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Choosing A Mortgage Financing strategy for renewing/switching As an experienced homeowner and borrower, you are probably already very familiar with the mortgage products and services of your current lender. It could be to your advantage to use another lender. Contact an Invis Mortgage Consultant today to help you make the switch. As well, here's some important information to keep in mind: What type of mortgage should you choose? Today, more than ever, there are numerous mortgage options available. Don't be confused Here at Invis, our Mortgage Consultants can help you find the best product for your needs and negotiate you the best rate. They do the research for you, enabling you to avoid the frustration and confusion of having to do it yourself, and explain the available options. Click here to find a mortgage consultant or e-mail us or call 1-866-84-Invis to get an Invis Mortgage Consultant working for you today! Mortgage categories Fixed-rate: Variable-rate: Split-term: Self-directed RRSP: What terms & payment options should you choose? It all depends on what you want. Your Invis Mortgage Consultant will assess your personal situation and needs to find the best mortgage for you at the best rate. Short-term risk & variable If rates are low and stable, and/or you are prepared to take a risk, you can generally pay a lower rate with a short-term mortgage. You simply roll over your term every 6 months, or float your rate against prime, with the option of locking in to a longer term at a later date. This is not for everyone, however, as sudden upward rate movements can have a significant impact on your payments. You may want to discuss this with your Invis Mortgage Consultant. Long-term Any term 3 years or longer is considered "long term" in today's economy. Because long-term rates are usually higher than short-term rates, you may not want to choose this option. On the other hand, by locking in you will avoid exposure to rate increases. You'll have the comfort of knowing exactly what you payments will be and you'll be able to manage your budget accordingly. Split-term A mortgage which allows you to minimize — or hedge — your interest rate risk by splitting your mortgage into 5 parts. For example: A $150,000 mortgage could be split into five $30,000 segments with terms of 6 months, 1, 2, 3 and 5 year terms negotiated at today's best rates. The average rate would rise or fall much more slowly than changes in the market, however, as only the shorter terms are affected by even the most volatile rate movements over the first few years. Confused? Talk with your Invis Mortgage Consultant. Prepayment options Many lenders allow you to make a lump sum payment — usually 10% to 20% of the original principal balance. In addition, many mortgage products now include a "double-up and skip-a-payment" feature. This lets you "bank" extra mortgage payments for a rainy day, at which time you can "skip" them if you need to. Ask your Invis Mortgage Consultant to advise you on your options today! Payment changes Most mortgages now allow the amortization to be adjusted by increasing the payment on closed terms by 10% — 20% per year, once annually. Payment frequency Most mortgages now come with the option to pay your mortgage at a frequency that matches your cash flow — weekly, bi-weekly or semi-monthly. The added benefit of the "accelerated" weekly and bi-weekly payments is that by dividing a regular monthly payment into two or four respectively, and deducting it at the new interval, an extra payment a year is made directly against principal. The surprising effect of this one extra payment a year is to reduce the amortization of the average mortgage by approximately 5 years, with cash savings at the end of the mortgage term. |