The Mortgage Financing Process

General Greg Weaver 20 Aug

The number one question for any potential home buyer or someone new to the mortgage process is “what does this process entail?”. The following is a simple outline to give you an idea of the process and help you understand what to expect as you embark on your home buying journey!

STEP 1 – BE PREPARED

Having the following information on hand before meeting with your mortgage professional will help them determine what you qualify for and help them determine the best mortgage product for you:

  • Contact information for your employer and your employment history
  • Proof of address and your address history
  • Government-issued photo ID with your current address
  • Proof of income for your mortgage application
  • Down payment proof (amount and source)
  • Savings and investments proof
  • Details of current debts and other financial obligations

STEP 2 – GET PRE-APPROVED

One of the best things any potential homeowner can do when starting the home buying process is to get pre-approved. Mortgage pre-approval requires submission and verification of your financial history and can help you determine your price range, understand the monthly mortgage payment associated with that price range and provide the mortgage rate for your first term.

It is important to note that pre-approval does not mean that a lender has fully reviewed your documentation and you may still need the approval of a mortgage insurer. However, it does have a lot of benefits that can give you a “leg-up” in your search!

BENEFITS OF PRE-APPROVAL

Getting pre-approved not only makes the search easier by helping to determine your price range and budget, but pre-approval also guarantees the interest rate for 90-120 days while you search for that perfect home. Plus, the rate will automatically be adjusted down with any market reductions. Another benefit to pre-approval is that, when it comes time to purchase, pre-approval lets the seller know that securing financing should not be an issue. This is extremely beneficial in competitive markets where lots of offers may be coming in.

Quick Tip: Being entirely candid with your home-buying team throughout the process will be vital! Hidden debt or buying a big-ticket item during your 90-120 day pre-approval can change the amount you are able to borrow. It is best to refrain from any major purchases (such as a new car) or life changes (such as changing jobs) until after closing and you have the keys to your new home!

STEP 3 – HIRE A REALTOR

In today’s competitive real estate market, it can be very difficult to acquire property WITHOUT the help of a realtor. One of the reasons realtors are integral to the home buying process is that they can provide access to properties that never even make it to the MLS website. Realtors also gain access to information about homes that may come onto the market before a listing is even signed.

Most importantly though, a realtor understands the ins and outs of the home buying process and can tell you how to be successful in your endeavors to purchase a home by guiding you through the process from the first viewing to having your bid accepted.

STEP 4 – SHOP THE MARKET & MAKE AN OFFER

Once you have found the property that meets your needs, you’ll put in an offer that’ll be accepted or countered. This may go back and forth until you reach an acceptable price with the vendor. To start home shopping today, check out the listings on Rew.ca!

STEP 5 – OFFER IS ACCEPTED

Once your offer is accepted with the condition of financing, you will need to do a few things to finalize the sale:

  • Ask for a realtor intro between your mortgage professional and realtor.
  • An appraisal may be required, which will be determined and arranged by your mortgage professional.
  • Send in any remaining documents required for financing (income confirmation, down payment confirmation, etc).
  • Arrange a home inspection.
  • Receive the lender’s approval on the property and final approval letter.

STEP 6 – REMOVE CONDITIONS

At this point, your financing is in place and you’re ready to proceed with the purchase of the property.

STEP 7 – LAWYER’S OFFICE

You’ll be asked to provide any money that’s to be used as your down payment, which is not already on deposit with your realtor. Typically, you’ll go in 1-2 days prior to the completion date.

Before you start on your home buying journey, be sure to take advantage of the expert advice from Mortgage Professionals. As experts in mortgages, agents can help walk you through the process and find you the best mortgage product to suit your unique needs! The best part? It won’t cost you a penny! Mortgage professionals are paid out by the lender when they register a new contract. Therefore, all that matters is finding YOU, the client, the best possible mortgage. Please feel free to reach out to Greg Weaver if you have any questions.

 

 

 

Article is Courtesy of the DLC Marketing Team

Choosing Your Mortgage Agent

General Greg Weaver 18 Aug

There is little doubt that the biggest purchase of your life will be your home. When embarking on your homeownership journey, having the right support and information will make all the difference. Fortunately, a mortgage agent can help!

