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Posted Interest rates

Canadians saved $2.7billion on their mortgage by refinancing or renewing this year.

Variable rate mortgages have been extremely popular.   A study by the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP) showed that 37% of Canadians took a Variable rate last year, compared 31% from the year prior.

And Canadians saved almost $2.7billion by renewing or refinancing their mortgages this year.   Wow, that’s a lot of money… maybe too much?   The banks have put a lot of pressure on borrowers NOT to take Variable… they’ve made it harder to qualify by getting the govt involved and having them qualify all new Variable rate clients with posted 5 year fixed rates…. And most recently, the Banks have jacked up their Variable rate pricing from Prime less 0.75%, 0.80% and even 0.90%, to Prime less 0.00% and even Prime PLUS 0.10%.

Watch for the Banks to hike fixed rates as they aren’t earning enough… or so they tell us…

Posted 1 Comment on Why use a Mortgage Broker Case study

Why use a Mortgage Broker

There was an article in the Globe and Mail recently entitled ‘Why use a mortgage broker?’.    No, this image wasn’t part of the article but it’s an image that many  will conjure up when we hear the word ‘Banker’.

The article talks about why Financial Planners and other professionals will recommend, and work with,  a Mortgage Broker vs. having the client go directly to the Bank.  Here’s a few quotes from the article that make it easy to understand.

  • “It’s the most efficient way to get the best-priced and best-structured mortgage”.
  • “So rather than shopping at multiple financial institutions and negotiating with each financial institution and arm wrestling them to give you the best deal, it’s one phone call and they do the rest for you.”

And here’s some facts from a Bank of Canada review published in February 2011 entitled ‘Competition in the Canadian Mortgage Market’:

  •  This one is no surprise…. “The results also indicate that borrowers who use a mortgage broker pay less, on average, than borrowers who negotiate with lenders directly”. 
  • Here’s one that may surprise many of you…  “The results also indicate that higher income households pay higher rates, on average, than lower-income households.”
  • And here’s another one…  “Banks also offer larger discounts to new clients than to existing clients.”

I’ll add a few more of my own….   A broker shops the market…doesn’t work for any one lender but instead works for the borrower….. and provides the borrower with clear, neutral and unbiased advice.    Brokers save borrowers money and will continue to shop for better rates at renewal and throughout the life of the mortgage…

Posted Interest rates

Fixed vs Variable in 2011

FIXED RATES MAKE MORE SENSE TODAY.

If you were  in a Variable rate mortgage over the last 2, 3, 5, 10 years or longer….then you paid less interest than someone in a Fixed rate product.   You probably saved $$thousands each and every year.    Variable rate has been lower than the 5 year fixed rate in over 88% of the time.

But how about today….?  Well, the Banks have changed the mortgage landscape.   They have decided there isn’t enough profit in Variable rate mortgages.    Up until 6 months ago, anyone needing a new mortgage could get a Variable rate at Bank Prime (3.00%) less 0.75% and maybe even a little better..!    If you took a Variable rate 4 years ago, you might still be enjoying Prime less 0.90%!!   Today, a quick search on the net for Variable rate pricing and you’ll find Bank Prime less 0%…. some are actually charging Bank Prime + 0.15%.

But it’s not all bad news.   With the bond market hitting all time lows, we are also experiencing historical low 5 year fixed rates.   Today, the best 5 year fixed rate seems to be 3.39%  (WORD OF WARNING… there are some NO FRILLS rates of 3.19% or lower being advertised out there… these NO FRILLS products carry limited or no prepayment privileges and you cannot exit these product without selling your home.   We are not quoting those rates).

Any upward movement in the Bank Prime rate and you could actually be paying more for that Variable rate vs today’s 5 year Fixed rate.   Yes, today we must consider Fixed rate as a good option…. Just make sure you are choosing the appropriate term.   Anything shorter than 3 years does not seem to give enough of a rate guarantee for most of us.  Anything longer than 5 years is too costly.   5 years seems to be a good option in most cases.  But not for all… we are all different and have different needs… speak to a Mortgage Broker to review all available products and decide which one fits you best.

My guess is that Variable rate pricing will continue to be priced at Bank Prime for the next 6 months to 12 months or at least until Bank Prime moves up or until one of the Banks is losing too much market share and wants to attract more business.

We will be watching and reporting.

Posted Real Estate news

Zoocasa announces Zoopraisal, a FREE property valuation service.

Ever wonder what your home is worth today?  Or that house down the street?   How about a friend or neighbor’s house?   Finding out would normally involve contacting a realtor for their professional opinion or hiring a professional appraisal.

Well now you can find out on your own.  The release of Zoopraisal, by Zoocasa.com, may have caused some controversy with appraisers but the service is here and it’s getting a lot of attention.

Zoocasa has entered into an agreement with Centract Settlement Services, an appraisal service company that has administered millions of appraisals across Canada.  Here’s a direct quote from Zoocasa.com website “Zoopraisal™ is Zoocasa’s estimated market value, computed using a proprietary formula, powered by Centract. It’s a starting point in determining a home’s price.”  (Clearly, Zoopraisal is not guaranteeing the value.  It’s just an estimate…the service provides a range of value.)

Zoocasa.com is an online service that provides access to homes that are listed for sale, online.   The goal of the site is to provide a place where buyers can start their search using the internet.   In my opinion, Zoopraisal will only enhance this service.   This can’t replace a good realtor that’s out there looking to match your needs when buying a house.  I think there are still too many intangibles that come into play.  Local knowledge is invaluable and is something that can’t be uploaded online.

But if we look to the U.S., we’ll find similar sites such as Zillow.com.   This powerful site tells you everything from the selling price to whether it’s being foreclosed, to the Zillow’s estimated value, the price per sq foot, etc.   They also offer mortgage quotes, realtor referrals, etc.   These info sites make their money by charging those that want to advertise or participate on their site.

There is a question as to whether all this information should be made public and whether this infringes on one’s right to privacy.  The debate will continue… One thing is for sure, with pressure from the Competition Bureau on the Canadian Real Estate Association to make it easier to access the MLS, we are definitely headed in a new direction.    There is more access to data.   This is not a bad thing.   More data is better.  It helps to make an informed decision.   Professionals like Realtors, Appraisers and Mortgage Brokers should not be worried.  Their expertise will always be needed.

Watch for more of these sites to pop-up soon in Canada.

Posted Interest rates

BMO Economist forecast no rate hikes til 2013

More good news…. interest rates are not expected to increase til 2013, according to Bank of Montreal.

Really no surprise here.  The global economy is not doing well.  But here in Canada, the economy is performing relatively well.   The only reason our stock market and Canadian $ are down is because of the uncertainty of the European debt crisis.

5 year fixed rates are hovering at 3.39%… and they are even lower for qualified borrowers…. Variable rates are at around 2.60%…  We are in record low territory.

Did you know a $300,000 mortgage will carry for as little as $1199/month?   Hey, if you’re paying $1400/mth for rent, then why not consider buying place of your own…  And for those that want off the stock market roller coaster, a rental property may just be what you need…  Best thing is to talk to a Mortgage Broker, crunch the numbers and see how it looks.   It’s probably easier than you think.