Aleem Themortgagespecialist
#269-5489 Byrne Road V5J 3J1 Burnaby, BC, Canada

Reverse mortgages have been growing by over 28% annually across the country. In 2019, HomeEquity Bank reported a record $820 million in reverse mortgages originations, up from $309 million just five years ago. https://bit.ly/2HYUA8H

First, focus on the important things like food, transportation and shelter while eliminating some unnecessary costs. https://bit.ly/3oTsDPY

Canada’s economy has been slowing in growth for a few quarters, even before the pandemic. It got much worse after the economic lockdown. Stat Can reported GDP fell 2.11% in Q1 2020, when compared to the previous quarter. https://bit.ly/2HVmVvW

By mid-May, 27% of postponed mortgages came from Quebec, and 26% were from Alberta. Ontario accounted for 21%, while British Columbia represented only 7% of those who have delayed their mortgage payments. https://bit.ly/3jKS2rA

Spend 10 minutes on the phone with me to see if you could save $250 or more per month OFF your home loan repayments. Private message me now for a free loan comparison!

#COVID #Mortgage #Relief Information UPDATES https://bit.ly/2yRst6l

How to ensure your renovation will increase your house value There are two main benefits to renovating your property firstly, you can make it more comfortable and compatible for your lifestyle; and secondly, you can increase the value of your home. The challenge is to find the right balance between these two benefits if you invest too much into renovations, you risk reducing the amount of profit you would make when you sell. So how do you strike the balance and turn you...r renovation into profit? The 10% rule One handy rule of thumb is to ensure your renovation doesn’t cost more than 10% of the property’s value. If you are planning an extensive renovation, do your research to make sure you are not over-capitalizing. If you are building a substantial extension on a family home, for example, you should regain the value through creating a home that suits your family’s needs for a considerable period of time. Keep it simple and contained The renovations that increase the value of a home are generally in the kitchen and bathroom. A future buyer wants to know that these rooms are up-to-date with relatively new fixtures and fittings. The garden is another selling point as potential buyers will be attracted to a healthy, well maintained garden. Take your renovations slowly, step by step, finishing one room before starting on another. This way, you can keep track of costs and also ensure that your house remains liveable rather than turning into a chaotic mess that will be finished one day! Check for council approval Before you dive into any renovations, make sure you have council approval. As part of the process, ask your neighbours to check over your plans before you start work. You don’t want the neighbours complaining that your renovation reduces the value or comfort of their home. Sometimes it just means repositioning a window that overlooks the neighbour’s yard, in order to keep everyone happy. Consider your financing Depending on your financial position, you could use your equity to finance the renovations, a combination of equity and savings, or you could take out a construction loan. In order to access the equity on your home loan, you need to ensure that the loan includes features such as redraw, line of credit and an offset account (this of course varies based on individual circumstances and needs). A construction loan is written against the renovated valuation of the property, and the lender interacts directly with the builder, making regular milestone payments and monitoring a schedule. Basically, your lender has a vested interest in ensuring your renovation increases the value of your home. If you need assistance working out the best way to finance your renovation and ensure it increases the value of your home, contact us today.

Central to ensuring the strength of the mortgage market is the BoC’s program of purchasing Canada Mortgage Bonds https://bit.ly/2TBenNr

Over the past three months, Canada’s Big Six banks have offered mortgage deferral options to a consumer base burdened by reduced working hours and job losses. https://bit.ly/3iPPmsM

