14 Oct

Metis Nation of Saskatchewan First Time Home Buyer Grant

General

Posted by: Scott Trainor

MT-S FTHB

Metis-Nation of Saskatchewan First Time Home Buyers Program

The Metis Nation of Saskatchewan has created a First Time Home Buyer Program for Metis citizens in Saskatchewan. It is a one-time secondary grant to provide help with the down payment and closing costs connected with buying their first home. In staying with our theme of down payment options we present the ins and outs of the MN-S FTHB Grant.

MN-S are offering $15,000 towards down payment of a home and $2500 towards the closing costs. This is to assist Metis people get into home ownership, something we strongly believe everyone should have the opportunity to do. In Canada, you need 5% of the purchase price as down payment as a minimum, as we noted here, not all of those funds have to come from savings. If Metis citizens are purchasing a home for $400,000 for example, $20,000.00 would be needed towards the down payment. Using the MN-S FTHB grant of $15,000.00 that citizen would only need to come up with $5,000.00 of their own resources.

Few stipulations:

  1. Must be 18 years of age or older
  2. ID and Copy of MN-S Registered Metis Citizenship Card/Confirmation from MN-S Registry of Metis citizenship approval
  3. Must approve for the mortgage (where we come into play)
  4. Must not have owned a home within the last four years
  5. No income taxes owing
  6. Must be your primary residence for the next 5 years
  7. Household income must be less than $150k annually

If you live in the property for five years the grant is forgiven! It is a great program and an amazing opportunity for Metis Nation of Saskatchewan citizens to get into home ownership.

Any questions on the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan First Time Home Buyer Grant or on home ownership please contact us today!

6 Oct

Getting the Down Payment Down.

General

Posted by: Scott Trainor

A down payment is one of the most essential aspects of every mortgage application and new home purchase. In Canada, home purchases require a minimum cash payment from your own funds that is put towards the purchase. This is your down payment and is considered your stake in the deal.

Many home buyers understand that a certain amount of money down will be required on a home. However, most don’t realize the ins-and-outs of down payments, such as where the funds are allowed to come from and ensuring a proper paper trail.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while preparing your down payment and working towards your perfect home! Check out our blog on zero down mortgages here!

SOURCES OF DOWN PAYMENT

Most home buyers are aware that they will require a certain amount of money for a down payment. What many do not realize, is that lenders are required to verify the source of the funds. This allows them to ensure that they are coming from an acceptable source. Sources that further contribute to indebtedness are less-likely to be considered (such as line of credit or credit card). Instead, the best and most traditional options for your down payment are:

SAVINGS ACCOUNT

The first and most traditional method is your savings account, where you have been pinching your hard-earned pennies to save up for this day!

If you are utilizing your personal savings for a down payment, note that lenders will require three months of full bank statements. This includes name, account number, transactions and balance history. For any large deposits made in that time (sale of a car, work bonus, etc.), explanations and supporting documents will be required.

GIFT FROM FAMILY MEMBER

If you are fortunate enough to receive help from the Bank of Mom and Dad for your down payment, there are certain requirements:

  • A signed gift letter from the immediate family member contributing the fund
  • Proof of the transfer into your bank account. This can be a bank statement documenting the money being moved from the donor’s account and into yours. The statements must include names, account numbers and the full transaction history during the time period in question.
  • Important note: If money is being received from immediate family overseas, most lenders will require copies of the wire transfer. In addition, they may ask for account history.

RRSP WITHDRAWAL

Another option for down payment is the use of Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), but only if you are a first-time buyer. This is part of the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP), which allows first-time buyers to borrow up to $35,000 from their RRSP’s (tax-free!) -as long as the money is repaid within 15 years. Please note: The minimum repayment is 15 equal instalments paid once per year.

HOW MUCH DOWN?

When it comes to putting money down on your new home, you need to consider the minimum down payment required as well as additional fees.

The minimum amount required in Canada is 5% for the first $500,000, with 10% down on any amount beyond that threshold. For example, on a $600,000 house you would need to put $35,000 down at minimum ($25,000 on the first $500,000 and $10,000 for the additional $100,000 purchase price).

Keep in mind, if your down payment is less than 20% of the price of your home, you will be required to purchase mortgage loan insurance in case of default. These premiums range from 0.6% to 4.50% of the total amount of your mortgage. Using the example above, this would mean $3,600 to $27,000 in mortgage insurance premiums.

If you are able to put 20% down on your new home (which is the recommended amount), you would be looking at an investment of $120,000 down with no mortgage insurance premiums required.

ADDITIONAL COSTS AND FEES

One component of the purchase process that homeowners often forget about, are the closing costs. These are typically 1.5% up to 4% of the purchase price. In order to get financing, you are required to show that you have enough to cover these costs, which include legal fees.

When you have collected the funds for your down payment and closing costs, you must ensure those funds remain in your bank account once you’ve provided confirmation. They should only leave your account when they are provided to your lawyer to complete the purchase. This is because lenders will often request updated statements closer to the closing of the sale, to ensure nothing has changed. If money has been moved around, or if there are new large deposits or withdrawals, they will all need to be confirmed and could affect approval.

The last thing that anyone wants when purchasing a property is added stress or for something to go wrong late in the process. Consider contacting a DLC Mortgage Professional today to help guide you through the process! Make sure you are upfront about your down payment amount, and where it is coming from. This will help a mortgage broker determine whether or not it is suitable, and allow them to find the best lender and mortgage product for you!

*Featured in DLC OUR HOUSE Blog