Be A Financially Savvy Homeowner

Before you start thinking about buying your first home or the kind of home (real estate) you want and where you want to live, it's a good idea to take a financial inventory. This stage of the process — saving, budgeting, planning — is not as exciting as choosing a neighborhood and house hunting as a homebuyer. But it will put you in the best position when it comes time to talk mortgages for your first house.

For most of us, the first step in the home-buying process is to ramp up savings — the more you can put towards a down payment, the less interest you'll pay and the more you may save on mortgage insurance.

Paying down debt and building a good credit history are also part of this process. The better your credit score and credit report is, the more leverage you'll have when negotiating a mortgage in terms of interest rates or other financial terms, hence eventually the better mortgage payment and overall beneficial home loan.

The size of the mortgage you can qualify for is based on some traditional debt-to-income ratio or principles:

The first l lending principle states that monthly housing costs plus all other debt (loans, credit cards) should not exceed 40% of your family's gross monthly income. (GDSR is not considered).

Once you've set your savings plan, speaking with a financial advisor to learn what size of mortgage you qualify for is the next step. A Scotiabank Sales Officer can explain to you the different rate and term options available and provide peace of mind that you are getting the right mortgage for your needs. Once you've set your savings plan, speaking with a financial advisor to learn what size of mortgage you qualify for is the next step. A Scotiabank Sales Officer can explain to you the different rate and term options available and provide peace of mind that you are getting the right mortgage for your needs. This will clarify you who is your mortgage lender, what will be your mortgage interest rate (mortgage rate), the amount of monthly mortgage payment and hence, you can understand your overall personal finance after home purchase. Furthermore, pre-qualification of mortgage or mortgage pre-approval is a good way to move forward in your home buying journey as a first-time homebuyer. 

Make sure to talk to real estate agents or realtors to get an accurate idea of closing costs as a first-time buyer.  Closings costs finally add up to your cost and as a consequence affordability is affected by the amount you eventually pay in closing costs. These costs are in the form of Home Inspection Fees, Legal Fees, Stamp Duty, Registration Fees, Transfer Tax, Real Estate Agent's Fee( % on Purchase Price) and other property taxes if any. In most cases, you will have to add up closing costs in your down payment itself as it has to be paid upfront at the time of homeownership.

Many homeowners have turned to renovation as a cost-effective alternative to a new home. In addition to sprucing up your home and making it more attractive to inhabit, the right renovations can increase its resale value.

Experts agree that the top 3 renovation projects that will increase the value of your home are interior painting and décor, kitchens and bathrooms.

Many homeowners have turned to renovation as a cost-effective alternative to a new home or dream home (perfect house). In addition to sprucing up your home and making it more attractive to inhabit, the right renovations can increase its resale value.

If you are making modest renovations on your own, paying for the materials with your credit card may make sense — provided you pay your balance monthly or arrange for monthly payments.

For major renovations, you may want to tap into the existing value of your home. See below, Using your home equity for other goals, for more information.

Refinancing is an opportunity to review your credit options and see how your mortgage can be adapted to suit your needs better. Your mortgage is a large financial commitment, so you owe it to yourself to ensure that your mortgage is the right one for you. A mortgage specialist can help you determine how to lower your borrowing costs, provide advice on how to pay off your mortgage sooner, or help you free up funds for other important life goals.

Your home equity is the current value of your home less than what you still owe on it. For example, if your home is valued at $250,000 and your outstanding mortgage is $120,000, your equity is $130,000.

The equity you have built-in your home can be a valuable source of financing. You can borrow against it to pay for your child's tuition instead of them getting a student loan, purchase an investment portfolio or pay for large-scale home renovations.

Your financial advisor and mortgage specialist can help you decide whether it makes financial sense to tap into your home's equity. A great way to use the equity in your home is by securing a ScotiaLine personal line of credit. This will give you the benefit of reduced rates, and the flexibility of setting a repayment schedule that suites your needs.

Is Your Mortgage Up for Renewal? Read about how to choose the right options to ensure you make the most of your greatest asset—your home.