Did You Know - the Earth weighs 6,588,000,000,000,000,000 tons

Why do you need a mortgage broker? A mortgage broker is an independent person or business who specializes in finding the most suitable home loan for a customer, based on the customer’s individual needs and circumstances. Basically, like any broker the mortgage broker liaises between you as the property buyer and the banks or lenders who will lend you the money for your mortgage. So why go to a mortgage broker when you can contact the lenders directly? ... Open communication Unlike banks and other lenders, the mortgage broker isn’t looking to sell you a specific product whether it suits you or not the broker wants to give you a full view of the market and find the right product for you. This opens up communication, as the broker needs to find out as much as possible about your requirements in order to select the most suitable loan package. And when you have questions or concerns, your broker will answer these directly. The broker’s communication skills work both ways as they have an ongoing relationship with the lenders, they can negotiate to tailor the loan for your needs. Your broker will also know how long each lender generally takes to approve a loan application giving you a realistic timeframe, so you know when you can start house hunting in earnest. Wide range of options on offer Some lenders will work exclusively with brokers, so they can offer you options that would not be available to you as an individual. Different lenders will differentiate their products with honeymoon rates and special deals, making it more difficult for you to work out who is offering what you actually need and want. The broker will also help you make realistic comparisons between different lenders, so you have a better understanding of what features you are looking for in your own loan agreement. Convenience Your loan agreement is an important financial commitment, and there could be a huge cost difference over the long term between two loans that seem right on the surface. It can take you a great deal of time to navigate the mortgage marketplace, making comparisons and calculations and filling out loan applications and if you take a wrong turn, it can be a costly error. A mortgage broker can navigate the market on your behalf, saving you valuable time and money. If you would like to know more about how a mortgage broker can secure the best home loan package for your needs, contact us today for a free consultation.

Simple strategies to pay off your home loan sooner Of course you want to pay off your home loan as efficiently as possible to build equity in your home and avoid excess interest payments. Yet you don’t want to sacrifice your quality of life for the sake of making crippling mortgage payments each month. There are some simple strategies to help you pay off your home loan faster, without becoming too stressed about a tight budget. ... Place any lump sum payments into your mortgage account If you receive an annual bonus or a healthy tax return, place the extra money into your mortgage account. These lump sum payments can drastically reduce your loan term. Pay the same amount when interest rates drop Don’t let your bank reduce your regular mortgage payment when the interest rate drops continue paying the same amount, and this will reduce the interest, eventually cutting down your loan term. Offset your loans with a savings account pay wages into offset As your savings account earns interest, this amount is subtracted from the interest payable in your loan. When you reduce the amount of interest you need to pay, you can cut down on the length of your term. Shop around for a better rate Always stay alert for a better rate or a loan more suited to your requirements. You can delegate this task to a mortgage broker who will let you know if another lender can offer you a better rate or who can negotiate on your behalf with your current lender to improve the terms of your loan. Increase your repayment frequency Simply by making payments fortnightly instead of monthly, you will be making one extra payment a year. Again, this cuts down on the interest you need to pay, shortening the length of your loan term. Avoid additional debt While you are working hard to reduce the amount of interest you are paying on your home loan, you don’t need to accrue additional interest payments through credit cards and car loans. Minimize your debts so you can concentrate on paying off your home loan, as this is the asset which will appreciate in value. Examine your budget Have a close look at your weekly or fortnightly budget and see if you can cut down costs anywhere in order to make a small increase on your loan repayments. You could save $50 to $100 a week through simple strategies such as grocery shopping once instead of twice a week or cutting down on takeaway meals or having a no spend day once a week. That small amount of extra cash can be diverted into your mortgage payment, where it will add up to huge savings in the long term. Contact us today if you need expert assistance in finding simple yet effective ways to reduce the length of your home loan.