With access to more than 50 lending institutions including big banks, credit unions, and trust companies, mortgage brokers are experts in mortgages. These connections allow them familiarity with a vast array of available mortgage products, and also ensures that the advice they offer is unbiased. Unlike banks focused on signing you for profit reasons, a mortgage agent is a third-party service that gets paid no matter which bank they sign you with. This means they can provide the best rate AND unbiased advice because they are focused on helping you achieve your dream.

It is estimated there are nearly 20,000 mortgage professionals in Canada. With so many choices, it is important to find a mortgage broker who works best FOR you.

With so much information at your fingertips on any given broker, it is easier to help narrow down the search. Especially with tools like my exclusive My Mortgage Toolbox app. Available on Google Play and the iStore, My Mortgage Toolbox makes it easy for homeowners to find a mortgage agent nearest them!

“The idea behind My Mortgage Toolbox was to make it simple for Canadians to manage the mortgage process by putting all the information they need into the palm of their hand,” noted Gary Mauris, Founder, and CEO of Dominion Lending Centres.

Some features available through this application include a variety of calculators to help clients determine:

  1. What they can afford
  2. The minimum down payment required
  3. Closing cost estimates
  4. Total monthly ownership costs

Click here to download the app today!

While online tools and apps can give you a pretty good insight into a potential broker, there are a few other things you might also want to consider to help make that decision a little easier.

While it is never a bad idea to go with an established professional with an abundance of clients and years of experience, you should also be open to considering newer, hungrier brokers who are striving to make their mark in the mortgage space. At a busy firm, it is easy for you to feel like a small fish in a big pond, especially with a smaller portfolio, whereas a smaller brokerage can likely provide you more attention.

While agents spend a lot of their time neck-deep in mortgages and tend to use industry jargon, a professional agent will understand if you are a first-time homebuyer and will do their best to explain the terms and the process to you. Understanding is vital in your homeownership journey so make sure to seek out a broker who is going to keep it simple for you and be honest, allowing you to understand exactly what you’re getting in your mortgage.

Ultimately, it comes down to the mortgage product but don’t be blinded by interest rates. It is important that your agent explains everything to you from term conditions to penalties, as well as why you qualified for the rate you need. It is also important to use caution if a broker is selling you on a rate and making promises to pay for a fee; this is a red flag. If they say they’re going to pay for everything, they’re desperate for anything.

Of course, the rate matters, but the characteristics of your mortgage matter more and could end up costing you in the long run. You want a broker who’s going to listen to you and ask you about your needs and future goals. What are your plans five or ten years from now? Why are they so important to you as an individual? When looking at any mortgage product, consider that nearly 70 percent of mortgages are broken within three years. Even if you’re sure of today, life happens and tomorrow could be different. Therefore, you must consider the penalties for ducking out of your mortgage earlier and you should know if it is portable.

The best mortgage agents in the business will make sure all of your bases are covered, and you’re fully aware of what you’re signing onto. The right agent will make the process easier for you, whether it’s buying your first home, shopping for a better rate, or even jumping into investment properties. No matter what stage of life you are in, we’ve got a mortgage product – and a broker – for that!

 

Article Published by DLC Marketing Team

Are You Ready for Home Ownership?

General Greg Weaver 6 Aug

While most people know the main things they need to buy a home, such as stable employment and enough money for a down payment, there are a few other factors that may help you realize you’re ready – perhaps even earlier than you thought! In fact, there are four main things that can help you determine if you are ready for homeownership:

YOU CAN AFFORD YOUR DOWN PAYMENT AND ONGOING COSTS

It is easy for potential homeowners to get wrapped up in focusing on having enough money for the down payment and then forget about it afterwards. It is important that you are not only financially able to afford the down payment but that you can manage the monthly mortgage payments and ongoing maintenance as well. My Mortgage Toolbox app from Dominion Lending Centres has some great calculators to help you determine what you can afford on a monthly basis before you get in too deep. If you have enough funds in the bank for a down payment and are able to manage the monthly costs associated with the size and price range of home you would need, then you may be ready to start house-hunting!

