Blog Post

Will a Temporary Loss of Income Impact Your Mortgage Post-COVID-19?

Anita Groves • Nov 03, 2020

While unemployment peaked over 13% at the onset, it’s hard to quantify just how many Canadians had some form of a reduction in their income over the last year. Especially if you’re self-employed or your income varies year to year because you receive a bonus, pick up shifts, freelance, or you earn income that isn’t guaranteed.

If you earn variable income, and you’ve seen a reduction in income because of the pandemic, this has the potential to impact how much mortgage you qualify for up to the next three years.

Here’s why. For income that isn’t guaranteed, when assessing your mortgage application, most of the time, lenders will look at a 2-year average. So let’s say you’re looking to secure a mortgage now in 2020, the lender will want to see documentation proving what you earned in 2018 and 2019, and they will take a 2-year average.

If your income is lower in 2020 because of the pandemic, once we come to tax time in 2021, your 2-year average will now include that reduction in revenue for the next couple of years, even if you are back to making what you did pre-pandemic. It will be the same case in 2022 (and into 2023), as any lender will want to see your 2-year average between 2020 and 2021. Less income in 2020 could mean qualifying for a lower mortgage amount over the next few years.

The advantage of working with an independent mortgage professional is the ability we have to represent you to several lenders who all offer different products and have different guidelines. So while one lender might be hard and fast on the 2-year average, depending on your industry, another lender might make an exception.

Additionally, depending on where the housing market is at and how much the economy has rebounded in 2021, lenders might consider COVID-19 and be flexible or implement amended guidelines. However, we will have to wait and see on that. But for the most part, if your income is lower because of COVID, it will impact you going forward, feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or hear anything in the news that you’d like clarified.

So what can you do about this today? Well, if you’re currently looking to purchase a property or you have a mortgage that’s almost up for renewal, or if you’d like to refinance before 2021, it’s definitely in your best interest to talk with an independent mortgage professional about all your options as soon as possible.

Alternatively, if you’re not looking to secure a mortgage right now, it’s always a good idea to have a plan in place for when you do. It never hurts to plan ahead, especially when you have time and can make up some of the lost income with additional income in the future.

If you’d like to discuss your financial situation and see exactly how your income impacts your mortgage qualification, please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime, I would love to work through everything with you!

< Older Post Newer Post >

Anita Groves

PROFESSIONAL MORTGAGE BROKER

Download My Mortgage App HERE

Getting a Mortgage After Bankruptcy

By Anita Groves • 01 May, 2024

Sometimes life throws you a financial curveball. Bankruptcy and consumer proposals happen. It doesn’t mean your life is over, and it doesn’t mean you won’t ever qualify for a mortgage again. The key to financial success here is getting things under control as quickly as possible. You must demonstrate to the potential lenders that what happened in the past won’t happen again in the future. So if you’re thinking about getting a mortgage post-bankruptcy, lenders will want answers to the following questions: How long have you been discharged? Securing a mortgage will be dependent on how long it has been since you were discharged from your bankruptcy or consumer proposal. Most lenders consider the discharge date on both to be your new ground zero. And while there is no legally defined waiting period for when you can apply for a new mortgage post-bankruptcy, what lenders will assess is how you’re managing your finances after your financial troubles. Have you established new credit? You can show lenders that they can trust you after bankruptcy by establishing new credit and managing that credit flawlessly. So as soon as you’ve been discharged, it’s a good idea to get a secured credit card and start rebuilding your credit score. To be considered completely established, you’ll want to have two years of credit history on two trade lines with a credit limit of $2500 on each trade line. You’ll also want to make sure that you have no late or missed payments. How much do you have available for a downpayment? The more money you have to put towards purchasing a property, or the more equity you have in your property in the case of a refinance, the better your chances of getting a mortgage. The more money you bring to the table, the more comfortable a lender will feel about the risk they take of losing their investment should you run into future financial difficulty. What is your total debt service ratio? Another consideration lenders will look at is how much money you make compared to the cost of making your mortgage payments. So it probably goes without saying that the more money you make compared to the amount you want to borrow, the better. Conventional or insured financing. If you’re looking to get the best mortgage products available, here are some of the things a lender will want to see: You’ve been discharged for at least two years plus a day. You’ve established your credit (as listed above). You have at least 5% down for the first $500k of the purchase and 10% down for anything over $500k. If you don’t have a 20% downpayment, you will be required to secure mortgage insurance through CMHC, Sagen (formerly Genworth), or Canada Guaranty. The cost to service the property and all your debts don’t exceed 44% of your gross income. Alternative lending As independent mortgage professionals, our job is to provide solutions and strategies for our clients. As such, in addition to dealing with many traditional lending institutions, we also have access to lenders who specialize in working with clients whose financial situation isn't all that straightforward. These private lenders offer alternative lending solutions that consider the overall strength of your mortgage application. While you won’t qualify for the best rates and terms on the market by going with an alternative lender, if you’re looking for options, you might find that alternative lending is a very reasonable solution for you. Alternative lending isn’t for everyone, but it’s an excellent solution for some, especially if you’ve gone through a bankruptcy or consumer proposal and need a mortgage before fully establishing your credit. Get in touch anytime. So whether you’re looking for a plan to help you qualify for a mortgage with the most favourable terms or if you need something more immediate. Please connect anytime. It would be a pleasure to outline your options and work on a plan to get you a mortgage.

Mortgage Options for Older Canadians

By Anita Groves • 24 Apr, 2024

Although it’s ideal to have your mortgage paid off by the time you retire, that isn’t always possible in today’s economy. The cost of living is considerably higher than it has ever been, and as a result, many Canadians are putting off retirement, hoping to make just a bit more money to add to that nest egg. So if you find yourself in the position where you’re considering your mortgage options into retirement, you’ve come to the right place. The advantage of working with an independent mortgage professional instead of a single bank is choice. When you work with an independent mortgage professional, you won’t be limited to an individual institution’s products; rather, you will have access to considerably more options. Here are some options available to older Canadians as they plan for mortgage financing through their retirement. Standard Mortgage Financing If you’ve got a steady income, decent credit, and equity in your home, there is no reason you shouldn’t qualify for standard mortgage financing, which usually comes at the lowest interest rates and best terms. Some lenders use pension and retirement income to support your mortgage application even if you’ve already retired. Reverse Mortgage Financing A reverse mortgage allows Canadian homeowners 55 years and older to borrow money from their homes with no proof of income, no credit check, and no health questions. A reverse mortgage is a fabulous mortgage solution that has helped thousands of older Canadians enhance their lifestyle. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) A line of credit secured to the equity you have in your home is an excellent tool to allow you to access money when you need it but not pay interest if you don’t need it. Many older Canadians like the idea of rolling all their expenses and income into one account. Private Financing If you happen to be in a bit of a tight spot, you have a plan but need a financial solution; private financing might be the answer. Indeed not the first choice for many because of the higher interest rates. However, private financing can provide you with options where a traditional bank can’t. If you have any questions about securing mortgage financing for your retirement, please connect anytime. It would be a pleasure to work with you and walk you through all your options.