Looking to invest in property to create wealth, security & freedom? Sometimes you need to be creative to find the right solution! Private message me to set up a meeting to explore your options. (we'll cover your borrowing capacity, loan structuring, property options, repayment options, rates etc)

What happens when your fixed rate expires? Do you know when your fixed rate term is coming to an end? Once it finishes, the bank is free to quietly switch you to a higher interest rate unless you act fast! Think of how costly it could be if you simply let the bank choose your interest rate. If your bank charges you just 0.5% more than the competitive interest rates, this adds up to a significant amount over the term of your loan. You can save yourself a great deal of money... and perhaps even cut years of your loan, if you are proactive about monitoring your interest rates and choosing the right option for you. Switching to a variable rate A variable rate can be a great option if you want to take advantage of low interest rates, or if you want the flexibility to redraw or make extra payments. When your fixed rate term expires, the bank will automatically switch your loan to the Bank Standard Variable Rate (BSVR). Do some research to find out whether this is a competitive rate; if not, you can talk to your bank and try negotiating a better deal. And if they do not offer you a competitive rate, you can switch lenders. Lenders generally prefer to negotiate rather than lose a customer, while they don’t generally make their best offers to customers with a proven history of loyalty. So when it comes to your interest rate, stay alert and ask questions keep your lender busy, trying to keep you happy! Extend your fixed rate One option is to ask the bank to refix your home loan, extending it for another one, three, five to ten years. The fixed rate is a good option for you, if you are planning to pay off your loan steadily over a long period of time, and you want each mortgage payment to be a regular amount so you can budget your money precisely. Fixed rate protects you from rate rises and you could be paying less than the variable rate. However, there is also the risk that you could end up paying higher than the market rate if you are locked into an outdated fixed interest term. There may also be a break fee if you change or pay off your loan within the fixed period; this means the fixed rate is not a good option for anyone planning to sell their home. Call us today if you need assistance pinpointing the best and most competitive option for you.

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, ...I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed incapable of doing anything." Remember to put the glass down

Homebuyers with less than 20% down should now expect lower debt service maximums, a more stringent credit quality check, and a ban on borrowing down payments. https://bit.ly/3iramFl

How to Get Financing during the COVID Pandemic https://bit.ly/2K7t31X

Questions to ask your mortgage broker When you are going through the home loan and mortgage application process, your mortgage broker can help navigate you through all the paperwork and different loan options to find the right loan for you. While the process might seem overwhelming, you might not know which questions to ask. When you ask your mortgage broker the following questions, you will have a better grasp of why your broker selected this loan as the best fit for your ...circumstances. You also need to be confident that you feel this is the best loan for your circumstances, and if you have any concerns you can discuss these with your broker before signing on the dotted line. Do you have a license? A mortgage broker is required to have a current license in order to practice in the finance market, and this license should be displayed on their web page or in the office. Without a valid license, your mortgage broker is not qualified to give you advice on your mortgage. What can you offer me that the bank can’t offer? Amazingly, not all brokers have an answer to this! A good broker will explain their services thoroughly and these services should include finding the right loan package for you, then setting up the loan on your behalf. Their services should save you the time and stress of comparing loan packages for yourself and then organizing the loan directly. Which lenders are on your list? A good broker will have access to a wide range of lenders, from the largest established banks to the smaller lenders. The broker should also be experienced in interacting with all these lenders, so they know how each one determines a loan application and how long they take to give loan approval. With this experience and background, the broker will be able to give you accurate updates about the progress of your loan application. How do you determine that this loan is the most suitable for my needs? Your mortgage broker is legally obligated to find a home loan that is suited to your circumstances. Ask your broker to explain the thought process so you understand how they felt the features, rates and fees were right for your circumstances. For example, if you want the freedom to make overpayments on your loan, you need to ensure that your mortgage broker has chosen a loan that allows this without a penalty admin fee. How long will it take to process the loan? As mentioned above, different lenders have different procedures for processing loans, and some will take longer than others. Your mortgage broker should know how long it will take to process your loan application so you can work with a realistic timeframe while house-hunting. You don’t want the right house to slip through your fingers because your loan wasn’t approved on time! Contact us today if you are looking for expert guidance or advice on how to find the right home loan for you, whether it is for your existing property or your next purchase.

In the United States, Fannie Mae predicts the benchmark 30-year mortgage rate will fall about 20 bps within nine months or so. That would officially put it in the 2% range for the first time ever. https://bit.ly/2HGl0v8