YOU HAVE GOOD CREDIT

As most people know, a credit score plays a major role in qualifying for financing to purchase a home. If you have a good credit score, which should now be at least 680 to qualify, then you have nothing to worry about! However, if your credit score is below this, it is more likely that you will be paying higher interest rates (and therefore have higher payments), or that you could be denied altogether. Before you begin your home buying journey, it is vital to have your credit score in order to ensure you can get the best mortgage product and rates. Working with a mortgage professional can help you get on the right track in the shortest time possible. Sometimes all that’s needed are a few subtle changes, or debt consolidation, to improve your credit score within a couple of months.

NO OTHER LARGE, UPCOMING EXPENSES

Do you plan on buying two new vehicles in the next two years? Are you thinking of starting a family? Are you considering going back to school? Although you may think you can afford to purchase a home right now, it is vital, to be honest about your future plans. What does your life look like in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years? If you know that you aren’t planning on incurring big expenses that you need to factor into your budget anytime soon, then that’s something that may help you decide to buy a home.

ARE YOU DISCIPLINED

One of the most important factors for purchasing a home is budgeting. You have to know what you can afford – and stick with it! It is easy to be tempted by a gorgeous 6 bedroom home or a backyard pool or private community, but at what cost? If going all-in is going to leave you scrambling each paycheck or derail any plans of future financial stability, it is worth rethinking. Understanding what you NEED in a new home, versus what you WANT is a good step towards determining what you’re looking for and planning a budget that suits your needs so that you can continue to live comfortably.

These are just four signs that you may be ready to purchase a home. If you’re seriously considering buying or selling, reach out to Greg Weaver, he can help ensure you have the best experience when it comes to buying a home!

 

Article Published by DLC Marketing Team

CMHC Home Buyers Guide

General Greg Weaver 23 Jul

Market Smarts: Home Buying Guide.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is one of Canada’s three mortgage insurers. Beyond insuring mortgages, 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 homeownership.

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 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 Greg Weaver today for expert advice! It is our job to help find the best mortgage product for YOU.

 

Article Published by DLC Marketing Team

Changes to the Stress Test and What You Need to Know

General Greg Weaver 6 Jul

As you may have heard, the Bank of Canada recently changed the stress test rules as of June 1, 2021. With these changes, now both insured and uninsured mortgage borrowers will be subject to a stricter stress test when qualifying for their mortgage.

The new qualifying rate on uninsured and insured mortgages is now the contracted rate plus two percentage points or 5.25%, whichever is higher.

Overall, the implementation of these tougher stress test rules will reduce buying power by roughly 4-5% for borrowers. To help illustrate  how this change affects you, consider the following scenario with $100,000 gross income:

The previous stress test at 4.79% would give this individual the ability to borrow $469,530 (based on a good credit score with max GDS/TDS qualifications at 39/44%). Now, with the current scenario of 5.25% stress test rate, they can now only borrow $448,880 (based on a good credit score with max GDS/TDS at 39/44%). This is a difference of $20,650 which reduces your home options.

To ensure you are searching in the right price range and budgeting accordingly, it is important to consider this stress test change. If you are looking to purchase your first home or move, please don’t hesitate to contact me today for a better understanding of the rules and what you qualify for.

 

Original article published by Dominion Lending Centres

Introducing the First Responder Mortgage Program™.

General Greg Weaver 24 Jun

Dominion Lending Centres is proud to announce our brand new First Responder Mortgage Program™. In times of uncertainty, we can always count on our first responders. From coast to coast, you put Canadians first and ensure the health and safety of this great country – and we wanted to give you something in return.

The First Responder Mortgage Program™ was created with only one goal in mind: to help you on your journey to and throughout homeownership. We want you to have the perfect place to come home to and have peace of mind with your mortgage.

Backed by one of Canada’s largest banks, it is our pleasure to be able to offer this new program featuring competitive rates and cashback incentives for all eligible first responders, including:

  • Police Officers
  • Paramedics
  • Firefighters (employed and volunteer)
  • Correctional Services
  • Border Services
  • Search & Rescue (employed and volunteer)
  • Registered Physicians
  • Registered Nurses

Let us help you take the stress out of the mortgage process! Our Dominion Lending Centres® Mortgage Professionals are dedicated to finding the best financing solution to meet YOUR unique needs.

If you are looking to achieve your dream of homeownership, talk to us today to take advantage of this special program and unbiased advice.

