AGENT LICENSE ID
135410
Marjan Watt
: Director of Mortgage Solutions
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Address:
227-5589 Byrne Road, Burnaby, British Columbia
Making sure that your mortgage is right for you, the lowest rate may not always be your best option.
Today's clients are sophisticated and knowledgeable but recognize their limitations of time and expertise. They consult their team of professionals such as accountants at tax time, realtors when it is time to make a real estate purchase and their mortgage broker when it comes to purchase or refinance and wouldn't you....our services are free and there are no costs built into the rate.*
It is easy to see why a mortgage broker will provide professional expertise, followed by objective opinions on current rates and products. We don't represent the bank... we represent you, the customer. Our business is built on referrals and repeat clientele and mortgages are what we specialize in.
BLOG / NEWS Updates
How To Be A Debt Ninja
These five proven, debt-destroying techniques can help you pay down your mortgage and clear your balance faster.1.Apply your windfalls.Expecting abonus? Selling off an asset? Rather thansplurge when you're flush with cash, putsome money down on your mortgage.Last year, nearly a million Canadianmortgage holders (975,000) made anaverage $10,000 lump-sum payment totheir balance, according to the CanadianAssociation of Accredited MortgageProfessionals (CAAMP), wiping out atotal of $10 billion in mortgage debt.2.Pay more than you have to.Mostlenders allow an increase of 10% to 20%above and beyond your regular pay-ments. Every extra dollar goes rightto your principal, in turn reducinginterest costs.According to CAAMP's Spring 2013Consumer Mindset survey, one in fourmortgage holders plan to increase theamount of their payments this year.3. No amount is too little.Even afew dollars a month helps chip awayat debt, and you'll hardly miss it.Two-thirds of mortgage holderssurveyed in a recent ScotiabankMortgage Landscape Study agreed it'spossible to pay off their mortgage fasterwithout changing their lifestyle. Mostrespondents (59%) said they believeadding $20 per month to their mortgagepayment would have no impact ontheir finances.4. Set a timeline on non-mortgagedebt.Don't ignore the outstandingbalance on a credit line or home equityloan. Calculate the monthly cost to payit off over 18 months, two years orwhatever timeline you set as a goal.Canadians lowered personal debts by2% in the first quarter of 2013, accordingto a report by TransUnion, the biggestdecline since 2004.5. Leave no expense unturned.Underused gym membership? Costlyphone plan? Track your monthly householdspending and aim to cut down on yourbiggest non-essential expenses.We can find ways to help you savemoney on your mortgage or determinewhether refinancing makes sense as partof your debt-repayment strategy.Looking for a Mortgage Broker you can trust? Contact Marjan Watt - 604.603.9119
Minister Morneau announces new benchmark rate for qualifying insured mortgages
For many Canadians, their home is the most important investment they will make in their lifetime. That is why the Government of Canada has introduced measures to help more Canadians achieve their housing needs while also taking measured actions to contain risks in the housing market. A stable and healthy housing market is part of a strong economy, which is vital to building and supporting a strong middle class.
Today, Minister of Finance, Bill Morneau, announced changes to the benchmark rate used to determine the minimum qualifying rate for insured mortgages, also known as the stress test. These changes will come into effect on April 6, 2020. The new benchmark rate will be the weekly median 5-year fixed insured mortgage rate from mortgage insurance applications, plus 2%.
This follows a recent review by federal financial agencies which concluded that the minimum qualifying rate should be more dynamic to better reflect the evolution of market conditions. Overall, the review concluded that mortgage standards are working to ensure that home buyers are able to afford their homes even if interest rates rise, incomes change, or families are faced with unforeseen expenses. This adjustment to the stress test will allow it to be more representative of the mortgage rates offered by lenders and more responsive to market conditions.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) also announced today that it is considering the same new benchmark rate to determine the minimum qualifying rate for uninsured mortgages. OSFI is seeking input from interested stakeholders on this proposal before March 17, 2020.
The Contagion of Fear
Fears of a possible coronavirus pandemic are sweeping the world. Markets are jittery with little hard data to go on.
With the first case now reported in Canada, many are recalling the 2003 SARS where Canada was one of the epicenters. Arguably the biggest (economic) lesson from that experience is that fear is the biggest risk to the outlook.
The impact of the SARS pandemic on the Canadian economy is difficult to estimate, confounded as it was by the slowing US economy, the invasion of Iraq and other events, but the Bank of Canada estimated -0.6ppt hit to annualized growth in Q2-2003, or just over 0.1% on the level of GDP.
While it is premature to predict the path of todays coronavirus outbreak, we estimate that a SARS-equivalent pandemic today could have a similar impact on the Canadian economy with an estimated hit of just over 0.1% on the level of GDP by mid-2020, at which point a pandemic should be contained. This estimate is subject to a significant degree of uncertainty with risks skewed to a potentially larger impact.
The effect should not be significant enough to trigger a broader economic malaise, but could this finally push Governor Poloz over the line to proactively stimulate the economy in his next rate call?
Source: https://www.scotiabank.com/content/dam/scotiabank/sub-brands/scotiabank-economics/english/documents/insights-views/2020-01-27_IV.pdf
