Curious about the CHIP Reverse Mortgage by HomeEquity Bank? If you’re a Canadian aged 55 or older, this financial solution could hold the key to tapping into your largest asset, your home. It’s a unique opportunity that allows you to use your home equity for various purposes, from paying off debts to funding home renovations or supporting your loved ones financially. But what exactly is the CHIP Reverse Mortgage, and how does it work? Let’s dive into the details.

What is the CHIP Reverse Mortgage?

Maybe you’ve wondered, “What is the CHIP Reverse Mortgage?” The CHIP Reverse Mortgage is a loan secured against the value of your home and is only available for Canadians 55+. It allows you to unlock up to 55%¹ of the value of your home without having to sell or move. The money you receive is tax-free, and you can use it towards any of your personal needs, such as:

• Pay off debts/Consolidate debt
• Home renovations and repairs
• Unexpected expenses (medical, emergency)
• Financially aid your children/grandchildren
• Improve or maintain your standard of living
• Pay for a vacation or a special purchase

Eligibility 

To be eligible for the CHIP Reverse Mortgage, you must meet the following criteria:

• Canadian Homeowner: You need to be a homeowner in Canada to consider this financial solution.
• Age Requirement: Both you and your spouse must be at least 55 years of age.
• Primary Residence: The property in question should serve as your primary residence.
• Home Maintenance: You must maintain the property well, pay your property taxes and insurance, and ensure it is not in default.
• Property Type: Property must be a single family dwelling, detached duplex, triplex, quadruplex, link home, semi detached, townhouse / row house, condo – townhouse/ stacked townhouse, or condo – apartment style

If you meet these criteria, you can unlock tax-free cash with the CHIP Reverse Mortgage in an initial lump sum or scheduled monthly advances when needed.

Why Tap into Home Equity with The CHIP Reverse Mortgage 

1. Keep your home and maintain ownership of your property: Frequently, people think the bank takes ownership of their home when they get a reverse mortgage. This is not true. HomeEquity Bank lends you a tax-free cash amount based on your home’s value, but you retain ownership of the property. However, you’re responsible for paying property taxes and maintaining the home’s condition.
2. No regular monthly payments required: A key perk of the CHIP Reverse Mortgage is that there are no monthly payments. When you eventually move, sell, or pass away, the reverse mortgage, including interest and principal, is repaid from the proceeds of the home’s sale.
3. Choose how you plan to spend the money: One of the most significant benefits of the CHIP Reverse Mortgage is that you completely control the loan and can spend it on whatever needs you require.
4. The money borrowed is tax-free and does not affect your government benefits: Because you are unlocking home equity, the funds received from the CHIP Reverse Mortgage are not added to your taxable income and do not affect government benefits such as Old Age Security (OAS).
5. You will never owe more than the value of your home: The CHIP Reverse Mortgage has a No Negative Equity Guarantee², which means that if you meet your property taxes and mortgage obligations, HomeEquity Bank guarantees that the amount owed on the due date will not exceed the fair market value of your home. If the house depreciates and the mortgage amount owing is more than the gross proceeds from the sale of the property, HomeEquity Bank covers the difference between the sale price and the loan amount.

The CHIP Reverse Mortgage offers Canadians aged 55 and better a flexible and secure way to access their home equity without selling or moving. With no monthly payments required and the ability to use the funds for various purposes, it provides financial freedom and peace of mind. If you’re considering unlocking the value of your home, contact your Dominion Lending Centres mortgage expert to learn more about the CHIP Reverse Mortgage solution.

¹Some conditions apply.

²As long as you keep your property in good maintenance, pay your property taxes and property insurance and your property is not in default. The guarantee excludes administrative expenses and interest that has accumulated after the due date

One of the important factors in home ownership is understanding things like your credit score.  Some people don’t pay much attention to this metric until they begin the mortgage discussion! However, you will find that your credit score is one of the most important factors when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage at the best rate – and with the most purchasing power.

Credit scores range from 300 to 900, the higher your credit score the better. Ideally, you should be aiming for a credit score of 680 for at least one borrower (or guarantor), especially if you are putting under 20% down. If you are able to make a larger down payment of 20% or more, then a score of 680 is not required.

This score is based on spending habits and behaviours including:

• Previous payment history and track record of paying your credit accounts on time is the number one thing that your credit score considers.
• Your current level of debt and whether you’re maxed or not is the second most important factor.
• How long you have had your credit in good standing is the third most important factor.
• Attaining new credits is the fourth factor and can be a red flag if you’re opening several credit cards, accounts, or loans in a short period.
• Your credit mix is the final aspect of your credit score to determine whether you have a healthy mix of credit cards, loans, lines of credit, etc.

If you want to improve your credit score, you can! It is a gradual process, but it is well worth it. Here are some tips to help you get started!

1. Pay Your Bills: This seems pretty straightforward, but it is not that simple. You not only have to pay the bills, but you have to do so in full AND on time whenever possible.  Paying bills on time is one of the key behaviors lenders and creditors look for when deciding to grant you a loan or mortgage. If you are unable to afford the full amount, a good tip is to at least pay the minimum required as shown on your monthly statement to prevent any flags on your account.
2. Pay Your Debts: Whether you have credit card debt, a car loan, a line of credit, or a mortgage, the goal should be to pay your debt off as quickly as possible. To make the most impact, start by paying the lowest debt items first and then work towards the larger amounts. By removing the low-debt items, you also remove the interest payments on those loans which frees up money that can be put towards paying off larger items.
3. Stay Within Your Limit: This is key when it comes to managing debt and maintaining a good credit score. Using all or most of your available credit is not advised. Your goal should be to use 30% or less of your available credit. For instance, if you have a limit of $1000 on your credit card, you should never go over $700. NOTE: If you find you need more credit, it is better to increase the limit versus utilizing more than 70% of what is available each month.