 

Article Credit: dominionlending.ca/introducing-the-first-responder-mortgage-program

5 Approval Roadblocks

General Greg Weaver 21 Jun

When in the process of buying a home, there is nothing worse than having your mortgage broker or lawyer call and say “there is a problem”.

If you have found your dream home and negotiated a fair price, which was accepted, and you have supplied all the documentation to your broker, you assume everything is fine. The reality is that your financing approval is based on the information the lender was provided at the time of the application. If there have been any changes to your financial situation, the lender is within their rights to cancel your mortgage approval.

To ensure that you don’t encounter any last-minute issues on your home buying journey, there are five major approval roadblocks to be aware of and avoid for a smooth transaction:

EMPLOYMENT

When submitting a request for financing, whether a mortgage or car loan or to handle personal debt, one of the most important aspects the lender looks at is employment. If you were working at Company X for five years at $50,000 a year and – just before your deal is finalized – you change jobs, the lender will now require proof from the new job. This can include proof that probation for this new job is waived, or new job letters and pay stubs at the very least. If you change industries, they will want to see more proof that you are capable of keeping this job. For any employment involving overtime or bonuses, the lender often requests a two-year average, which you would not be able to provide at a new position. Another employment change that could hurt your financing approval would be if you decide to change from an employee to a self-employed contractor.

When it comes to financing, it is best to wait to make any major employment or life changes until after the deal has gone through.

DOWN PAYMENT SOURCE

As mortgage financing is based on the initial information provided, you will most likely need to do a final verification of the down payment source. If it is different than what the lender has approved, it could spell trouble for your financing approval. Even if you said that your down payment was coming from savings and, at the last minute, mom and dad offer you the funds as a gift, it could affect your approval. This is an acceptable source of down payment, but only if the lender knows about it in advance and has included this in their risk assessment, but it can end a deal.

DEBT

A week or two before your possession date, the lender will obtain a copy of your credit report and look for any changes to your debt load. Since mortgage approval is based on how much you owed on that particular date, it is important not to increase your debt before the deal is finalized. Buying a new car or items for the new home must be postponed until after possession; even if they are “do not pay for 12 months” campaigns because you will need to fulfill those payments, regardless of when they start.

BAD CREDIT

One of the biggest roadblocks to mortgage approvals is credit card payments. When you enter the financing process, it is important that your credit score remains positive. If your credit score falls due to late payments, this can cause major issues with your financing. Even if you have a high-ratio mortgage in place which requires CMHC insurance, a lower credit score could mean a withdrawal of the insurance and removal of any financing approval.

MISSING IDENTITY DOCUMENTS

Before a deal is finalized, the lawyer must verify your identity documents and see that they match the mortgage documents. You may not think it needs to be said, but it is important to use your legal name when you apply for a mortgage. Even if you go by your middle name or a nickname, all legal documents should match.

I would be happy to help make this experience go smoothly and avoid these roadblocks for you. Reach out to me if you have any mortgage questions.

25 Secrets Your Banker Doesn’t Want You to Know

General Greg Weaver 13 May

Twenty-five or thirty years can sound like an impossibly long time to service a loan – and for many of us, it is. If you are looking to pay off your mortgage faster, here are some tried-and-true tactics to get you to financial freedom that much sooner!

