Competition = Low Mortgage Rates

What is a BEACON Mortgage Score?

The BEACON® Mortgage Score is a brand of FICO credit score rating issued by Equifax, the largest credit-reporting agency in Canada, designed specifically to help mortgage lenders make the best possible risk decisions when addressing both current homeowners and those aspiring to own. The score identifies up to 25 percent more of the high-risk mortgages and home equity lines-of-credit that later became seriously delinquent then that of the general risk BEACON score.

BEACON Scores are the first thing mortgage brokers look at when determining what mortgage rates and products are available to the consumer. These credit scores can range from 300 (worst) to 850 (best). The average Canadian adult over 30 has a beacon score of around 680. Banks lend based on this score. The better the score the better the term and rate you will receive. A mortgage agent can assist you in determining where you fit with the lenders as well as guide you in improving your beacon score.

Why get Pre-Qualified?

It is a good idea to get pre-qualified when you decide to purchase a new home because being pre-qualified will help you to:

• Save time by only looking at homes within your price range
• Save money by locking you into an interest rate for up to 120 days. By locking your interest rate you are protecting yourself from rate increases that can occur after you write up an offer, but before you close on the purchase.
• Deal with the seller more effectively because they know you are a qualified buyer. The seller is often more willing to negotiate or accept a lower purchase offer if he or she knows you are pre-qualified and able to purchase.

Canadian Mortgage Info Online

CanEquity.com has recently launched its Canadian Mortgage Statistics website providing a unique source for mortgage brokers and mortgage seekers to learn about Internet mortgage trends.

These statistics were compiled using over 20,000 surveys, plus data collected over a span of five years.

Over one thousand pages of cities and towns have been developed with data ranging from average loans to peak hours for mortgage inquires through a 24-hour day.

Some of the highlights you will find are:

• Average ages, martial and residential status for Internet mortgage inquires.
• Interactive flash interface allowing you to plot national and provincial mortgage originations, average incomes, and loan amounts.
• Data displaying year-to-year, month-to-month and day-to-day Internet volume comparisons with complete charts and graphs.
• Tables displaying provincial and national mortgage volume rankings of cities and towns throughout Canada.

These statistics are anonymous and contain no personal information, and cannot be used to gather such information; therefore this information may be used freely for educational or non-commercial use.

Things to Consider When Purchasing a Re-Sale

If you decide not to build brand new and have opted for purchasing a re-sale, it is extremely important to carefully assess the following pros and cons before purchasing:

• You usually get a lower price due to wear and tear
• You get the benefit of upgrades (finished basement, pool, etc.) at a depreciated price
• Your neighborhood is generally established and amenities are in place

• Others have lived in the home
• There is no warranty for repairs required by law (unless it is a condition of purchase)
• The décor might require changes and can be costly or time consuming