According to a report by Mustel Group and Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, 86% of Canadian baby boomers and older homeowners want to live in their home for as long as possible. However, given the challenges associated with aging – such as reduced mobility and memory loss – many question whether they may be better off in an assisted living or nursing facility.  There are, however, a number of unique advantages to staying in the home you love as you age, which we’ll explore below

1. Maintaining your independence

As you get older, it’s natural to become slightly less independent – you may need help doing the grocery shopping or with certain household tasks. But if you stay in your home as you age, you’ll likely be able to maintain more independence than if you move into a residential facility. At home, you’re in control of your routine, your meals, and your surroundings, while in an assisted living facility, you usually have less control over these things.

2. Staying close to your community

When you’ve lived somewhere for a long time, you’ll likely have friends and neighbours within walking distance. Having regular social interactions is especially important as we get older, it’s good for your mental health and will help stop you from feeling lonely. More importantly, having a flourishing social life as we age has been connected to a 70% reduction in cognitive decline compared to more isolated individuals. This is a huge benefit to aging in place. At home, you’ll be able to easily visit neighbours as well as having friends and family over whenever you want.

3. Keeping your home comforts

For most of us, our house is a place of familiarity, security, and peace. It’s the place we’ve spent years building into a home and where we’ve made many cherished memories. The emotional benefit of aging in place is therefore huge. On the other hand, moving to a facility can take an emotional toll on a person’s wellbeing, putting them more at risk of stress and depression. Furthermore, there’s evidence that familiar smells and surroundings can help trigger memories of those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

4. Staying healthier and safer

Many people chose to move into a nursing home or assisted living facility believing it to be the safer and healthier option. And while this may be true for those with severe needs, there are other factors that need to be considered. Feeling homesick can lead to stress and depression, which in turn can lead to greater cognitive and physical decline. Residential facilities also carry a greater risk of infection, which can spread much more easily when living at close quarters with others.

5. Saving money

There’s no denying that aging in place has its expenses. You may need to pay someone to help you with household chores, grocery shopping, or personal care. You may also need to adapt your home for mobility. Despite this, aging in place is typically less expensive than an assisted living facility or nursing home.

Deciding whether to age in place or move into an assisted living or nursing facility is a personal choice that should be made after careful consideration. If you decide that staying in your home is the right option for you, the CHIP Reverse Mortgage can help you with the associated costs.

The CHIP Reverse Mortgage allows you to access up to 55% of your home’s value in tax-free cash. What’s more, the loan isn’t repaid until you leave your home, meaning there are no required monthly repayments. What you do with the money is up to you. You could use it to adapt your home, purchase mobility aids, or pay for an in-home caregiver – helping you stay as independent as possible in your own home.

Written By: Agostino Tuzi
Post Sponsored by HomeEquity Bank

Getting the Down Payment Down.

A down payment is one of the most essential aspects of every mortgage application and new home purchase. In Canada, home purchases require a minimum cash payment from your own funds that is put towards the purchase. This is your down payment and is considered your stake in the deal.

Many home buyers understand that a certain amount of money down will be required on a home. However, most don’t realize the ins-and-outs of down payments, such as where the funds are allowed to come from and ensuring a proper paper trail.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while preparing your down payment and working towards your perfect home!

SOURCES OF DOWN PAYMENT

Most home buyers are aware that they will require a certain amount of money for a down payment. What many do not realize, is that lenders are required to verify the source of the funds. This allows them to ensure that they are coming from an acceptable source. Sources that further contribute to indebtedness are less-likely to be considered (such as line of credit or credit card). Instead, the best and most traditional options for your down payment are:

SAVINGS ACCOUNT

The first and most traditional method is your savings account, where you have been pinching your hard-earned pennies to save up for this day!

If you are utilizing your personal savings for a down payment, note that lenders will require three months of full bank statements. This includes name, account number, transactions and balance history. For any large deposits made in that time (sale of a car, work bonus, etc.), explanations and supporting documents will be required.

GIFT FROM FAMILY MEMBER

If you are fortunate enough to receive help from the Bank of Mom and Dad for your down payment, there are certain requirements:

• A signed gift letter from the immediate family member contributing the fund
• Proof of the transfer into your bank account. This can be a bank statement documenting the money being moved from the donor’s account and into yours. The statements must include names, account numbers and the full transaction history during the time period in question.
• Important note: If money is being received from immediate family overseas, most lenders will require copies of the wire transfer. In addition, they may ask for account history.

RRSP WITHDRAWAL

Another option for down payment is the use of Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), but only if you are a first-time buyer. This is part of the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP), which allows first-time buyers to borrow up to $35,000 from their RRSP’s (tax-free!) -as long as the money is repaid within 15 years. Please note: The minimum repayment is 15 equal instalments paid once per year.

HOW MUCH DOWN?

