What is mortgage?

A mortgage, also referred to as a mortgage loan, which basically is a loan- as the word implies- in which any property or a real estate, is used as a sort of collateral, that enables you to cover the cost of a home. 

The borrower (you) then enters into an legitimate agreement with the lender (usually a bank) and so you then receive cash up front, then you make payments over a set time span which can be over the course of many years or sometimes, even decades until the time, when you don’t pay back the lender in full.

Usage:

A mortgage is used when you purchasers of real property want to raise enough cash to buy real estate, or on the other hand, when you already have existing property and use this to raise enough liquid equity for any purpose, like for a business activity premises; while putting a lien on the property being mortgaged. 

The loan is secured on your property through a process known as mortgage origination. This means that a legal mechanism is put in place which allows your lender to take possession and sell the secured property- remember, foreclosure or repossession can happen- to pay off the loan in the unlikely event that you default on the loan or otherwise fail to abide by its terms.

Who can obtain mortgage?

Obviously since most of you probably don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around, a mortgage is preferred by many. Mortgage borrowers can be individuals- you- mortgaging your home or they can be businesses also, mortgaging commercial property such as their own business property premises, residential properties rented to tenants or for compiling an investment portfolio.

Property mortgage market in Canada:

In Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is the country's national housing agency, that provides mortgage loan-insurances, securities that are mortgage-backed, housing policies and programs, as well as the housing research that all you Canadians require.

The most common mortgage in Canada when mentioned, is the five-year fixed-rate closed mortgage, whereas the U. S’s most common type is the 30-year fixed-rate open mortgage.

Throughout the financial crisis and the following recession period, Canada’s mortgage market had continued to function well, one-way due to the policy framework of the residential mortgage market, which includes an efficient regulatory and supervisory regime that applies to most lenders.

However, since the crisis, the low interest rate environment, which had risen, has contributed to the many significant increases in the country’s mortgage debt.

Around April 2014, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) released instructions for mortgage insurance providers that aimed at the tightening of standards for the purpose of underwriting and risk management.

In an attempt to tamp down the real estate prices in Canada, Ottawa began a mortgage stress test which was effective on 17th October, 2016. Under the stress test all home buyers who had less than 20 percent down payment (high ratio) underwent on a test, where their affordability was evaluated based on the mortgage rate of 4.64 percent within a 25 years’ amortization period.

This was offered to them if they wanted to get a mortgage from any federally regulated lender. This stress test, effectively has lowered the maximum approved mortgage amount by almost 20% for all borrowers in Canada.

But the maximum amortization offered on home mortgages has been therefore reduced back to 30 years instead of 35. Banks and mortgage brokerage firms face firm restrictions on lending more than 80 percent of the property value; beyond this level, mortgage insurance is generally required.

The 5 steps in achieving your property mortgaged:

Decision:

The decision to buy should be rock solid.

As home ownership is the single largest source of savings for Canadian households, your return on investments’ biggest money pot is home buying. Through this system of buying homes via mortgage brokering, your payments build an equity- while in renting, your money goes to the property owner.

Buying a home and equity build up, is the first step that you climb on towards the property ladder. Helping you get into the housing market, it keeps you in touch with house prices when they are increasing, and so puts you in a good position for you to trade up to bigger and better homes as per your circumstances are allowing you to do so.

Affordability:

Therefore, considering all this, you need to take a firm decision when thinking about buying a home. and so it needs to be decided of how much you can afford for a home. Because it is important not to waste your or your realtor's time searching for homes you can't afford.

So, believe it or not, but you should shop around for a mortgage before you even start hunting for a house. It may not be as fun for you, as checking out open houses, but this is way more important.

2. Pre approval:

What you’re looking for, is to get a mortgage’s pre-approval, which would serve two main purposes: one, it will show the sellers that you are indeed, serious about buying a home, which is particularly crucial in this hot housing market. But more importantly, it will be letting you know, just how much a home you can afford.

