Why Speak to a Mortgage Broker
GoMax Solutions - Content team
Apr 23, 2012 - 2:57:11 PM
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Mortgage Broker can advise you on not only the rates available, but often more important options as outlined below:
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Should you take a fixed or variable product?
There is no black or white, right or wrong answer as it depends on your
individual risk tolerance and financial situation today and down the
road. Maybe you should consider a Variable Rate at 2.90% with a fixed
payment set at say 4%? You get some great savings today and even if the
rates jump up down the road, you are paying higher interest on a much
lower mortgage amount, often saving you a lot of money.
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What term should you take?
Over 3/4's of the mortgages in Canada are closed for 5 years or longer,
meaning if you change or payout your mortgage prior to the end of term
you pay a penalty. The average mortgage is only held for just over 3
years and more than 50% don't make it to renewal. So that means that
more than half of the mortgage holders are paying a penalty at some
point. So is a 5 year term the best idea or should you consider some
other options?
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Are all lenders penalties the same?
Absolutely not, some calculate the penalties based off posted rates and
some off discounted rates and this can change the amount you have to
pay by thousands of dollars. The sad thing is that most people don't
find this out until they are facing a situation where they have to pay
the penalty and it is too late.
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What is the best payment frequency?
You can literally save thousands of dollars just by switching your
mortgage from monthly payments to accelerated bi-weekly payments. For
example if you were paying $1,000 per month and changed to $500 every 2
weeks, you would payoff your mortgage about 3 years sooner, again saving you
thousands.
So
the lesson here is, speak to your mortgage broker and let them do what
they do best and make sure you ask lots of questions because knowledge
is power. If I can spend an hour going through my mortgage with a
professional and save thousands, as a businessman that is a pretty good
return on investment!
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