4. Credit and Loan Application Management: Reduce the number of credit card or loan applications you submit. When you submit too many credit card applications, your credit score will go down, and multiple applications in a short period can do more damage. Your best to apply for one or two cards and wait to see if you are accepted before attempting further applications.

If you have questions about your credit score, don’t hesitate to reach out to a DLC Mortgage Expert today! Whether you simply want to check your score or find out how you can improve it, our door is always open.

written by DLC Marketing

Technology is constantly evolving and adapting to our needs as a society and individuals. One of these exciting developments has been the creation and evolution of smart homes.

What is a Smart Home?

A smart home is any home where the homeowners are able to control thermostats, lighting, appliances and other devices remotely over the internet through a smartphone or tablet. These can be set up through wired or wireless systems, allowing you full control wherever you are.

Benefits of Smart Homes

• Easy Home Management: One of the biggest and most appealing aspects of a smart home is the easy home management it provides. The integrated systems not only give you full control over every smart aspect of your home, but also allows you to view insights and data, which can help you analyze daily habits and energy use.

• Energy Savings: Smart homes provide opportunity for extensive energy efficiency and cost savings, depending on how you use the technology. Precise control over heating and cooling systems allows the system to learn your schedule and set preferences for the highest energy efficiency outcome. In addition, you can manage lighting to turn on and off at specified times to prevent energy waste. In addition, these homes are often stocked with top of the line appliances and electronics, with improved energy efficiency leading to further cost savings.

• Increase Appliance Functionality: Using smart appliances and electronics allows you to get even more out of these household tools. For instance, a smart oven can help you cook your chicken to perfection and a built-in audio system can provide the perfect atmosphere to any party. Plus, connecting your appliances and other systems will improve automation and give you even more to love about your home.

• Flexibility: With the ever-changing smart home technology, this affords you greater flexibility when it comes to your home and your changing needs.Smart homes are typically highly flexible, allowing you to easily swap out old models for updated versions, or to install new technology seamlessly.

• Improved Home Security: Incorporating security and surveilliance features, such as cameras, into your smart home network will help you maximize your home security. There are various options for home automation systems containing motion detectors, automated locks and surveillance cameras so that you always know what is going on. You can even set it to receive security alerts in real time!

• Growing Industry: Another advantage to smart homes is that this is a growing industry with technology that is constantly being worked on and improved. This means bigger and smarter tech will be available in the coming years, allowing for even greater cost savings, automation and control.

Considerations for Smart Homes

I bet you are probably pretty excited now that you know what smart homes can do! However, before you jump in there are a couple considerations to keep in mind.

1. How much automation do you want/need?
2. What systems are most important to you (lighting, audio, climate, security, etc)?
3. What is your budget?
4. What are your future plans?

With the right preparation, a smart home can be a dream come true. It is important to understand how much technology you are comfortable with, and what systems are most important to you, so that you can create a plan and a budget to upgrade your current home – or so you know what to look for when you begin shopping.

Smart technology has come a long way! Smart homes are already incredibly intuitive and automated, with more technology and advancements to come. While some of us will always remain the “labor of love” type, many of us have less time and energy than we used to. Smart homes not only help save you money, but time and energy too so you can focus on more important things.

When it comes to getting a mortgage, one of the more overlooked elements is the option to be able to port the loan down the line.

Porting your mortgage is an option within your mortgage agreement, which enables you to move to another property without having to lose your existing interest rate, mortgage balance and term. Thereby allowing you to move or ‘port’ your mortgage over to the new home. Plus, the ability to port also saves you money by avoiding early discharge penalties should you move partway through your term.

Typically, portability options are offered on fixed-rate mortgages. Lenders often use a “blended” system where your current mortgage rate stays the same on the mortgage amount ported over to the new property and the new balance is calculated using the current interest rate. When it comes to variable-rate mortgages, you may not have the same option. However, when breaking a variable-rate mortgage, you would only be faced with a three-month interest penalty charge. While this can range up to $4,000, it is much lower than the average penalty to break a fixed mortgage. In addition, there are cases where you can be reimbursed the fee with your new mortgage.

If you already have the existing option to port your mortgage, or are considering it for your next mortgage cycle, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

1. Timeframe: Some portability options require the sale and purchase to occur on the same day. Other lenders offer a week to do this, some a month, and others up to three months.
2. Terms: Keep in mind, some lenders don’t allow a changed term or might force you into a longer term as part of agreeing to port you mortgage.
3. Penalty Reimbursements: Some lenders may reimburse your entire penalty, whether you are a fixed or variable borrower, if you simply get a new mortgage with the same lender – replacing the one being discharged. Additionally, some lenders will even allow you to move into a brand-new term of your choice and start fresh. Keep in mind, there can be cases where it’s better to pay a penalty at the time of selling and get into a new term at a brand-new rate that could save back your penalty over the course of the new term.

To get all the details about mortgage portability and find out if you have this option (or the potential penalties if you don’t), contact a Dominion Lending Centres mortgage expert today for expert advice and a helping hand throughout your mortgage journey!