In the past you may have taken out a second mortgage to pay off your debt or make a large purchase, in doing so it’s likely your monthly payments have doubled, or you are paying interest only on that second mortgage. Now you want to decrease the amount you pay each month or you could just be looking for better terms, and to accomplish that you need to consolidate your mortgages.
With the mortgage rules constantly changing, private or alternative mortgages are becoming the only way some people can refinance or buy a home. When the banks turn borrowers down the next option is to look at “Subprime” lenders. There is a significant misconception applied to this “subprime” market, so let me explain them a bit.
In Ontario, a second mortgage on a property title will appear as a separate charge on that property but does not change the first mortgage. Since there is higher risk to the lender, taking a second mortgage typically has a higher rate of interest.
A second mortgage can allow homeowners to use the equity that they have in their home. If your first mortgage has high pre-payment charges, or a low rate, a second mortgage can be a better option than a refinance. This option may also be best for those who are self-employed, have bad credit, or for those in need of fast cash.
The great news for first-time buyers is that the government has various grants that you can take advantage of. If you are buying a home for the first time, here are some of the grants that could be available to you; (more…)