5 Benefits on How to Protect Your Mortgage With Life Insurance

For potential homebuyers and current homeowners, a home is a costly investment with a long-term commitment. That's why every homeowner carrying a mortgage needs to get life insurance. Life insurance that covers a mortgage is called mortgage life insurance or mortgage protection insurance. This kind of insurance is designed to protect the lender, just in case they are unable to pay for their monthly mortgage fees. In this article, let's highlight five benefits on how to protect your mortgage with life insurance.

1. May protect homeowners due to sudden unemployment

With Canada's unemployment rate fluctuating every year, sometimes homeowners might face unexpected job loss due to termination or disability. The benefit of having mortgage life insurance alleviates the stress and financial burden related to unemployment by covering the period when the homeowner is out of work. At Northwood Mortgage, we offer a series of mortgage life insurance options that target the specific time frame if a homeowner loses their job, falls ill, or becomes physically disabled, causing unemployment.

2. May protect homeowners due to unexpected death

If the homeowner dies, the mortgage life insurance will cover the remaining amount left on the mortgage. Along with unemployment, death in the family can cause financial strain, especially when the homeowner passes away. Mortgage life insurance is a great benefit because homeowners are assured that after death, the mortgage will not become their family's responsibility.

3. Mortgage life insurance frees up your budget

When it comes to having mortgage life insurance, homeowners can free up their budget by the funds they get from other insurance policies. For example, the funds received from a personal life insurance or employer benefits could be used for payments on other financial obligations such as car payments, other bills, and university tuition. What would usually go towards the mortgage can be spent wisely on other expenses because the homeowner has mortgage life insurance.

4. Mortgage life insurance is convenient

Another benefit that mortgage life insurance offers is convenience. By covering unemployment, death, and other bills, it is an added layer of security in case unexpected circumstances should occur. With all its benefits, it is also easy to qualify. To purchase a mortgage life insurance policy, homeowners do not require to submit to a life insurance medical exam. This is a very convenient benefit to have for sickly individuals. In case the homeowner is denied life insurance due to medical illness, the homeowner with mortgage life insurance is financially protected.

5.Mortgage life insurance accommodates new homebuyers

For potential first-time homebuyers who can only afford a small down payment, getting mortgage life insurance can secure the home of their dreams. They can use mortgage life insurance through the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation, which requires a 5% downpayment.

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As you can see, choosing a mortgage insurance policy should be decided carefully. However, investing in mortgage insurance can safeguard you and your family's future in the long run.

At Northwood Mortgage, we have an expert staff of mortgage agents specializing in life insurance and mortgages in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, and the GTA. We take the time to listen to your needs, and we cater our services to each client.

If you would like more information on mortgage insurance coverage and protection in Toronto and the GTA, we invite you to book a FREE consultation with one of our Northwood Mortgage agents by calling 416-969-8130 ext. 111, toll-free at 888-492-3690, or contact us here. Once we receive your request, one of our mortgage agents will contact you within 24-48 hours to arrange an appointment.

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Things You Should Know Before Going for a Second Mortgage in Toronto

If you own a home in Canada then you have probably have heard of a second mortgage at some point in your life. A second mortgage is similar to a first mortgage, in that it is a loan secured by your property. As time passes you will accumulate more and more equity on your property. A second mortgage is primarily intended to use the equity that you’ve accumulated over the years.

According to a report by Business Insider, almost 2 million Canadians have a second mortgage, and nearly as many that have a HELOC. Some Canadians will use their second mortgage in order to avoid having to declare bankruptcy. In any event, a HELOC, for those unaware, is also another form of a second mortgage, because it serves as a line of credit for home equity. In other words, the person will supplement a second loan over their first in order to access their equity. Below are some things that you should know before going for a second mortgage in Toronto.

Different Types of Second Mortgages

A revolving HELOC works similarly to a credit card. That is, the borrower will have access to equity in perpetuity as they continue to pay off the principal (what they owed previously) over the upcoming months and years. Moreover, a HELOC can be modified to become a closed second mortgage, which functions much like a loan for a vehicle. That is, the borrower will receive only one lump sum of money from their equity and they must pay it off in a gradual manner.

It should also be noted that it is difficult to qualify for a HELOC of any kind, because they tend to only be offered to those with an impeccable credit profile and who happen to live in a prosperous urban area. Hence, those who have a poor credit profile or have a meager income will only likely have one option at their disposal—a private mortgage.

The Two Main Reasons Why Second Mortgages are Used

The most popular reason why a second mortgage is used is to pay off a consumer debt that has high interest. Many homeowners will also use a second mortgage in order to upgrade their home for resale or to renovate it for their own recreational purposes. Leveraging a second mortgage is highly recommended at the moment because credit card interest rates are presently 15%. As such, you can save a large sum of money by opting for a second mortgage.

For instance, let us imagine that you owe $30,000 on your credit card. In such a scenario you would have to pay roughly $600 in minimum payments every month; This is of course assuming that a 3% minimum payment is required. Now, if your interest rate was 15% APR then you would owe $4,500 in interest charges after just one year has elapsed. This is before you even get to the principal amount that is owed. As can be seen, interest charges can make or break first time homeowners who aren’t too careful with their fiancees.

Due to the aforementioned problems, many Canadians turn to a second mortgage in order to pay off their credit card debts. The end result is that their interest rates will be reduced because their second mortgage is secured by their home, which serves as the primary asset in this case.

Remember that Your Home Will Be Used as Collateral

If you have decided to take out a second mortgage on your home you must remember that your home will actually be used as collateral to secure the loan. As a result, if you fail to pay it off then the lender can foreclose on your property the same way they could with your first mortgage. However, the tradeoff is in the significantly lower interest rates that you will be charged, as your home will serve as an asset that will back your loan.