Calculation:

Before you start browsing online listings or visiting open houses, get a home affordability calculator, which will give you an idea of how big your mortgage will be and guesstimate away.

Getting pre-approved will give you home buyers, all the confidence you will need when searching for a home. Thereby being in a better position to negotiate prices and also having a clear picture of what you can or cannot afford.

Guarantee:

One the one hand, where getting a pre-approval is no-obligation, the amount you’ll be pre-approved for, is also in no way guaranteed. The final approvals will, in due course, need to be done, with the help of a lawyer and your lender, upon submission of all the proper documentations.

3. Brokering:

Since mortgage loans come in all shapes, sizes, and therefore interest rates, you should definitely shop around for it, much like you would compare prices for different laptops, before settling on the best one for you.

And because, interest rates do fluctuate daily- which will have a direct impact on what you will be ultimately paying- you’ll want to do all your research beforehand, during the same time period as much as possible.

Loan Adviser:

Seeking and duly working, with a qualified- and patient, loan adviser, can definitely help you sort out your options. They can help you determine just which type of loan is best for your financial and domestic situation, and will then walk you through, what your payments would be for different types and terms of loans. They’ll also break down and explain, the various fees that will come with each loan.

Avenue:

Choosing the correct, or rather the appropriate avenue, for the mortgaging of your home, is of the utmost importance.

Mortgages are structured as long-term loans, the periodic payments, are similar to an annuity. The arrangement requires, a fixed monthly payment, over a period of normally ten to thirty years. Over this period, the principal component of the loan, would be slowly paid down, through amortization.

Banks:

Can be a great place to start with, when deciding where to get your mortgage. If you already have an institution you work with, that knows you and your finances, then that can be good. But explore your other choices as well.

Nonbank lenders:

Are companies that often are willing to work with you borrowers that banks avoid due to your sometimes riskier profiles. When having poor credit history or some other blemish in your financial past, you may have better luck landing a loan with non-bank lenders, which nowadays provide more than half of all loans.

Mortgage brokers:

These are advisers who specialize, in helping you walk you through a much wider variety of options, in finding a loan that’s right for you. They usually collaborate with many different lenders so they can help identify different rates and programs based to your specific situation.

4. Verification:

The next step is to gather all your financial documentation and then submit them to the lender you have decided to loan the appropriate mortgage option from. Time to air your dirty laundry to your lender, so that you can qualify for the loan. Choose to keep a contingency saving plan as well, in the form of a credit line other than your loan- as many advise to do so for unforeseen circumstances.

Documentation:

Canadian lenders normally, use the five C’s of a borrower’s credit, when assessing your ability to pay back a mortgage loan and whether you should get the mortgage approved or not.

Credit history - your lender will want to make sure if and whenever you've borrowed money previously, you've paid it back or not.

Capital - Ensuring if you have an accumulation of assets.

Collateral - In a mortgage, your house is offered up as collateral.

Capacity - Simply, capacity is debt servicing. For example, your housing cost shouldn't exceed 30 percent to 32 percent of your gross income, moreover, all your debts shouldn't exceed 40 percent to 42 percent of your gross income.

Character - This’ an evaluation of all four previous C's along-with being subjective and objective to things, such as how long have you been in your job, what type of job you have, and how long you have lived in your current residence.

5. Budgeting:

Don’t get excited, running out buying cars or running up credit cards, before you buy a home because, it will impede the amount you can qualify for, in the scheme of things. Furthermore, try and don’t change your job within the six to eight months of buying, because a lender will look at that critically.

Closing:

For the down payment when your mortgaged gets approved is to go on various open houses through a verified realtor and upon selection, choose the form of down payment most preferable to you as this the amount that is not included in your mortgage loan. Gifts through family, borrowed funds through your savings stash and sweat equity through home building- will come in handy here.

After the inspection stage would come the insuring of the home. Meet with a notary or lawyer and get all the formalities under your belt and prepare to move into your new home!

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