Real Estate Insider: May 2018 News Report

Hello there, Real Estate Insiders! Get ready for some of the most important topics we've discovered yet. Why you need a lawyer if you're selling your house, the best way to approach mortgage renewal, and why it's harder for Millennials to buy are just a few of the reads we have in store for you. 

There’s a lot of things you can do to save some money, but skipping out on a Real Estate lawyer when buying a home should NEVER be one of them! Read why it can end up costing you way more than the legal fees if you decide to buy a home without a lawyer. >>

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While owning a condominium in Toronto and renting it out may seem like a great investment, it appears nearly half aren’t getting enough rent to cover their costs. Is it still worth it? >>

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If you sold your home after 2016 and didn’t report it to CRA, you might be looking at hefty fine! Read here to stay updated on all the forms and necessary steps to avoid an unwanted call from the CRA. >>

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If you own a rental property with more than two people, tax season can be tricky! Be sure to know how to split these taxes fairly, and you can start by reading this article! >>

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If you are thinking of investing in your first rental property, this article is for you. Be better prepared to make this decision. Should it be a house or condo? Duplex? Where are you living now? This article has all the right questions you might not have thought to ask! >>

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“My mortgage comes up for renewal this year.” If you are in the same boat as these authors then you should definitely read their mortgage renewal strategy to help with your own! >>

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Think that if you can afford the down payment and the mortgage payments you can afford a house? Think again! There are a lot of costs involved in buying a home and we want to make sure you are financially prepared for all of them. Read this list so there are no surprises on closing day! >>

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Real Estate Lawyers discuss the "5 Things to Know about Government Standard Lease Form”. >>

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The 2018 OSFI stress test has cut Millennial purchasing power by over $40,000! What does that mean for first time home buyers? >>

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With a lot of things now being done online, should dealing with a mortgage broker be one of them? Read the pros and cons of going online for a mortgage. >>

Real Estate Insider: November 2017 News Report

Wow, did we find some articles you won't want to pass up! This edition, we cover tax evasion, living with your parents, "jingle mail", and much more.

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Have an RRSP? Thinking about buying a home? Make sure you are up to date on the provisions of the Home Buyers Plan to make sure you are saving as much as possible! >>

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Watch this great video if you’re considering becoming a Landlord! Be sure to know all the tips and tricks before you make the big investment! >>

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There are many different ways to invest your RRSP; one of the lesser-known ways is to invest it in Real Estate! Learn how you can use your RRSP to your advantage when investing for your future. >>

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Buy or Rent? An age-old question associated mostly with cars and houses, but what about water heaters? Learn the pros and cons of buying versus renting a water heater for your home. >>

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Want to learn more about the upcoming stress test? Read these 10 ways that it will change the lending market. >>

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Tax Evaders beware! BC and Ontario to consider registry of pre-construction condo sales. >>

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Whether you are a Landlord or a Tenant, make sure you are up to date with the changes to Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act so you can stay informed and protected! >>

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Still living with your parents? You’re not alone! Multi-generational households are becoming more common due to price growth and it is changing the way developers are planning for the future. >>

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American Real Estate Company “Zillow” to start showing Canadian Listings with goals to expose American buyers to affordable housing in Canada, mainly in big cities and vacation areas. >>

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“Think Canadians couldn’t abandon their mortgages like Americans did in 2008? Think again.” >>

Are you Fit for a Mortgage?

What the heck is a Stress Test? Why Should I care?
Starting next year, it will become tougher to qualify for a mortgage.  Earlier this month, Canada’s banking regulator published final guidelines for its mortgage qualification rules.  For some reason it hasn’t gotten as much coverage as other news items, such interest rate hikes or Amazon HQ2.  But it should have because it has serious potential repercussions for the real estate market and the economy.  Today we are going to discuss what you need to know.

Who is making this change?

Canada’s banking regulator, the OSFI (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions).  The OSFI is responsible for supervising and regulating Canada’s financial institutions.

When do the changes come into effect?

January 1, 2018.

What changes are they making to the regulations?

They are tightening standards on uninsured mortgages (mortgages where the borrower is putting down 20% or more of a down payment on the purchase price).  Lenders will soon be required to “stress test” all uninsured mortgages at the greater of: the Bank of Canada’s five year posted interest rate or 200 basis points (2%) higher than the negotiated contract interest rate.

Can you give an example of how this would work?

Let’s say you are looking to purchase a house and are shopping to line up mortgage financing.  Your realtor tells you to go get pre-approved so you understand what price range you can afford.  Your lender offers you a 5 year fixed interest rate of 3.19% (which would be competitive as of the writing of this blog).  Before this change, you were able to qualify at this fixed rate with your lender and based on your ratios you were able to qualify up to a maximum price range.  After the change, you will now have to qualify at the higher of: 4.99% (the bank of Canada’s posted rate as of writing) or 200 basis points higher than the contract rate (3.19% +2.00%) or 5.19%.  In this case you would use 5.19% to qualify.  Naturally with the higher interest rate your ratios would change and your affordability will drop – you won't be able to qualify for as much house!

How will this affect the market?

This will knock some buyers completely out of the market in some higher priced areas and will drop other buyers into lower prices ranges when shopping for a home.  This should increase competition for starter type homes and decrease the pool of buyers in larger and pricier homes.  Other people will be forced to put up a higher down payment (thanks Mom and Dad).  This will also increase rental demand in most markets.

Why are they making this change?

The main reason is to slow down the runaway housing market many cities in Canada have experienced in the last 7-8 years.  The regulator is also concerned about the indebtedness of the population and their ability to handle potential rising interest rates.  This should reign in the mortgage segment at least.

What else should I know?

This applies to you if you are renewing your mortgage as well.  The only time it doesn’t is if you are renewing and staying at the same lender.  But if you decide to switch, you’ll also have to qualify with this new stress test.  It is a bit concerning that some people will be forced to stay with their existing lenders because of this and knowing the borrowers predicament, the lender will not be very generous in their renewal terms.

Of all the changing regulations the government has thrown at the housing market in the last few years, this one has the most potential to really shake things up.  It remains to be seen how the market will respond but it will be interesting to see!  What do you think of these stress tests?  Will they affect your plans in 2018?  We’d love to hear from you.