Competition = Low Mortgage Rates

Choosing the Right Type of Home

After you have decided that home ownership is right for you, it is important to fully understand which type of home will best suit your needs.

Not all individuals or families belong in a three bedroom, split-level house in the suburbs. Some might prefer condo or town home living for added convenience, so it is important to assess your needs fully before deciding on the type of property to purchase.

Each type of housing will have pros and cons, so weigh them all carefully and make an informed decision. If you are finding the choices overwhelming, our professional mortgage brokers at Alberta Equity Mortgages can offer advice about the different kinds of housing available and steer you in the right direction.

Taking the Stress out of Home Hunting

Purchasing a new home can be a major decision for many and it can also be extremely stressful. Don't let stress ruin this exciting time.

By pre-qualifying and taking all of your mortgage needs into consideration prior to house hunting, you can then focus on the small details when you are ready to start looking.

The perfect home within your price range is waiting for you, but if you need more help taking the guess work out of mortgage shopping and home buying, our brokers at Alberta Equity Mortgages will work for you.

Prime Lending Rate vs Fixed Mortgage Rates

Many Canadian's have asked, "When the bank of Canada lowers or increases prime does that mean fixed mortgage rates will move?"

The question is best answered by describing the differences between the two:

Prime Lending Rate: For most Canadian's this is what our major bank offers us for a line of credit or a variable rate mortgage. When the bank of Canada lowers or increase their over night target rate most lending institutions will follow suit. This is just a target rate that the banks aren't forced to follow. The Major banks and lenders in Canada will almost always follow this rate change and increase their prime lending rate. In most cases the Bank of Canada rate is much lower than the prime rate major banks offer. The prime lending rate in Canada is set by the Finance Minister and his/her staff.

Fixed Mortgage Rates: (3yr, 5yr etc): Funds for these products come from various sources. The majorities come from the Canadian Bond Market, life insurance funds and other investment funds. You can usually gauge an increase or decrease in fixed mortgage rates if you follow the Bond Market. Fluctuation in fixed mortgage rates has little or nothing to do with the Prime Lending Rate.

As you can see the Prime Lending Rate and Fixed Mortgage Rates have very little to do with each other. It is important to remember that changes in the Prime Lending Rate are usually indicative of the general state of the economy. Bonds rates and fixed mortgages usually follow these trends; this is where the general confusion started.

Note: You should receive professional financial advice when considering switching to a biweekly mortgage payment schedule.