Mortgage Planning Tips

When financing a home, the following considerations can help you to save money and provide for greater economic stability in the event of financial challenges down the road such as lower income levels, increased monthly expenses, and/or higher interest rates. 

• Consider a lesser mortgage amount than the maximum you can afford

Mortgage Professionals use two simple calculations to determine the maximum mortgage that you can afford. The first calculation, your Gross Debt Service Ratio, assumes that your monthly housing costs (mortgage principal and interest, taxes and heating expenses and half of the monthly condo fee if you are purchasing a condominium) should not be more than 32% of your gross monthly income. The second calculation requires that your entire monthly debt load (including housing costs and other debts such as car loans and credit card payments) not exceed more than 40% of your gross monthly income. This figure is your Total Debt Service ratio.

While these ratios help to determine the maximum mortgage and payment that you can afford, obtaining home financing at these levels may not leave you with much room to comfortably deal with any unexpected changes in your monthly budget. Taking a smaller mortgage can help to ensure that your monthly housing costs remain within your means.

• Evaluate the impact of an increasing interest rate on your monthly payments

Over the past few years, interest rates have been at historical lows. While this helps to make homeownership affordable today, an increase in interest rates could have a significant impact on your future monthly housing costs. For instance, homeowners renewing a mortgage of $250,000 with a 5% interest rate could see an increase in payments of $300 per month if rates were to increase by 2%. Evaluating the impact of increasing interest rates on your monthly payment today may help you to avoid financial difficulties in the future.

• Plan to be mortgage free faster and create a "cushion" in case of unforeseen financial difficulties

There are a several ways to pay your mortgage down sooner, save money, and create some breathing room should you face unforeseen financial difficulties in the future. These include making accelerated weekly or biweekly payments, taking advantage of pre-payment privileges such as making lump sum payments to your mortgage principal, and increasing your regular payment amount. For example, for a $250,000 mortgage (5% interest rate and 25 year amortization) choosing an accelerated bi-weekly payment over a bi-weekly regular payment ($727 vs. $670) allows you to pay down your mortgage more quickly. You could pay off the mortgage in just over 21 years and reduce your interest costs by almost $30,000.

Ask your Mortgage Professional for additional information on these topics when arranging your financing.

• Seek help if you have difficulty making your mortgage payments

When unforeseen financial circumstances impact your ability to make regular mortgage payments, it's important for you to take quick action. With early intervention, you can work together with your mortgage professional to find a solution to your financial difficulties. Your mortgage professional wants to establish and maintain a positive relationship with you over the long term, and is fully trained and equipped with the tools to help you deal with the temporary financial setbacks that you may be facing.

*Above information based on http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/plmayomo/plmayomo_001.cfm