever need the money you used for the down payment.
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Feb
Feb
Real estate has been an outstanding investment in most parts of Canada in the past few years. Home valuations are continuing to rise and have broken through the peak of their 1989 “bubble” in many areas of the country. That’s good news for Canada’s 7.5 million home owners, who are enjoying an average increase of $43,000 in real estate wealth since the upward trend took hold in 1998.
The hot housing market is being fuelled by mortgage rates which are the lowest they’ve been in almost 50 years. First-time home buyers are finding the rates attractive, and home buyers are lining up to purchase their first home or to upgrade to their dream homes. Housing statistics have been capturing headlines for months and the boom is noticeable on key economic indicators.
But the news isn’t just about rising valuations or Canadians moving into their new homes. Quietly in the background, there is a significant trend to refinancing. Canadians who have built up the equity in their home over the last few years are borrowing against that equity in record numbers. According to a report from a major bank, since 2001, Canadian households have taken out approximately $20 billion in cash out of their homes through mortgage refinancing and home equity loans.
We might thank the Ontario mortgage industry for the surprising resilience of the North American economy. In the past two years, the North American economy has endured numerous economic fallouts but consumer confidence remains reasonably strong – at least partly because homeowners have seen some of their losses offset by an increase in their real estate wealth. We find that we are sitting on (and sleeping in) the best-performing investment we own. And even if they have no plans to sell, homeowners have found that the return on their investment is still as good as cash in the bank.
That cash has been a key economic stimulus both here and in the U.S., where the trend is even more pronounced. As Canadians look beyond the view of a home as primarily shelter, mortgages become a valuable resource – and homeowners aren’t necessarily waiting for renewal time to cash out some of their gains.
So where is the money going? The equity being pulled out is often being used to pay down other more expensive debt. Credit card interest rates are shockingly high and – as a nation – our credit card and other consumer debt is continuing to grow. And much of the money is being used for increased spending. There has never been a better time to borrow against home equity to build the kitchen of your dreams, add a new wing, embark on the landscaping project you’ve wanted for years, enjoy the vacation you’ve always dreamed of, or help with the high cost of post secondary education. However, as always, never let your enthusiasm for the opportunity to spend get in the way of good common sense about debt management.
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