  1. Make a Double Mortgage Payment: A double payment once a year can shave over four years off the total life of the mortgage! Better yet, if your mortgage allows for double-up payments, another option is paying an extra $100 into your mortgage – per month. This can save you over $26,000 in interest on a 5.5% fixed-rate, 25-year amortized mortgage.
  2. Increase Your Payment Frequency: Changing your mortgage from monthly to bi-weekly accelerated payments can shave over three years off your mortgage. At $2,000 a month, three years of no payments is worth $72,000 (not to mention the interest saved!).
  3. Increase Your Payment: Did you know? A one-time 10% increase can shave four years off the mortgage. That’s $96,000 in savings! Imagine if you bumped the payment 10% every year from the get-go. You would be mortgage-free in 13 years—start to finish! Can’t do it? How about 5% every year? You would be mortgage-free in 18 years! You can also consider increasing the payment by the amount of your annual raise.
  4. Lump Sum Payments: This is another option to become mortgage-free even faster! Even just one extra payment a year equivalent to one monthly payment will give you similar results as #2 above. Annual work bonuses or other extra income is a great option for this.
  5. Renegotiate When Rates Drop: Revisiting your mortgage is a good idea when rates drop. However, it is always best to get expert advice from a mortgage broker to ensure it makes sense for you. If so, the benefits can be huge! For instance, a 1% reduction on a $300,000 mortgage will save $250 a month—times five years, that’s $15,000.
  6. Maintain a High Credit Rating: Even if you have already qualified for the mortgage you want, don’t let your credit rating slip. Pay your bills on time and keep balances low in relation to limits on credit cards, lines of credit, etc. Ideally, using 30% or less of your available credit will garner the highest results (assuming you pay the balances in full every month). Even if you’re filling your card to its credit limit max and paying it off in full each month, it will look like you are maxing out your credit limit and your credit score will drop accordingly.
  7. Increase Your Mortgage: Increasing your mortgage for the purpose of debt consolidation can be helpful for paying off credit card debt, line of credits, car loan, and so on for a better rate and a set payment plan.
  8. Make an RRSP Contribution: By making an RRSP contribution, you can then use your income tax refund to pay down your mortgage!
  9. Switch to a Variable Rate: Switching your mortgage to variable-rate while keeping your payments the same as if on fixed can help you pay your mortgage faster. Since variable rates are typically lower, you will be paying more to your principal loan versus the interest. Caution: Variable rates are not for everyone. Always be sure to seek the help of a mortgage broker to find out if variable rates are the best choice for you.
  10. Take Your Mortgage With You: When you move, switch your old mortgage to the new property to avoid a penalty or higher rate on a new mortgage. This is called “porting”, however not all mortgages have this feature so be sure to ask! It is not widely known but could save you a ton of money.
  11. Set Up Automatic Savings: Even setting aside $10 per paycheck can help! When your extra savings reaches the amount of one mortgage payment, apply it to the mortgage! This concept goes nicely with #4.
  12. Unhook From The Money Drip: Stop paying with your fancy points credit or debit card. These make it way too easy to overspend. Go old school, go off the grid and pay cash. It works and can help you stay on track!
  13. Don’t Buy on Layaway: You know, those don’t-pay-for-six-month “deals”, well a lot can change in six-months and you’ll still be on the hook. If you cannot afford it now, don’t buy it. Wait until you are financially able to make the investment.
  14. Downsize Your House: Are you living in a 5-bedroom family home but your kids are grown up and moved out? Consider downsizing to a smaller house. It will save you money on your mortgage payments and maintenance fees in the long run!
  15. Rent Out the Basement: Not ready to move? Consider converting spare rooms to rent and use the income to pay down debt.
  16. Make Your Mortgage Tax-Deductible: If you are self-employed, own rental property, or have investments, this is likely possible. Check with your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage broker to see if this option is right for you!
  17. Prioritize Your Payments: Define your various debts by category. This can help you see where you spend your money and also help you pay off your debt faster.
  18. Start With the Highest-Interest Rate: Pay off loans with the highest interest rates first, as these are the ones eating into your extra income!
  19. Leave Tax-Deductible Until Last: Pay the non-tax deductible loans first and fastest and leave tax-deductible debt to the end.
  20. Focus on Ugly Debt First: Debt such as credit card balances are the worst on your credit rating. Pay these off first.
  21. Pay Off Bad Debt Next: Debt for items that depreciate in value, such as car or boat loans, should be the next on your priority list.
  22. Clear Good Debt Last: Loans such as mortgages or investments for assets that should appreciate in value is the least harmful to your net worth and can be paid out last.
  23. Buy a New Car – Outright! Finance it if you have to but don’t lease, unless you are self-employed in which case leasing makes more sense.
  24. Use Your Secret Stash: If you have $20,000 in a bank account for a rainy day or vacation and yet owe $20,000 on a line of credit, you need to reconsider. The bank account is paying you next to no interest (which is taxable income) and the line of credit rate is way higher (and not tax deductible). You know what to do. You can keep the line of credit open and on standby for a rainy day. Make it the secret line of credit that you have but never use.
  25. Give your Banker More Money: No, really. Keep enough in your chequing account to meet the minimum requirement to waive your service charges. Some banks charge a fee for transactions and nothing, zero, zilch, zip if you keep $2,500 in the account. Let’s see, $10 x 12 is $120 a year to pay off debt. I’d have to earn 5% with the $2,500 in my savings account to come out ahead. No-brainer here. Oh yeah, if you need more than 25 transactions a month, see #12 above.

