Can I Clean-up my Credit?

If your credit history is less than perfect, you should definitely take a few small steps to improve your credit standing before applying for a mortgage.

The following steps will help you get one step closer to cleaner credit and even closer to owning that new home:

• Pay off high-interest debt before you focus on saving a down payment because there are mortgage options that allow you to buy with little or no money down.
• Pay off credit cards and get rid of any unnecessary ones to avoid over spending and unwanted debt. Try to pay with cash and do not apply for anymore credit accounts.
• Try to pay down installment loans such as vehicle payments.
• Hire a credit counselor or seek advice on managing your debt.
• Wait at least six months before applying for a mortgage if you have made a late payment in the past.
• File a short explanation letter with your lender if your credit suffers from one specific event.

What is a Mortgage Broker?

Simply stated, a mortgage broker is an agent for lenders in much the same way an insurance broker is an agent for insurance companies.

Mortgage brokers act as agents for banks, trust companies, credit unions, mortgage corporations, investment corporations, finance companies and individual private investors.

Mortgage brokers are trained professionals that have to meet a satisfactory educational requirement before they may become registered. As such, this requirement ensures you are being provided with a duty of care, a working knowledge of mortgage products and a standard of service to meet individual needs.

What is a Mortgage Broker?

A Mortgage Broker is a registered agent who works on behalf of a borrower to obtain the best possible mortgage option for that borrower's financial situation. The Mortgage broker is a skilled negotiator and deals directly with the lenders in both standard and non standard borrowing situations. They have access to lenders who may not advertise nationally or be readily available to the consumer so finding the best possible mortgage option holds true.

Fixed Rate vs. Variable Rate

FIXED RATE
A "fixed rate" mortgage simply means that the interest rate on the money you borrow stays at a locked or "fixed" rate. This means that your interest rate is not subject to change and the rate at which you pay back your loan is always the same. There are some advantages to having a fixed rate when you consider the nature of the inflation rate. The value of your home should continue to increase year to year while the principle amount will continue to decrease.

VARIABLE RATE
A "variable rate" mortgage or below prime rate mortgage is a mortgage where the interest rate is subject to change depending on the prime rate. Most of these mortgage products are based on a formula using the prime interest rate less a discount. For example, if you choose a below prime rate mortgage with a rate of Prime minus 0.5% then your rate would be calculated at any given time using this formula. So if prime were 4% then the interest rate on your mortgage would be 3.5%.

Let us find the best lowest rate!

When dealing with your bank, you only deal with one lender. At Alberta Equity Mortgages, we shop the market from coast to coast comparing rates from hundreds of Canadian banks, mortgage lenders, trust companies and credit unions. This allows us to find you the lowest mortgage rates and best possible terms in Canada. And, if that's not enough, we will do all the paperwork necessary to get your mortgage application pre-approved, saving you the time, money and trouble of going to the bank.