Take Advantage of Interest Only Payments

It is possible to only make interest payments with many of the second mortgage products that various lenders offer their clients; this will allow you to have easier and more affordable access to your home before you opt to sell your house to the highest bidder. Your monthly payments will also be significantly lower.

To further illustrate, if you were interested in renovating your home before resale or are interested in renegotiating your first mortgage, then you could remodel your home using the funds procured from the second mortgage. You could also have the option to pay off the interest charges. Then after you are done giving your home a makeover you could then resell it at a higher price and then use some of the money that you’ve made to pay off your second mortgage.

Avoid Private Mortgage Insurance

When a person applies for a standard mortgage in Canada they need to acquire private mortgage insurance if they are unable to put a minimum 20% down payment on their house. The end result is that they will have to pay fees, known as Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation fees, which can actually be quite exorbitant.

For instance, if you were to take out a half a million dollar mortgage with a 5% down payment then you would have to pay 4% worth of Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation fees. In other words, you would need to pay almost $20,000 in fees because you weren’t able to make the minimum 20% down payment.

The good news is you can take out a second mortgage in order to avoid private mortgage insurance. Of course this also means that you will have to add additional expenses to your monthly budget but it can still be a more affordable alternative to having to pay private mortgage insurance fees.

If you would like to learn more about obtaining a second mortgage in Toronto, please visit our website or call us at 1-888-495-4825.

source: northwoodmortgage.com

8 Things To Know About Mortgage Insurance

If you’re in the process of applying for a mortgage or starting to shop around for one, you’re probably thinking about how you can get a low mortgage rate. However, there’s more to getting a mortgage than the rate. There’s also mortgage insurance, which is an important part of getting a home loan if you’re having trouble coming up with a decent down payment. Many Canadians are not aware of what mortgage insurance is. Below you’ll find eight important things to know about mortgage insurance.






    1. This type of insurance protects the lender against default and not the homeowner. Mortgage insurance is designed to ensure the lender is able to recoup costs should you default on your loan.

    2. Mortgage insurance is mandatory for borrowers who can only come up with a down payment for their home of less than 20% of the total. Furthermore, down payments cannot be less than 5%.

    3. The cost of mortgage insurance depends on the type of loan you’ve applied for and the amount of your down payment.

    4. Mortgage insurance is not the same as homeowner insurance. Homeowner insurance is put in place to protect your home and possessions against damages such as fire, theft, etc. Also, mortgage life insurance is different than mortgage insurance. Mortgage life insurance in designed to repay any outstanding mortgage payments should the homeowner find themselves on long-term disability or in the event of death.

    5. Insurance has nothing to do with getting you a low mortgage rate. To get a low mortgage rate you need good credit and a good mortgage broker because he or she will shop around for you to find a low rate. However, having mortgage insurance doesn’t hurt your chances of getting a low mortgage rate.

    6. There are only three places you can get mortgage insurance in Canada: CMHC, Genworth Financial and Canada Guarantee. Any other place offering mortgage insurance is a scam.

    7. Mortgage insurance costs the homebuyer 2.80%-4.00% of the total mortgage amount, but it does allow you to purchase a home with a lower down payment.

    8. You don’t have to pay the premium on mortgage insurance up front. The cost gets lumped in with your mortgage payments.

The best way to learn about mortgage insurance is to talk to your mortgage broker. While you’re at it, you can inquire about getting a low mortgage rate.

source:  northwoodmortgage.com

5 Benefits Of Mortgage Insurance

Mortgage insurance is an insurance vehicle designed to protect the lender in case the owner of the mortgage is unable to pay for their monthly costs. But mortgage insurance can also work to benefit the homeowner as well. And in this latest article, our expert team highlights five of the top benefits of mortgage insurance.

1. Access to Better Interest Rates

    Because of the protection mortgage insurance offers lenders, it then allows the lending company to offer homebuyers access to better interest rates. This works to consolidate the cost of the home for the buyer.

2. Offers Access to the Marketplace for Many Buyers

    Homebuyers who are self-employed or don’t otherwise have access to steady income may also benefit from mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance ensures that buyers outside the traditional marketplace can qualify for a low cost mortgage while keeping the lender’s interests protected.

3. Mortgage Insurance can be Transferred

    Another advantage of mortgage insurance is that it can be transferred from one property to another. This means that owners looking to purchase a new property can simply save their premiums over time and transfer their insurance to the new property. By maintaining this payment record over time, owners can show lenders they’re trustworthy, potentially limiting their future purchase costs.

4. Allows Buyers to Purchase with a Smaller Down Payment

    The use of mortgage insurance also now means that buyers with only a small down payment can enter the marketplace. Buyers can use insurance through the CMHC and will only have to pay 5% down on their property. This gives first-time buyers and others with limited resources the flexibility to enter the marketplace.

5. May Protect Buyers in Case of Job Loss

    The consistent payment of mortgage insurance premiums can help protect the homeowner in case they lose their income for a short period of time. This could be vital for Canadians with growing families, and offers a way to avoid the stress and financial hardship associated with a period of unemployment. Lenders now offer a series of insurance options to help specifically manage time when homeowners are out of work, ill or otherwise unable to pay their financing costs.

The mortgage insurance product is now offering millions of Canadians access to the wider real estate marketplace, by protecting lenders and safeguarding homes. To learn more on insurance and the benefits it provides to homeowners, contact our expert team today.

source: northwoodmortgage.com