Let’s face it, your financial future will not get any brighter if you continue to run deficits forever. Unlike a bank or big company, you won’t get a bailout! Stop procrastinating and take charge of your own finances with the above tips!

If you are looking for expert advice about your mortgage and how to pay it down faster, contact a Dominion Lending Centres professional to discuss YOUR situation and options.

BORROWER BEWARE:

It is always important to take things with a grain of salt. This is especially important when it comes to too-good-to-be-true, ultra-low-rate mortgages. These “no frills” mortgages are often loaded with restrictions such as pre-payment limitations, fully-closed terms, stripped-out features, or unusual penalties. If you’re not looking at what you’re giving up, you may regret it in the future. These hidden terms alone could prevent you from taking advantage of tips #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, and 22!

 

For any mortgage needs, contact: gregweaver@dominionlending.ca

Stress Test

General Greg Weaver 27 Apr

With a red hot housing market, The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) announced that it intends to raise the current stress test level to 5.25%, or two percentage points above the market rate, whichever is higher.  They plan on implementing the new rules on June 01, 2021. 

The stress test was first introduced in 2018 in an attempt to add some stability to the housing market, but I think increasing the threshold for homebuyers was the wrong step. I don’t believe that making the buffer even larger is the most logical tool to help borrowers and lenders and to cool down the red hot housing market at this time. 

The current stress test level is 4.79%, based on the current average five-year posted rate at Canada’s biggest lenders, as per the B-20 Guidelines. The Bank of Canada lowered its five-year conventional mortgage rate from 4.94% last August, but that has been reversed due to continued sky-high demand in the housing market.  

They are having a comment period that ends on May 7 and OSFI reported that they would communicate the revised B-20 Guideline by May 24. So we will find out then if this new benchmark will be implemented on June 1st. 

I believe that this will boost the current boom in home buying and will accelerate the spring market, with borrowers trying to get in under the June 1 deadline. OSFI’s move will trigger an even hotter spring housing market as demand is pulled forward just as it was before the January 1, 2018 implementation date of the current B-20 ruling. 

This new rule will not impact non-federally regulated institutions like credit unions, mono-lines, and private lenders, and it’s not set to impact insured-mortgage borrowers. The federal government is in charge of mortgage qualification for insured mortgages. CMHC and the finance department could follow OSFI’s lead in tightening qualifying rules for insured loans.

One of the biggest concerns is for new homebuyers, and families trying to get into the housing market. Instead of hiking the stress test the provincial and municipal governments could pursue other measures, like addressing the difficulties new homebuyers face entering the market. Making it harder for investors to participate, in a more strategic way, might be a better way to solve the problem. 

In my opinion, the government should have a role to play with increasing the supply. Creating more homes is the only way of cooling the housing market in a meaningful way. I think that the affordability that exists today, put in place with the original benchmark rate made some sense, but making that buffer bigger does not solve the supply issue that we continue to face.

This graph shows how the new stress test at 5.25% can impact affordability. This example shows a reduction of approximately $20,000 for a gross annual income of $100,000.

Privacy Policy

General Greg Weaver 30 Jun

The Westlake Team is committed to providing you with excellent service and maintaining a high level of security and respect for your right to privacy. (In this policy, “DLC” or “Dominion Lending Centres” means The Westlake Team)

Overview

This statement is one way of sustaining your trust in our company, our products and our services. Our privacy statement describes how we collect, protect and use information about you during your visit on our web site.

What Personal Information Does The Westlake Team Collect Online?

We may collect personal information about you from the information you provide to us when you fill out an application or other forms on our site. We may also receive personal information about you from consumer reporting agencies, your transactions with us, our affiliates or others. This information may include:

Financial Information, Name, Address, Social Security Number, Account Numbers, Telephone Number, or Email Address.

Why Is Personal Information Collected?

