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TagFirst time homebuyer

Posted Mortgage News

Finally, a tax break on Land transfer tax.

ontario-govt

Did you get a larger Land Transfer Tax rebate?

If you bought a home this year, and you’re a first time home buyer, then you’ll pay less tax..   The Ontario provincial govt has doubled the rebate from $2,000 to $4,000.   The rebate is for qualified first time home buyers only.

They also eliminated Land Transfer tax on the first $368,000 of the purchase price for first time home buyers.    Hey, this is good news.  And I applaud the govt for giving for giving first time buyers a break.

They also increased the Land Transfer Tax for homes over $2million.  Here’s the old and new tax tables.

“Old” Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rates
Home Purchase Price             Tax Rate
Up to $55,000                                 0.5%
$55,000 to $250,000                    1.0%
$250,000 to $400,000                 1.5%
Above $400,000                             2.0%

And here’s the new formula…

“New” Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rates
Home Purchase Price             Tax Rate
Up to $55,000                                 0.5%
$55,000 to $250,000                    1.0%
$250,000 to $400,000                 1.5%
$400,000 to $2-million                2.0%
$2-million and over                       2.5%

Enjoy the savings..

Kinda strange..  Remember when the Kathleen Wynne govt was considering allowing other municipalities, other than Toronto, to introduce a new land transfer tax?   NO?  Well, I do.. and you shouldn’t forget it either.. click here to remember..  Keep this in the back of your mind .. Let’s hope this isn’t some sort of strategy to catch us with our guard down..

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 Mortgage News

Federal Govt’s rrsp Home Buyer’s plan nets this couple a $15,000 tax refund.

RRSP home buyers planAround 20 years ago, the Federal govt introduced the RRSP Home Buyer’s Plan.   The goal was to stimulate a depressed housing market in the early ’90s.   The plan is really quite simple.   First time homebuyers could borrow up to $20,000 from their RRSP to be used towards the purchase of a home.   Buy with a spouse or your common-law spouse and you’ve doubled the amount to $40,000.

There really is no catch.  You simply have to pay it back to your RRSP plan over a 15 year period.   The minimum payment is 1/15th of the amount that you withdrew payable each year.  That’s it.

Today, the plan still exists with a slightly higher limit and more flexibility.   You can now withdraw up to $25,000 per person… still capped at 2 people max per purchase (married or common-law spouse).   You can also participate in the Home Buyer’s plan if you haven’t owned a home in the last 5 years.  This can work to your advantage if you previously owned but sold.  click here for the full guidelines and qualifications. Continue reading “Federal Govt’s rrsp Home Buyer’s plan nets this couple a $15,000 tax refund.”

Posted Case study

Deloitte report on Mortgage Brokers.. 38% use brokers

Here’s a great report that was put out by Deloitte. The report shows that Canadians rely on Mortgage Brokers more than ever… but not as a last resort.

Unlike the U.S., where mortgage brokers used to account for 65% of all mortgages arranged prior to the October 2008 mortgage crisis, U.S. broker now account for less than 20% of mortgage business.

Here in Canada, 38% of all mortgage originations went through a mortgage broker…. including  44% of First Time home buyers.

With national and provincial organizations like CAAMP (Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals) and IMBA (Independent Mortgage Brokers Association), Mortgage Brokers play a vital role in informing and educating borrowers.    Mortgage Brokers aren’t just a last resort, they are now viewed as a first choice for getting unbiased and professional advice.

Dare we say it, a mortgage broker helps to create competition….and isn’t competition good for the consumer?