GETTING A MORTAGE
Obtaining a mortgage can be intimidating and confusing. Similar to the buyer and seller guides, I’ve outlined the mortgage process for you in 4 easy steps!
Step 1: Mortgage Application
Before an application gets filled out, it’s important to first asses yourself financially. Figure out how much money you have and how much you need to borrow. It’s always critical to sort out how much you can afford so that when you apply for a mortgage you will be able to financially sustain yourself. A mortgage associate will then take an application by phone, in person, or online. Once it has been received, the mortgage application process will begin by verifying the information you have provided.
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Step 2: Choose the Right Mortgage Program
Like all homes, Canadian mortgages also come in all shapes and sizes. You have to pick which loan is more aligned with your financial situation and goals. There are four basic types of Canadian home financing loans.
A) Fixed Rate Mortgage
A Fixed Rate mortgage usually has terms that can last from 1 year to 10 years. As the name suggests, the interest rate and monthly payments will remain the same for the specified term.
This type of loan should appeal to you if you:
Plan to live in the home for more than 5 years
Like the stability of a fixed interest payment
Think your income and spending will stay the same
Don’t like the risk of having a higher monthly payment
B) Adjustable Rate Mortgage
Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) lasts for 3-5 years. But during these terms, the interest rate on the loan can go up or down which means monthly payments can increase or decrease.
This type of loan should appeal to you if you:
Plan to say in your home for less than 5 years
Don’t mind having your monthly payment increase or decrease
Are comfortable with risk of possible payment increases in the future
Think your income will probably increase in the future
C) Combination Rate Mortgage
A Combination Rate Mortgage combines fixed interest rates and adjustable interest rates.
This type of loan would appeal to you if you:
Want to manage interest rate risk
Choose to take advantage of both long and short term rates
Like the stability of a fixed interest payment
Don’t mind having monthly payment increase or decrease
D) Lines of Credit
Line of Credit is becoming an innovative way to finance your home purchase. You can take the amount you need from the credit limit that you were granted. You only pay interest on what you use and this money can be put towards things like home renovations, a child’s education, and debt consolidation.
Step 3: Mortgage Submission and Approval
Once you select the appropriate mortgage program, you will submit this information to your mortgage associate along with any other required documentation. You will then wait for the mortgage approval from the mortgage associate either through email or fax. After the approval, the associate will also review your commitment to the mortgage. Any additional documents that are required by the lender should be sent to the associate no later than 10 days after the approval.
Step 4: Lawyer
The associate will send the mortgage instructions to your lawyer to review and sign the documents. First you will review all the terms and conditions prior to signing to make sure the interest rate and loan terms are what were promised. Double check to see that the names and address are correctly spelled on the documents. Signing takes place in front of a notary public or lawyer. There will be several fees with obtaining a mortgage and transferring property ownership which will be paid at closing. Bring a bank draft check for the down payment and closing costs if required. Personal cheques are not accepted. You will also need to show homeowners insurance policy and other requirements such as flood or fire insurance and proof of payment.
10 REASONS WHY YOU NEED A MORTGAGE BROKER
- Working with a mortgage broker is easy.
You already have enough to do throughout the process of buying a home. A mortgage broker will help to take the home loan search process off of your hands. As an independent, certified professional, they’ll make sure that your application process goes smoothly.
They will do much of the tedious, difficult groundwork for you. With that taken care of, you can quickly determine what options are available to you and select the best loan for you and your unique set of circumstances.
- Mortgage brokers have lots of experience.
They work with home and investment loans all day, every day, so they know them thoroughly. You can expect that a typical mortgage broker helps hundreds of clients secure loans each year, so they know what they’re doing and how to find the best deal for you.
Because they know what to look for, mortgage brokers can quickly start to understand your particular situation and help you find the right home loan for your circumstances. By working with a mortgage broker, you have the advantage of access to years of knowledge of mortgage loans and terms. It’s great to have an expert in your corner.
- Mortgage brokers offer tremendous convenience.
Thanks to a certain level of independence, mortgage brokers can usually accommodate your schedule. Whether you work long hours or need to meet at a specific location on your way from your last appointment, they can generally make it work. This flexibility can save you a bunch of time and hassle on top of the time that they can already save you by streamlining the selection process.
