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Posted 1 Comment on Tax Free Savings Accounts should be 2nd on your list Consumer Debt

Tax Free Savings Accounts should be 2nd on your list

There are over 10million TFSA accounts in Canada according to this article in the Financial Post.   Wow, it’s great to see that level of savings….

But hold on…..is this the right strategy for those of us with a mortgage?    Well, if you have a mortgage on your principal residence and the interest is not tax-deductible, then I think it’s NOT the right strategy.

For most of us, the interest on a residential mortgage is not tax deductible (I say for most of us because if you rent out part of the home or use it for your business then you may be able to claim a tax deduction).

Take those after-tax $$dollars and pay your mortgage first before putting them into a TFSA… reduce the amount of non-deductible debt and then focus on a TFSA….   If you own an investment property, then this strategy may vary slightly…. but for most of us, let’s get rid of that mortgage first…

And yeah, for those higher income earners looking to diversify, then sure.. A TFSA makes sense.  But for most Canadians, I would suggest getting rid of the mortgage is a better strategy.

Your best interest is my only interest.   I reply to all questions and I welcome your comments.  Like this article?  Share with a friend.

Steve Garganis 416 224 0114 steve@mortgagenow.ca

Posted Consumer Debt

Mortgage Brief… Homebuyer of the future.

the futureThis is the homebuyer of the future…

This past June, Mortgage Professionals Canada published their survey results on the Next Generation of Homebuyers.

Take note: Adults under the age of 40 who don’t currently own a home but expect to own in the future, if you are planning on buying, or help a child get into homeownership, these results can be an interesting comparison to your own situation. Here are some of the key findings:

  • 52% are under 30 years old, 48% aged 30 to 39
  • 55% single, 39% married/living with a partner
  • 81% have no children
  • 72% agree that mortgages are good debt, and 76% agree real estate is a good long-term investment. 58% are optimistic about the economy in the next 12 months.
  • The decision to buy is often influenced by key life events – start a family (33%), getting a promotion/raise (30%), getting married (29%), inheritance (8%).
  • Primary downpayment sources are personal savings (73%), gift/loan from a family member (36%), TFSA (33%) and RRSP (29%).
  • Average downpayment savings is $37,000 among imminent buyers.
  • Neighbourhood (61%), safety (58%), and potential for increase in value (50%) are the most important home features. Features that are considered to be worth a premium are nice neighbourhood (33%), short commute (31%) and safety (29%).

Continue reading “Mortgage Brief… Homebuyer of the future.”

Posted Consumer Debt

Credit Card hangover? Make 2016 a painless year….

debt animationWe’re well into January… and right about now, some of us are avoiding the mail for fear of seeing those holiday bills!  Ok, so besides avoiding the mail, what’s the best way to tackle those debts?

Here’s some helpful ‘did you know’ questions…  Enjoy! Continue reading “Credit Card hangover? Make 2016 a painless year….”

Posted 2 Comments on Mortgage cost today is $1380/mth for every $300k… and sharing high net worth secrets. Consumer Debt

Mortgage cost today is $1380/mth for every $300k… and sharing high net worth secrets.

percentageFixed mortgage rates went up this week on the wholesale market.   Only about a 0.10% increase…  We are still way below 3.00% for 5 yr fixed rates. Hey, that’s pretty good!  (watch for the media to blow it out of proportion soon.. they seem to love feeding on negativity).

Thought I’d share some quick numbers..    Did you know that a $300k mortgage will still carry for $1380/mth?   And that’s with a 25 yr amortization.  If we go to a 30 year amort, the payment drops to $1221/mth.

Let’s increase the mortgage to $400k.. payments are $1840/mth and $1628/mth for a 25 and 30 year amortization, respectively.   Hey, these are still incredibly low mortgage rates.   Anything under 4.00% should be considered a gift.  (I’ll get into what Canada’s wealthy are doing in a few moments) Continue reading “Mortgage cost today is $1380/mth for every $300k… and sharing high net worth secrets.”