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DETERMINE WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD! 1. How much you can afford to spend on a home purchase 2. What your mortgage amount and payments will be and compare different ways of paying your mortgage off faster 3. Whether you can transfer or refinance your mortgage 4. What you can afford for home improvements or cash take-out on your home
THE MORTGAGE PROCESS Why is it a good idea to get a pre-approved mortgage? A pre-approved mortgage gives you an edge. Before you even go house hunting, you will know the size of your mortgage, the interest rate, and the size of your monthly mortgage payments. With your financing already mapped out, you can concentrate on finding the right home in your price range. A pre-approved mortgage also puts you in a strong bargaining position when you make an Offer to Purchase. If the seller wants to make a quick sale, you may be able to negotiate a price lower than the list price, because the seller knows that you are a serious buyer. On the other hand, if several people are bidding on the home you want, you may decide to offer to purchase at the list price, to beat out earlier offers. To apply on-line or for more information please click here. Making an Offer to Purchase When you find the home that's right for you, your next step is to make an offer to purchase the home from the current owner. The owner can accept your offer, make changes to the offer and present you with a counter-offer, or reject the offer. The Offer to Purchase The Offer to Purchase is a legally binding agreement between you and the person selling the house. It's a good idea to have your lawyer review the offer with you before it is presented to the seller. It sets out:
Discuss the Offer to Purchase with your lawyer before you sign it. Remember, it becomes a legally binding agreement the moment it is accepted. If you decide to cancel an offer that has already been accepted, you could lose your deposit and the person selling the home could sue you for damages. If the seller does not accept your offer, your deposit will be returned. When your offer is accepted Your offer has been accepted. Good. You're now on the home stretch - finalizing the details of your mortgage and closing the purchase of your new home. Call your assigned Mortgage Specialist. Your Mortgage Specialist will need to receive the following documents and information:
Processing the mortgage application Your Mortgage Specialist will want to verify the value of the property you are buying, your current financial picture and your credit history, so a property appraisal and credit report will be ordered. Also, if your down payment is less than 25%, you would qualify for a high ratio mortgage on which you would have to pay insurance premiums. You decide whether you want to pay the premium in cash or have your lender add it to your mortgage amount. Your Mortgage Representative can contact Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) or GE Capital Mortgage Insurance Company of Canada (GEMI) to make the arrangements. Be prepared to pay fees for the mortgage application, credit report and property appraisal. Closing the purchase Closing day is the day you become the official owner of your home. However, the closing process usually takes a few days. Typically, you visit your lawyer's office to review and sign documents relating to the mortgage, the property you are buying, the ownership of the property and the conditions of the purchase. Your lawyer will also ask you to bring a certified cheque to cover the closing costs and any other outstanding costs. Once your mortgage and the deed for the property are officially recorded, you become the official owner of the property. Congratulations! You've just bought a home! For more information, please click here. |
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Sandra Jepson |