- Mortgage brokers offer access to the most options.
It can be tempting to limit your search options to familiar lenders, like the bank that you deal with regularly. But in today’s highly competitive climate, there’s no reason to do that.
With the tools and relationships at their disposal, mortgage brokers are positioned to expand your search options. They have the ability to quickly comb through hundreds of home loan options from dozens of different lenders.
This access means that you can get the benefit of sifting through hundreds of opportunities from so many sources without doing any of the added legwork yourself. You can easily capitalize on the market offerings in their entirety so that you’re assured of securing the best mortgage.
- Mortgage brokers can be great teachers.
Of course, a good mortgage broker will walk you through what needs to be done to get you the best loan, but a great mortgage broker will take you under their wing throughout the process. They will happily teach you about what to expect every step of the way and explain the financing process to you in terms that you can understand. They’ll help you learn to identify marketing trends and explain the process of legally transferring property, too.
A great mortgage broker will give you tips for dealing with real estate agents based on their experience that you can carry on into your house hunt. They can set clear and realistic expectations that will help your agent find the home that’s right for you. Thanks to their expertise, they are well-equipped to educate and inform you about this process. Teaching you lends added comfort throughout the process and gives you a great resource of information if you ever find yourself looking for another mortgage in the future.
- Mortgage brokers can help you speed up the process.
Consider mortgage brokers like your keys to the fast track. Current real estate markets are relatively flat, with a large number of buyers clamoring for few homes on the market over the past several months.
They are well-suited to manage this situation because of their excellent working relationships and established reputations. Generally, working with a mortgage broker will shave a few days off of the application process compared to having you attempt to get things done on your own.
- Mortgage brokers are there for you for the long haul.
One of the crucial traits of a great mortgage broker is their relationship-building abilities. While it’s important to build and maintain relationships with banks and lenders, your mortgage broker will also work to build a relationship with you.
Expect that they will be with you as you secure a home loan and well into the future. If circumstances change, for example, and they think that you might be able to get a better deal elsewhere, they’ll let you know and help you get it done.
If you decide to refinance or buy another home somewhere else, they are ready to help with that, too, so you won’t have to start over again. Anticipate that you’ll be able to pick up where you left off.
- Mortgage brokers have the right tools for the job.
They have sophisticated systems, including loan rate calculators, to streamline the mortgage application process to save you time and energy.
You can certainly go to any lender’s website, jump through all of the hoops, and cross your fingers if you’d like. But if you have any unconventional circumstances, like a low salary, single income, current unemployment, or anything outside of fairly ideal circumstances, you may be rejected. If you decide to apply to another lender, your credit report will show that an inquiry has been made, further hindering your chances.
A mortgage broker knows the ropes and can help you navigate these systems based on what you bring to the table combined with their experience and understanding. Their software will build a profile of you, your financial situation, and what you’re looking for.
Then they can determine what loan products are available to you and what you should expect as far as lending requirements. If you need to improve certain areas before you have a successful application, they’ll let you know. This way, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you can borrow and how likely you’ll be to get your home loan before you potentially injure your credit history.
- Mortgage brokers can help clear things up for you.
There are plenty of opinions regarding home loans—everyone seems to have their unique perspective and limited experience. You can also seek out your information or save yourself time, effort, and headaches by counting on a mortgage broker to separate fact from fiction and make sense of what you need to know to get the best mortgage for you.
They can help you understand terms like offset or overdraft that can be thrown around through the home loan application process. They can help steer you in the best direction as far as lenders’ mortgage insurance or low-doc issues are concerned, so you don’t waste time in an uncomfortable sort of limbo with inaccurate information.
- Using a mortgage broker is free.
Here’s the clincher—you can tap into a mortgage broker’s expertise with no money out of your pocket!
All the other reasons listed above point to the time, money, and effort you’ll save, plus the ease of relying on a mortgage broker’s knowledge and experience. Since all of that is yours for free, there’s no good reason why you shouldn’t use one.
Lenders pay mortgage brokers a commission at the close of every transaction. Even better, these commissions are highly regulated, so there’s no benefit for them to recommend any product or lender above another. These protections ensure that you receive the best deal.
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