If you are a first-time homebuyer, getting professional mortgage advice is a great place to start. We specialize in the kind of education that can help get new homebuyers off to a great start! Although mortgage debt is 'smart' debt, buying your first home is a huge financial decision and there is a lot to think about. It's one of the most important financial decisions that most Canadians will make in their lifetime.

You want to take advantage of today’s low rate environment but it can be overwhelming to sort through all of the options out there. Your Mortgage Broker will help get you the right combination of mortgage features, privileges and rate that is best matched to your needs. The right mortgage goes beyond just the rate–it’s important to also consider term, prepayment options, refinancing penalties, restrictions, and fees.

Determine what you can afford. Before you start shopping for a home – and long before you consider putting an offer on one – let us help you determine how much home you can comfortably afford. Having a realistic budget to start will bring you confidence, knowing that you are not overextending yourself. Remember that home ownership involves costs beyond the monthly mortgage payment such as utility bills, insurance, taxes, home upkeep.

Be sure to talk to us about getting pre-approved, so you’ll get your interest rate guaranteed for a set period, typically 90 to 120 days.

Downpayment options. Downpayment is one of your most important considerations before you look to purchase your new home. If you’re in the “saving up” stage of preparing for home ownership, this is a great time to meet with us so we can discuss your downpayment options. In most cases you want to save five percent of the purchase price. Five percent down is required on homes up to $500,000.

For any home over $500,000 but less than $1 million, you need 5% downpayment on the first $500,000 and ten per cent for any amount over that. If your purchase price is $1 million or more, a minimum 20% downpayment is required.

Build a team of professionals. We’d be happy to help you build a strong away team so that all aspects of your home buying experience are efficient and professional. Your team will include a realtor, lawyer, and a home inspector.

Plan for closing costs. There are additional costs that come with buying a home so you’ll need to have some extra funds set aside to cover these costs. Generally, you can expect to pay between 1.5% and 4% of the home’s selling price in total closing costs. Your mortgage broker can outline all of your closing costs so you won’t be caught by surprise.

Your Mortgage Broker will also provide strategies to help you pay your mortgage off faster and shave thousands off interest costs.

There’s so much to consider. Work with your mortgage broker today so you can get into the market and start your wealth building with smart debt! Your mortgage broker will help you get off on the right foot in your home buying journey.

With the ever-changing market and a stricter stress test, many Canadians are finding it harder to qualify for a mortgage through traditional financial institutions “A-Lenders” and are turning to alternative lending solutions for their mortgage. At Mortgage Intelligence we work with many alternative lenders, who can offer excellent mortgage options with more flexible criteria and more lenient qualification requirements.

Alternative lenders are great for individuals who have non-traditional forms of income for example, capital gains, room rental income, child tax benefits and others or for self employed applicants who may not have the minimum required number of years being self employed.

These lending solutions are also a good option for those with lower credit scores. While the rate they offer is slightly higher than what you will see posted by an A-Lender, they are nothing out of the ordinary when compared to traditional rates posted in Canada. They also generally have shorter terms, meaning that you can get into the home of your dreams while being able to rebuild your credit at the same time.

Buyers who don’t qualify under the mortgage stress test can also take advantage of the expanded debt service ratios allowed by alternative lenders to qualify for a mortgage and get into the home of their dreams. If you have a very unique situation, we also have access to various private lenders who are even more flexible and lenient in requirements and may be able to offer you mortgage options that fit your situation. In today’s environment, we’re seeing more private lenders helping Canadians with their mortgages.

Call your Mortgage Intelligence professional to find out about the different options available to you. They are experts when it comes to mortgage products and different solutions and will provide you with unbiased advice. They work for you, not the lender.

If you're a homeowner over the age of 55 and want to tap into your home equity, a reverse mortgage can be the right solution for you. A reverse mortgage is also known as an “equity release”. With a reverse mortgage, you can access up to 55% of the equity in your home tax-free as a lump sum or monthly cash deposits. The maximum amount you are able to borrow will depend on your age, your home's appraised value, and our lender. No mortgage payments are required and you maintain ownership of your home. Repayment of the loan and interest is only required once you move or sell the home. At the end of your loan term, you may have less equity in your home. If you don’t make any payments, which is fine, you may have a larger interest payment to make when the home is sold.