If you fill out an application or other form on our site, we may ask for a variety of information to help us communicate with you, evaluate your eligibility and the product or services that may be right for you. We may also obtain other information about you, for example, your credit report. This information is used to determine your eligibility for our products and services.

Also, if you choose to share any personal information with us, we may store it and use it for our own marketing research and the marketing of our products and services to you.

When Is Personal Information About Me Collected Online?

We collect personal information about you when you fill out an application or other forms on our site, when you register through registration web pages and each time you update your personal profile.

Does The Westlake Team Use Cookies or Other Online Technologies to Collect Information About Me?

Some of our web sites may make use of “cookie” technology to measure site activity and to customize information to your personal tastes. A cookie is an element of data that a web site can send to your browser, which may then store the cookie on your hard drive. So, when you come back to visit us again, we can tailor information to suit your individual preferences. The goal is to save you time and provide you with a more meaningful visit.

When you visit our site, we may collect and store information about your visit. This information may include the time and length of your visit, the pages you view on our site, the last site you visited before coming to ours, and the name of your internet service provider. We use this data on an aggregate basis to measure site activity, and on an individual basis to make the site more useful and provide information that may be of interest to you.

Online Advertising We Utilize

In this section of our Privacy Policy, we want to outline and describe Targeted Advertising (which can also be called Remarketing or Behavioral Advertising), Google Analytics, and the choices you have related to this type of online advertising and data collection.

The third party ad networks and ad companies we utilize, including Google, serve our ads to you on sites across the internet based on past visits to our website. Targeted Advertising through third party ad networks, including Google, allows us the ability to better tailor our marketing and advertising to fit your needs by displaying ads that are more relevant to you.

Third party ad networks and ad companies we utilize, including Google, use cookies, and may also use web beacons and similar technologies, to collect user behavior Information during any visit or visits you make to this website in order to provide measurement services and advertising optimization only. As an example, the information that is collected by the cookie may include the number of times you visited a page and viewed and/or clicked an ad. The cookie does not collect personal information or give access to your computer.

If you do not want to participate in Targeted Advertising and Google Analytics data gathering you can opt out of the automated collection of information by third party ad networks, including Google, by visiting the Digital Advertising Alliance Consumer Choice page at http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ and by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative Consumer Opt-Out page at www.networkadvertising.org/choices/. You can also edit your Google Display Network ad preferences at http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/ and opt out of Google Analytics by visiting the Google Analytics Opt Out Page at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Do You Share Personal Information About Me?

In certain circumstances, we may share information about you with other companies so that we may provide you with the products and services you have requested. We may share information about you with our suppliers and service providers for their use in providing services, or within The Westlake Team family for market research and marketing purposes as allowed by law. Also, we may share information about you with credit reporting agencies when you complete an online form or application.

Any company with which we share information about you for the above purposes is contractually required to comply with confidentiality standards. We may disclose information about you as required or permitted by law. We do not sell information about you to anyone.

How Can I Review, Change or Correct Information You Collect?

We are committed to maintaining accurate and up-to-date information on all of our customers. We may provide you with access to account information in different ways, for example, over the telephone, online or on paper.

If you have completed and saved, but have not submitted, an online form or application you may be able to make certain changes to the information you have provided to us before it is submitted. If you are unable to make changes to the information you have provided to us online, you may Contact in order to do so.

How Do You Protect Personal Information?

We restrict access to the information obtained from our websites and web pages to our employees, agents and contractors. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect personal information.

How Do I Contact The Westlake Team If I Have Questions About This Statement?

The Westlake Team
Customer Questions
2215 Coquitlam Avenue
Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 1J6
Telephone: 1-888-806-8080

Will The Westlake Team Make Changes To This Privacy Statement?

This statement is effective January 1st, 2006 and remains in effect until amended. The Westlake Team reserves the right to amend this Privacy Statement or alter its privacy principles at its sole discretion without notice to you. Any alterations to this Privacy Statement or our privacy principles will be posted on our web site in a timely manner.

Does The Westlake Team follow the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation?

Canada’s new Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) came into effect on July 1, 2014. Under this new legislation, we are required to obtain your consent in order to send you email communication about latest mortgage news, events, products and services. If you have any questions, please contact us

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