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What You need to Know about a Reverse Mortgage for Seniors
If you are a homeowner or aspiring to be one in the coming months, then the term mortgage may not be a new concept to you. It is a form of a loan that is mainly issued to either buy or construct a home whose ownership entirely passes to you after you have paid to your last installment. A reversed mortgage in Canada is no different, only that it comes with some exceptions that make it somehow different. Some of these exceptions include no monthly installments which mean that no credit or income/debt requirements, only accessible to seniors ( 55 years and above) and the borrowers ability to settle the loan are not a primary concern. Lets take a closer look at the requirement of a Reverse Mortgage and emphasize on what you ought to know.
Monthly repayment of mortgage: The Canadian law on a reverse mortgage is very clear, no monthly payments of the mortgage. Nobody should mislead you out there, not even the internet that most people trust to give them perfect information. Note that in Canada, we deal with reverse mortgage differently from other countries. Therefore, if you have to do any research or seek clarification on the same, ensure you base your findings within the Canadian context to avoid getting the wrong information. Unlike other forms of mortgage, with a conventional mortgage on your home, the borrower owes more that he initially borrowed as the interest is added back to the outstanding amount. If you are willing, you have the option of paying some or all interest once in a year; although it is not a MUST.
What makes reverse mortgages attractive is its flexible requirement. Where else will you find a mortgage that allows you to hold it for 5 to even 25 years without any monthly installments? The good thing about such terms is that in as far as the reverse mortgage in Canada loan accrues over time, the value of the house in Canada also tends to increase with time which gives you a win-win situation.
Apart from that, we all know that the Canadian money market is subjected to a lot fluctuation in interest rates which may end causing the borrower to spend more than the fair market value of the common loans but not with Canada reverse mortgage. Therefore, as a senior, you dont have to worry about your debt exceeding the fair market value in future due to such external factors which are very normal.
Finally, reverse loan mortgage in Canada is only given by one institution in Canada which means that there will be no need for the rate on shopping. However, note that unlike in regular mortgage, the rate in reverse mortgage is slightly higher due to the long duration involved.
Bank of Canada increases overnight rate target to 1 per cent
The Bank of Canada is raising its target for the overnight rate to 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent.
Recent economic data have been stronger than expected, supporting the Banks view that growth in Canada is becoming more broadly-based and self-sustaining. Consumer spending remains robust, underpinned by continued solid employment and income growth. There has also been more widespread strength in business investment and in exports. Meanwhile, the housing sector appears to be cooling in some markets in response to recent changes in tax and housing finance policies. The Bank continues to expect a moderation in the pace of economic growth in the second half of 2017, for the reasons described in the July Monetary Policy Report (MPR), but the level of GDP is now higher than the Bank had expected.
The global economic expansion is becoming more synchronous, as anticipated in July, with stronger-than-expected indicators of growth, including higher industrial commodity prices. However, significant geopolitical risks and uncertainties around international trade and fiscal policies remain, leading to a weaker US dollar against many major currencies. In this context, the Canadian dollar has appreciated, also reflecting the relative strength of Canadas economy.
While inflation remains below the 2 per cent target, it has evolved largely as expected in July. There has been a slight increase in both total CPI and the Banks core measures of inflation, consistent with the dissipating negative impact of temporary price shocks and the absorption of economic slack. Nonetheless, there remains some excess capacity in Canadas labour market, and wage and price pressures are still more subdued than historical relationships would suggest, as observed in some other advanced economies.
Canadian home sales fall further in July
According to statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national home sales declined further in July 2017. Highlights:
National home sales fell 2.1% from June to July.
Actual (not seasonally adjusted) activity in July stood 11.9% below last Julys level.
The number of newly listed homes edged back by 1.8% from June to July.
The MLS Home Price Index (HPI) was up 12.9% year-over-year (y-o-y) in July 2017.
The national average sale price edged down by 0.3% y-o-y in July.
Julys interest rate hike may have motivated some homebuyers with pre-approved mortgages to make an offer, said CREA President Andrew Peck. Even so, sales activity continued to soften in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region. Meanwhile, sales and prices in Montreal continue to strengthen. All real estate is local, and REALTORS remain your best source for information about sales and listings where you live or might like to.
July marked the smallest monthly decline in Greater Golden Horseshoe home sales since Ontarios Fair Housing Plan was announced in April, said Gregory Klump, CREAs Chief Economist. This suggests sales may be starting to bottom out amid stabilizing housing market sentiment. Time will tell whether thats indeed the case once the transitory boost by buyers with pre-approved mortgages fades.
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