Tag Archives: RRSP

Should I Use RRSPs For A Down Payment?

Bulk up your down payment with help from your Registered Retirement Savings Plan.

Loan AppThe Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) is a program from the Government of Canada that allows first time home buyers to withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSP towards their Canadian mortgage rate down payment for their first home, tax free.

How Does the Home Buyer’s Plan Work?

You can use your RRSP to help buy a new home, but in order to ensure the withdrawals are tax free, there are a number of conditions and requirements that apply.

  1. You must be a first time home buyer, and a Canadian residentTo participate in the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) for your best mortgage rate, you must be a first time home buyer and a resident of Canada at the withdrawal time. You may only be considered as a first time home buyer if you, and / or your spouse haven’t owned and lived in a primary residence for at least four years before the date of the RRSP withdrawal.
  2. You and your partner can both withdraw up to $25,000.
    If you are purchasing the home with a spouse, you can both withdraw $25,000 each from your RRSP accounts under the Home Buyer’s Plan. This means you could potentially have up to a total of $50,000 towards your first home, reducing your mortgage rate amount and payments, along with overall interest requirements.
  3. The deal must close within one year.
    The home must be purchased or built within one year of the withdrawal to apply for the Home Buyer’s Plan.
  4. You have up to fifteen years to repay the amount
    You have up to fifteen years to repay the amount you withdrew starting the second year after you made the withdrawal. Each year, you must pay a minimum of 1/15 of the withdrawn amount. For example, if you withdrew $15,000, then each year you would have to pay back $1,000 to your RRSP. If you skip a payment, then the payment amount will be counted as income and you will need to pay taxes on it.

Restrictions of the Home Buyer’s Plan

Any RRSP contributions made less than 90 days before the withdrawal date cannot be used towards the Home Buyer’s Plan.

Planning to Retire With a Mortgage? You’re Not Alone

Canadian’s won’t be retiring their mortgage debt anytime soon, according to a recent survey by the Bank of Montreal. Data shows that more than half (51%) of Canadian homeowners plan to carry their mortgage into their retirement. But there’s more to this figure than meets the eye, says Phil Soper, chief executive of Royal LePage Real Estate Services. Soper argues that changing demographics and approaches to money management are what’s causing this increase, rather than just increased consumer debt. Continue reading →

Should You Pay Off Debt or Invest in Your RRSP?

With the RRSP deadline looming, many Canadians are trying to make sense of their investment options. Personal debt levels in Canada have hit record highs, most of us don’t have a pension to fall back on and our retirement savings are far from adequate. Which leads us to the perennial problem: Should Canadian’s focus on paying off their mortgage and lowering debt or invest in RRSPs?  Continue reading →

Which is Better? RRSP Loans or Cash Back Mortgages

Have you made your RRSP contribution yet? This year’s deadline is February 29th, so don’t wait too long. Contributing to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) can have a major impact on your financial situation, saving you hundreds on your annual tax statement. And that’s just the beginning! Budget-savvy individuals will also enjoy the long-term growth of their investment.

Unfortunately, finding the money to invest in an RRSP isn’t always easy. According to a recent report from the Investor’s Group, it’s estimated that nearly 58% of Canadian’s won’t invest in their RRSP this year because there simply isn’t enough money left after paying for basic living expenses.

If you’re struggling to make ends meet, now’s the time to consider a cash back mortgage or an RRSP loan. Both will help you free up extra capital to cover expenses, but in very different ways. Here’s what you need to know in order to make a well-educated decision. Continue reading →

First-time Home Buyer Help: Mortgage Pre-Approvals and Down Payment Options

 

First-time Home Buyer Help: Mortgage Pre-approvals and Down Payment Options

Purchasing your first home can be a stressful experience. From listings to viewings, paperwork to inspections, there are a lot of things that first-time home buyers need to think about prior to making an offer on a potential home. Luckily, the mortgage brokers at FamilyLending.ca are here to help make your first time-home buying experience as easy as possible. This includes providing you with expert financial advice and assistance on the FamilyLending.ca blog. Today on the blog, we’ll help you understand the importance of mortgage pre-approval, as well as discuss the different types of down payment options available to first-time home buyers.

The Many Benefits of Mortgage Pre-approval

Securing a mortgage pre-approval is an important first step before purchasing your new home. Taking the time to obtain a pre-approval will demonstrate to sellers and realtors that you are a serious buyer, and could potentially help you during purchase negotiations.

A mortgage pre-approval will also help you set a realistic budget for your house hunt. This is because a mortgage pre-approval will tell you exactly how much money you can spend on your new home and what your mortgage payments will be. A mortgage pre-approval also allows you to lock in your interest rate for up to 120 days. With interest rates on the rise, it’s only logical that first-time home buyers should complete the mortgage pre-approval process as soon as possible.

Get A Mortgage Pre-Approval Now

Securing a mortgage pre-approval is easier than you think. The mortgage brokers at FamilyLending.ca can help get you pre-approved today – simply fill out our online mortgage pre-approval questionnaire to get the ball rolling.

Deciding on a Down Payment

There are many different down payment offers available to first-time home buyers. The following are three popular down payment options:

  • A Conventional Mortgage A conventional mortgage requires a down payment of at least 20% and involves either a fixed or variable interest rate. Conventional mortgages are the most affordable option since they don’t have to be insured against default.
  • Low Down Payment Insured Mortgage Don’t have a large down payment, but still want to buy a house? Then consider applying for a low down payment insured mortgage. Many lenders now offered this type of financing for both new and resale homes. These mortgages have a much lower down payment requirement than conventional mortgages – some are as low as 5%! The one big drawback to low down payment mortgages is that they must be insured to cover potential default of payment. These insurance premiums can be quite high, resulting in a higher carrying cost than that of a conventional mortgage.
  • Cash Back Mortgage

There are options where you may receive a Cash Back option to your mortgage. This type of mortgage allows the buyer to have as little as the closing costs and 1% down payment. They tend to carry a little higher interest rate (about 1 % higher than best rates). There are other options than using cash back mortgages and best to consult with your mortgage broker.

 

  • Using Your RRSP as a Down Payment The federal government’s Home Buyer’s Plan allows first-time home buyers to use up to $25,000 per person in RRSP savings for a down payment on a home. This means that a couple can pull a total of $50,000 from their RRSP to help fund their first home. This withdrawal is not taxable, provided you repay it within a 15-year period. To qualify, the funds you plan to use must have been in your RRSP for at least 90 days.

Talk to our Agents at Family Lending Financial for any of your RRSP questions or needs today!

Mortgage pre-approvals and down payment decisions are just a few of the factors you’ll have to consider when purchasing your first home. For more first-time home buyer help, consult with a FamilyLending.ca  mortgage broker.

At FamilyLending.ca we do more than help with your financing, we make the whole home hunting process easier.

 

Chantielle Kennedy writer for Familylending.ca