Mortgages

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For many people, owning their own home is a long-held desire. Very few people will be able to achieve this goal without first acquiring a mortgage. The home purchase, and the associated mortgage debt, is often the biggest single financial commitment of a person's life.

The Dream

In a scene from the film “It’s a Wonderful Life”, a happy couple is about to enter their new home. Jimmy Stewart, whose firm has sold them the mortgage, reflects that there is “a fundamental urge…for a man to have his own roof, walls and fireplace.” He offers them bread, salt and wine so “joy and prosperity may reign for ever”.

That embodies the Anglo-Saxon world’s attitude to home ownership. Owning your own roof, walls and fireplace, it is thought, is good for householders because it helps them accumulate wealth. It is good for the economy because it encourages people to save. And it is good for society because homeowners invest more in their neighbourhoods, engage more in civic activities and encourage their children to do better at school than do renters. Home ownership, in short, benefits everyone—not just the homeowner—and the more there is of it, the better. Which is why it is usually encouraged by the government. In America, Ireland and Spain, homeowners can deduct mortgage-interest payments from taxable income.

Buy vs. rent

Home ownership is not for everyone. Some people don't want the headaches of maintenance and upkeep. Others need the flexibility that renting offers. There are many such highly subjective qualitative factors in the buy vs rent decision.

One large question is the investment question: is housing a good long-term investment? In the United States,

[s]ince 1987, when the Case-Shiller index of 10 major cities begins, it's risen from an index value of 63 to 151. Annual return: Just 4.1% a year. During that period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices rose by 3% a year. Net result: Home prices produced a real return of just 1.15% a year over inflation over that time.

Critics may point out that the analysis is unfair -- after all, it starts counting near the peak of the 1980s housing boom. Fair enough. Look at the performance since, say, early 1994, when home prices were near a historic trough. Surely someone who bought then has made a bundle.

Not necessarily. Since then the ten-city index has risen from a value of 76 to 151. Annual return: 4.7%. Inflation over that period: 2.5%. That's still only a real return of 2.2% a year above inflation.

In Canada, a Re/Max study found that the nominal compounded annual rate of return was 5.3% from 1981 to 2006. Adjusted for inflation, the compound annual rate of return is 1.6%.Statistics Canada new housing price indexes data shows a nominal compounded annual rate of return of 2.7% for the same period..

Adjusted for inflation, the compound annual rate of return is -0.9%.

Notwithstanding, the decision can be looked at quantitatively by considering such factors as long-term inflation, monthly expenses of renting, monthly expenses of owning, interest rates, after-tax return on portfolio investments, expected (after-tax)return on real estate.

Can you afford a mortgage?

Mortgage calculator

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CHMC) website contains a number of home buying tools that will calculate the maximum house price you can afford, the maximum mortgage amount you can borrow, and your monthly mortgage payments.

GDS Ratio (Gross Debt Service Ratio)

The percentage of gross annual income required to cover payments associated with housing. Payments include mortgage principal, interest, property taxes and sometimes include secondary financing, heating, condominium fees or pad rent.

TDS Ratio (Total debt service ratio)

The percentage of gross annual income required to cover payments associated with housing and all other debts and obligations, such as car loans and credit cards.

Frequency of mortgage payments

Let's say that you have a 5 year mortgage for $100,000 at 5% amortized over 25 years. Monthly payments are $581.60. After 10 years, the remaining mortgage is $73,796.14 If you make weekly payments of $145.40, the remaining mortgage is $66,136.06. Your total payment has not changed but, by paying weekly, the outstanding mortgage balance declines more rapidly. More of your payment is going toward principal reduction than interest payment. A calculator which demonstrates the impact of various payment frequencies can be found here.

Similarly, making a regular additional payment will reduce your outstanding mortgage balance quickly depending on the size of the additional payment. For example, adding $25 to the $581.60 monthly payment would reduce the mortgage by approximately $1,700 after 5 years and result in about $200 less interest being paid.

Fixed vs. variable rate?

• Fixed rate mortgage - A fixed rate mortgage is a mortgage where the rate of interest is fixed for a specific period of time. Generally known as the mortgage term, it usually ranges from between 6 months and 25 years. As time goes on, more of the mortgage payment goes toward the principal and less of the payment goes to the interest.

• Variable rate mortgage - A variable rate mortgage is a mortgage that has fixed payments, but the interest rate fluctuates with any changes in interest rates. If interest rates go down, more of the payment goes to principal and if interest rates go up, more of the payment goes toward the interest.

Which one is better for you depends on your ability to handle risk.

If you lose sleep worrying about the possibility of a .25% increase in the interest rate or get stressed thinking about the impact on your monthly budget if your monthly mortgage payment changes, then a fixed rate mortgage is for you.

You should also take the same test when choosing the length of the fixed rate mortgage term. If you breathe easier knowing that your mortgage payment is fixed for the next 5 years then a 5 year term is right for you.

If risk is not as much of an issue, then according to a detailed study by Moshe Milevsky, you should choose a mortgage with a short term floating (prime) interest rate. The study found that a consumer with a $100,000 mortgage and an amortization period of 15 years would have paid $22,000 more in interest payments by borrowing and then renewing at the 5 year rate as opposed to borrowing at prime and renewing annually.

In 2004 when interest rates were at historical lows, Milevsky updated his original article.