When it comes to putting money down on your new home, you need to consider the minimum down payment required as well as additional fees.

The minimum amount required in Canada is 5% for the first $500,000, with 10% down on any amount beyond that threshold. For example, on a $600,000 house you would need to put $35,000 down at minimum ($25,000 on the first $500,000 and $10,000 for the additional $100,000 purchase price).

Keep in mind, if your down payment is less than 20% of the price of your home, you will be required to purchase mortgage loan insurance in case of default. These premiums range from 0.6% to 4.50% of the total amount of your mortgage. Using the example above, this would mean $3,600 to $27,000 in mortgage insurance premiums.

If you are able to put 20% down on your new home (which is the recommended amount), you would be looking at an investment of $120,000 down with no mortgage insurance premiums required.

ADDITIONAL COSTS AND FEES

One component of the purchase process that homeowners often forget about, are the closing costs. These are typically 1.5% up to 4% of the purchase price. In order to get financing, you are required to show that you have enough to cover these costs, which include legal fees.

When you have collected the funds for your down payment and closing costs, you must ensure those funds remain in your bank account once you’ve provided confirmation. They should only leave your account when they are provided to your lawyer to complete the purchase. This is because lenders will often request updated statements closer to the closing of the sale, to ensure nothing has changed. If money has been moved around, or if there are new large deposits or withdrawals, they will all need to be confirmed and could affect approval.

The last thing that anyone wants when purchasing a property is added stress or for something to go wrong late in the process. Consider contacting a DLC Mortgage Professional today to help guide you through the process! Make sure you are upfront about your down payment amount, and where it is coming from. This will help a mortgage broker determine whether or not it is suitable, and allow them to find the best lender and mortgage product for you!

Published by our DLC Marketing Team

Market Smarts: Home Buying Guide.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is one of Canada’s three mortgage insurers. Beyond insuring mortgage, CMHC also offers consumer guidance in the form of a unique step-by-step guide for home buying Canada, which the organization has dubbed the “roadmap” to home ownership.

The 27-page guide, Homebuying Step By Step is available on CMHC’s website. This guide is a manual for homeownership, breaking down the phases potential buyers will need to consider when looking to get into the housing market.

what homebuyers should know

This guide focuses on preparation being the key to homeownership success, and touches on many things for homeowners to keep in mind. A few good guidelines when considering purchasing a home, including debt management, necessary documents, pre-approval, and more!

DEBT-TO-INCOME RATIO

According to the CMHC, a homebuyer’s monthly housing costs should never exceed 32 percent of their average gross monthly income. This includes monthly mortgage payments, property taxes, condo fees and heating expenses. It is also recommended that a family’s debt load, such as car loans and credit card payments, should never exceed 40 percent of the average monthly income. While this recommendation may be somewhat conservative, remaining within these guidelines will ensure that you will be able to afford your debts, while maintaining future financial stability.

NECESSARY DOCUMENTS

This guide also includes a segment regarding the documents a home buyer will need for a mortgage. When you meet with your lender or mortgage broker it is recommended that you have these documents handy, which include things like personal identification, proof of a down payment, proof of income, proof of savings and investments and details of current debt.

MORTGAGE PRE-APPROVAL

CMHC also recommends that people get pre-approved for a mortgage before they start looking for a home. Getting pre-approved can prevent future roadblocks when you find your dream home, and ensures that subject-to-financing clauses won’t be an issue. It also guarantees the rate for up to 120 days, so that you can access the best mortgage once you’ve found the right home.

SOURCES FOR A MORTGAGE

This guide also discusses the various sources for mortgages, which include: banks, trust companies, credit unions and pension funds. As always, it is recommended that you shop around before you make a decision. Hiring a mortgage broker is another great resource, as they are able to access rates for more than one lender. The guide advises asking real estate agents, friends or family members for recommendations on a lender or broker.

Along with the above, this guide also details information about your credit score, mortgage loan insurance, home considerations, the mortgage process and home management. There are also very detailed financial calculations, which factor in costs that many new homebuyers might not even think about, such as groceries, dining out and hobbies. In addition, you will find information about:

• Principles that help buyers determine how much they can safely afford to spend on housing.
• A list of the upfront and ongoing costs of homeownership.
• Information on how to prepare for a meeting with a lender or broker.
• Definitions of key terms to know when buying a home.
• Explanation of mortgage basics and tips for how to manage your mortgage.
• Tips on how to maintain your home and protect your investment.

The underlying theme of the guide is to prevent Canadians from getting in over their heads in debt when buying a home. This guide also shows just how far mortgage brokers have come in Canada, with them mentioned alongside banks throughout.

If you are looking to purchase your first home, contact a Dominion Lending Centres mortgage broker today for expert advice! It is our job to help find the best mortgage product for YOU.

Published by DLC Marketing Team