How to Calculate a Home Buying Budget

When house–hunting, some factors, like the features of the home, can be adjusted once you've made your purchase, while other factors, like the location, cannot be. Finding the right home is about getting the right balance and at a price you can afford. Advice on how to calculate a home buying budget.

-          Learn about your options - When house–hunting, you look for places that suit your needs and lifestyle. Do the same when deciding on your mortgage. Know the differences between fixed and variable interest rate mortgages and decide what amortization period best suits your situation. Payment flexibility is also important when deciding on a mortgage, to know what you can prepay, as well as options to pay less at a later date if something unexpected comes up.

-          Calculate your mortgage numbers - Run the numbers and settle on a price range you can afford using a convenient online mortgage calculator, which factors in your income and the size of your down payment and compares different mortgage options and payment plans. Understanding what you can afford lets you narrow your search and shop with confidence, knowing that the houses you view fit within your budget.

-          Get pre-approved - The home–buying process can happen very quickly, so be prepared when you find a home you want. Getting pre–approved for a mortgage puts you in a good position to make an offer when you find the right home. There's usually no cost or obligation, and it's a good opportunity to come in and talk to a mortgage expert to clarify any questions.  Please call us at (250) 862-1806 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (250) 862-1806      end_of_the_skype_highlighting to set up an appointment or visit our website to contact us http://www.okanaganmortgages.com/contactus.php

How to Calculate a Home Buying Budget

First Time Home Buyer?

Your RRSP may be the down payment you're looking for.

Thinking about buying your first home? Wish you had saved up a good down payment? Maybe you have, but didn't know it. First-time homebuyers can tap into their RRSP to help with a home purchase.

Thank the federal government for this great initiative. Designed to help first-time buyers get into home ownership, the program lets you access tax-free monies for use towards the purchase or even construction of your first home.

Why tap into your RRSP? The most common reason is to boost the down payment on a home. The bigger your down payment is the smaller your mortgage will be. And you may qualify for better interest rates too your healthy down payment shows the lender that you are a low risk candidate for a mortgage loan. Your RRSP can help provide the funds for a down payment that will make a difference to your costs in the long run.

Here’s how it works. If you've been contributing to an RRSP, then you already know the program is designed to set aside money for retirement, with the money going into the program tax-free (and the plan to pay taxes on the funds when they're withdrawn later). But there are some good and valid reasons why you may want to access these funds earlier. A home purchase may be one of them. As a first-time homebuyer, you are allowed to withdraw RRSP money and have it remain tax-free, provided you adhere to the easy repayment plan. (Just make sure, of course, that your RSP is not a locked-in plan). You can withdraw up to $25,000.00 from your plan. If your spouse qualifies as a first-time homebuyer, then he or she will also be able to withdraw $25,000.00. Between the two of you, you could possibly have a hefty down payment sum of $50,000.00. That’s enough to make a substantial difference in the affordability of home ownership!

Ask your mortgage broker for more information about this program, known as the Home Buyer's Plan (HBP). There are some conditions that you should know about.

For example, you need to spend the money once it's withdrawn: you must enter a written agreement (offer to purchase) before you can withdraw money. And you are expected to complete the home purchase no later than October 1 of the year following your withdrawal. And don't spread your withdrawals out: all HBP-eligible withdrawals must be made in the same calendar year. Above all, you must meet certain repayment terms. Repayment to your RSP begins the second year following the year of withdrawal. You have up to fifteen years to repay, and each annual repayment must be at least one-fifteenth of the withdrawn amount.

First Time Home Buyer?