A lender will often ask you to consult a lawyer prior to giving you a reverse mortgage to ensure you understand the conditions of the mortgage. The lender can never force you to sell your home to repay the reverse mortgage. It is also important to note that all existing loans on the property, including a mortgage or a home equity line of credit must be paid off prior to getting the mortgage.

Whether you’re looking for a financial cushion to live comfortably, funds to cover monthly expenses, pay off debt, renovate or fund your children’s education, you can use the funds from a reverse mortgage in any way you want without restrictions! What’s more, is if the home goes up in value, it doesn’t affect the reverse mortgage, meaning that all equity gained is yours! Lastly, you can get out of a reverse mortgage at any time by paying off the loan and any interest accrued.

Have a discussion with your mortgage professional to find out if a reverse mortgage is the right solution for you.

Borrowing money is harder for many self-employed Canadians. While there is broad recognition that self-employed Canadians are reliable borrowers, it may be difficult to navigate the mortgage process and the different options available specifically for this group. We can help turn the tables. These individuals may run their own businesses, or work in a profession where the main source of their income is predominately capital gains, a form of income that is generally not considered by most “A Lenders”.

We work with self-employed homebuyers every day and understand the challenges that they may face when arranging a mortgage especially with no standard proof of income. Our brokers are experts when it comes to mortgage solutions and have access to multiple options, including mortgage products designed specifically for self-employed Canadians. They can pinpoint which lenders have more favourable terms and requirements and advise you on how you can improve your options to get the best possible rate and terms.

The more complex your mortgage situation, the more sense it makes to use an experienced mortgage professional who can help simplify the process and help you achieve both your short-term objectives and your long-term financial plan. Most of all, they allow you to stay focused on your business, alleviating the burden of many time-consuming and frustrating tasks and meetings associated with securing a mortgage and will also work around your busy work schedule. Many will even travel to your work site if required to make the transaction as convenient as possible for you.

Remember, that independent mortgage professionals work for YOU, not the lenders or banks, so you can rest assured that their advice is unbiased and in your best interest when it comes to finding the right lender and right product to meet your needs. Find out what your options are, give us a call.

Here's to buying like a pro the first time!

Buying your first home is one of the most important financial decisions you'll ever make and getting the right advice from a mortgage professional is a great way to start.

Before you start looking for your dream home, your Mortgage Intelligence professional can help you find out how much you can qualify for so you can shop with confidence. They'll explain the process and even assist in getting you a mortgage pre-approval so you can take advantage of today’s low rate environment by locking in today’s rate for you for a set period of time, typically 90 to 120 days.

Understanding your down-payment options is important as you get ready to buy your first home. This is right time to consult with your mortgage professional who can explain the requirements and options available to first-time buyer only when it comes to down-payment. Generally, the min down-payment required depends on the purchase price with the min being 5% down. For homes $500,000 and under 5% down is the min required. For homes over $500,000 but less than $1 million, you need 5% down-payment on the first $500,000 and 10% for any amount over that. If your purchase price is $1 million or more, a minimum 20% down-payment is required. Mortgages with less than 20% down are subject to default insurance which is usually added to the mortgage amount.

At Mortgage Intelligence, we work with over 60 lenders from major banks to private lenders. Your mortgage professional gives you access to multiple lenders and finds the right mortgage for you with only one application. They help you navigate the process, explain your options and present you with mortgage solutions that best meet your need. Having the right combination of mortgage features, privileges and rate is key. The right mortgage goes beyond just the rate--it's important to also consider term, prepayment options, refinancing penalties, restrictions, and fees.

Your mortgage professional will not only find the right mortgage for you but also provide strategies to help you pay your mortgage off faster and shave thousands off interest costs in the process.