Real Estate Blog - credit score

Debt and Mortgages: A Guide to Securing Your Home Sweet Home

In the pursuit of homeownership, understanding the intricate relationship between your existing debts and mortgage approval is paramount. At RE/MAX Infinity, we recognize the importance of making informed decisions to secure your dream home. In this comprehensive guide, we'll look at various types of debt and illuminate effective strategies to manage them, ultimately improving your chances of obtaining that coveted mortgage approval.

Understanding the Debt-Mortgage Nexus

The link between debt and mortgage approval is undeniable. Lenders assess your financial health through a thorough examination of your debt profile, influencing their decision on whether to grant you a mortgage. Let's explore the different types of debt that can impact your…

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Key Financial Considerations for First-Time Homebuyers. Are You Ready to Make the Leap?

Buying your first home is a significant milestone and a dream for many Canadians. It’s not just about finding the perfect property; it's also about ensuring you're financially prepared for this life-changing investment. Being ready to take this step involves more than just browsing listings. It requires a keen understanding of your financial standing and planning for the responsibilities of homeownership.

Credit Score and Credit History

Your credit score plays a vital role in securing a mortgage with favorable terms. Lenders use this score to evaluate your creditworthiness, determining the interest rate and the loan amount you qualify for. Regularly monitor your credit report to identify and rectify any discrepancies. Maintaining a good credit…

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From Preparation to Approval - A Guide to Canadian Mortgages

When it comes to purchasing a home, understanding the ins and outs of mortgages is paramount. In Canada, the mortgage landscape is influenced by various factors, including regulations set by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). In this guide, we'll take you through the steps to kickstart your mortgage journey, how to prepare in advance, and how to ensure you're financially poised for success.

Starting Your Mortgage Journey

Educate Yourself

Begin by familiarizing yourself with the basics of mortgages, interest rates, and terms. Understanding different types of mortgages, such as fixed-rate and variable-rate, empowers you to make informed decisions.

Calculate Affordability

Use online calculators to estimate how much you…

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Navigating the Mortgage Process: Tips and Resources

Purchasing a home is an exciting milestone, and for many people securing a mortgage is an essential step in making that dream a reality. However, the mortgage process can be complex and overwhelming, especially for first-time homebuyers. In this article, we will provide you with valuable tips and resources to help navigate the mortgage process with confidence.

Understanding Mortgages

Before diving into the mortgage process, it's important to have a basic understanding of what a mortgage is. A mortgage is a loan that allows you to borrow money from a lender to purchase a home. The property acts as collateral for the loan, and you make regular payments over a specified period, usually spanning several years.

Assessing Your Financial Situation

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Your Guide to Homebuying: Common Questions and Helpful Tips

Buying a home can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience, especially for first-time homebuyers. With so many decisions to make and factors to consider, it's easy to feel lost in the process. Let's take a look at some of the top questions that homebuyers ask and what they are searching for when it comes to buying real estate.

How much can I afford?

Your budget is determined by several factors, including your income, expenses, debt-to-income ratio, credit score, and down payment. Here's a closer look at each of these factors and how they can affect your budget:

• Income: This takes into account your monthly income and expenses to determine how much of your income can go toward your mortgage payment.
• Expenses: Including things like car…

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Credit Scores: Why They Matter for Your Mortgage and Beyond

Your credit score is a three-digit number that represents your creditworthiness. It is calculated based on your credit history and financial behavior. A higher credit score indicates that you are more likely to repay your debts on time, while a lower credit score suggests that you may be a higher risk borrower. In Canada, credit scores range from 300 to 900, with a score of 650 or higher considered to be good.

Your credit score is important because it affects your ability to get approved for credit, such as a credit card or loan, and the terms and interest rates that you are offered. It also impacts other areas of your life, such as renting an apartment, getting a job, and even setting up utilities.

When applying for credit, lenders will…

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How To Get Pre-Approved For A Mortgage

If you're planning to buy a home, getting pre-approved for a mortgage is an important step to take. Not only will it give you a clear idea of how much house you can afford, but it can also help you make a stronger offer when you find the perfect property. Here are some things to consider in order to get pre-approved for a mortgage.

Check your credit score

Before you apply for a mortgage, it's important to know your credit score. This will help you determine if you're likely to be approved for a mortgage and what interest rate you can expect. You can check your credit score for free through websites like Equifax® Canada or TransUnion®.

Gather your documents

To get pre-approved for a mortgage, you'll need to provide documentation that…

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6 Signs It’s Time to Buy a House

Many people dream of having their own house at some point. Owning a home is an excellent way to build financial security and equity. And while renting gives you the freedom to move when you want, the urge to own often rises to the surface. But how do you know when you’re ready? Here are six signs that it’s time to buy a house.

Your Rent is Increasing… Again

Both buying and renting have their drawbacks, but one of the great grievances with renting in recent years is rising rental prices. These make it difficult to have enough for monthly costs and save for the future. Unlike paying rent, owning a house builds equity, and the monthly costs are cheaper in many areas, even with extra expenses like property taxes and…

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How To Get a Mortgage When You’re Self-Employed

Despite the coronavirus pandemic leading to a so-called Great Resignation that has produced a labour shortage in North America and Europe, fewer Canadians are embracing entrepreneurship, bucking the growing trend south of the border. Before the global health crisis, there were close to 2.9 million self-employed Canadians. Today, Statistics Canada data show a little more than 2.6 million self-employed folks, with losses situated throughout multiple industries, including professional and technical services. It turns out that these folks have transitioned to paid full-time employment. It is a grind for the rest of the self-employed class, but it is also liberating. Of course, that feeling may not be the same when it comes to gathering credit and applying…

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Building Credit History with Rent Payments

It only takes a few bad decisions or a few months of hard times before your credit score plummets, and once it’s low, it can be very difficult to build it back up. Sometimes it isn’t enough to just make payments on time, and you might need a little help with building your credit history.

An easy way to help build up your credit score is by incorporating rent payments into the calculation. Several programs are available that use your regular monthly rental payments to help increase your credit score, so you can enjoy the benefits that go with that.

Let’s learn a bit more about why building credit history is important and how these programs work in conjunction with your credit history to increase your score.

The Benefits…

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