1. The first-time homebuyer and especially those who placed minimal initial down payments with high leverage ratios, are the ideal candidates for long-term fixed rate mortgages. These folks should not be taking any chances with a fluctuating interest rate. In fact, they might be hit with a double whammy if the value of their (overpriced) house declines leaving them with negative equity. To them I say, “count your blessings, don’t be greedy and lock-in at a fixed rate.”
2. The risk-averse worrywart who is constantly looking at interest rates and wondering if ‘now’ is the time, should do what all risk-averse investors do: diversify. Indeed, there is a strong argument to be made for diversifying your mortgage debt, similar to the prudent strategy with your investment portfolio. Now, in general, diversifying your debts is a silly idea since you should put all your eggs in the one basket with the lowest interest rate. But, I do agree that split rate mortgages make some sense in today’s ultra-low environment. The ideal strategy is to partition your mortgage in two halves, one linked to a variable rate and the other closed for a longer period of time.
3. The seasoned veteran, possibly with two stable breadwinners in the family and with a substantial amount of built-up equity in the house should still follow Shelly Short’s strategy. They can afford the risk and continue with a variable rate mortgage, making payments based on a high fixed rate schedule. This is an easy way to (think you) have your cake and eat it too. From a purely psychological point of view -- as long as you pick the payment rate to be 1% to 2% above the initial floating rate -- if and when interest rates do start to increase, it should have no noticeable impact on your monthly budget.
4. The financially savvy arbitrageur can do even better. Most banks allow you to pre-approve a fixed rate mortgage for between 90 and 120 days. You are guaranteed the pre-approved rate regardless of what happens to mortgage rates over the next 3- 4 months. This is the closest thing to a free lunch (actually, call option on interest rates) you will ever get from a Canadian bank. If you have a floating (open) rate mortgage that allows you to pre-pay any amount anytime without penalty, then walk across the street to your bank’s competitor and ask for a pre-approval on a 5-year fixed rate mortgage. Then, keep a close eye on the Bank of Canada and the bond market. If rates increase tomorrow, exercise your free option and move your mortgage across the street, at yesterday’s rate. Otherwise, do nothing and start the process over in a few months. Understandably, the branch manager might get a bit weary of your constant requests for pre-approval…

Government of Canada homeownership incentives

First-Time Home Buyers’ (FTHB) tax credit

For 2009 and subsequent years, the HBTC is a new non-refundable tax credit, based on an amount of $5,000, for certain home buyers that acquire a qualifying home after January 27, 2009 (i.e., generally means that the closing is after this date).

Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)

The Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) is a program that allows you to withdraw funds from your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSPs) to buy or build a qualifying home for yourself or for a related person with a disability. You can withdraw up to $25,000 in a calendar year.

Your RRSP contributions must remain in the RRSP for at least 90 days before you can withdraw them under the HBP, or they may not be deductible for any year.

Generally, you have to repay all withdrawals to your RRSPs within a period of no more than 15 years. You will have to repay an amount to your RRSPs each year until your HBP balance is zero. If you do not repay the amount due for a year, it will have to be included in your income for that year.

Mortgage broker vs. bank specialist

• A Mortgage Broker works for you, the client, whereas Bank Specialists are employed by the financial institution.
• The benefit of using a Mortgage Broker is the fact that they have the ability to offer you mortgage products from a number of financial institutions. Because a Bank Specialists works for the bank, that means that they can usually only offer you their institution's products.
• Brokers are typically paid the same amount no matter what rate is offered to the client. Bank specialists' rate of pay is generally reduced in direct relation to the amount they discount your rate from the bank's posted rate.
• Depending on your Province, Mortgage Brokers must be licensed and are subject to a strict set of requirements. Accredited Mortgage Professionals (AMP) must take continuing education courses in order to maintain their accreditation. Bank specialists are not licensed and require no formal training.
• Because Mortgage Brokers don't work for a specific lender, your assured that you will be given impartial advice. A bank specialist has a limited number of their own institutions products and while it may not be the best mortgage product out there, they will do their best to sell you their institutions mortgage product cause if they don't your going somewhere else.
• Mortgage brokers use their knowledge and experience to negotiate the best possible rate and product for you from a number of lenders. When you see a bank specialist, that mortgage negotiating is typically left up to you.
• For conventional financing, the services of a mortgage broker are generally provide at no cost to you. If there is a cost, you will be advised of those costs up front.

Insurance

Mortgage loan insurance

Typically, lenders require mortgage loan insurance for loans made to anyone that wishes to purchase a home with less than 20% of the purchase price. The Canadian Bank Act prohibits most federally regulated lending institutions from providing mortgages without mortgage loan insurance for amounts that exceed 80% of the value of the home or purchases with less than 20% down payment.

Through your lender, CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance enables you to finance up to 95% of the purchase price of a home. Mortgage loan insurance helps protect lenders against mortgage default, and enables consumers to purchase homes with a minimum down payment of 5% — with interest rates comparable to those with a 20% down payment.

Mortgage life insurance

Depending on the size of the mortgage, it is prudent to protect your family by having insurance. A bank will offer you mortgage insurance that guarantees that your remaining mortgage at the time of your death will not be a burden to your estate. An alternative to consider is term insurance which may provide better value.

Reverse mortgage

A reverse mortgage is a loan that is designed for homeowners 55 years of age and older (if you have a spouse, the age qualification applies to both of you). A reverse mortgage is secured by the equity in the home, which is the portion of the home's value that is debt-free. It allows homeowners to obtain cash, without having to sell their home. Not all lenders offer reverse mortgages.

External links

• Financial Webring Forum • View topic - Mortgage Questions discussion
• Financial Webring Forum • View topic - Variable vs Fixed Rate Mortgage discussion
• Financial Webring Forum • View topic - Mortgage or HELOC? discussion
• Canadian Mortgage Rates - Variable, Open, Convertible
• Canadian Mortgage Rates - Closed
• Canadian Mortgage Rates - Long Term
• Mortgage and Real Estate Terms Glossary