An Alphabet Soup of Economic Predictions

Which is Canada Most Likely to Experience?

You’ve likely heard of analysts using letters of the alphabet to describe the potential paths for Canada’s economic recovery.

Will that graph of the country’s GDP look like a V or more like a U? Perhaps even a W, but hopefully not an L.

Below we take a brief look at what each of the recovery shapes mean, which is most likely, and how that might affect the country’s housing markets.

Let’s take a look at the letters that have been employed to describe the “shape” of where Canada’s economy has been and where it’s headed:  

V-Shaped: The most optimistic of the scenarios, this forecasts the steep decline in Canada’s GDP bouncing back quickly and returning to pre-COVID levels in short order.

U-Shaped: Similar to the “V” recovery, but this scenario anticipates a longer period of low or no growth. However, it also describes an eventual quick return to pre-COVID growth levels. 

“Nike Swoosh” Shaped: This is a variation of the “U-shaped” recovery, but describes a more gradual and prolonged period of economic recovery.  

W-Shaped: Like the V-shaped scenario, except the W forecasts a second steep decline in economic performance—possibly due to a second wave of the virus—followed by a second quick recovery to more normal levels.

L-Shaped: This is the most dreaded of them all, describing a persistent recession that doesn’t see the economy returning to pre-COVID levels potentially for many years.
 
Which Recovery Path is Most Likely?

There’s much disagreement over which model is likely to play out.

Some expect the economy to face continued headwinds for at least the next year, with some ups and some downs, perhaps along the lines of a W-recovery.

“Our economic forecast envisions the economy continuing to operate well below full capacity into 2021,” economists with RBC Economics wrote in a research note. “The road to recovery will be slow, and it could be quite bumpy.”

Others remain optimistic that the V-recovery is still taking shape.  

“The good news is that the incoming data continue to suggest a recovery that is about as v-shaped as we could reasonably have hoped for,” noted Neil Shearing, Group Chief Economist at Capital Economics. “The bad news is that sustaining the pace of recovery will get increasingly difficult from here.”

In a separate research note, economists at Capital Economics added, “In terms of fundamentals, it now seems clear that household income has not fallen by anywhere near as much as we expected in the second quarter, despite the slump in employment.”

Then there are others who don’t think any letter—in the English language or otherwise—can accurately describe the path that lays ahead.

“I don’t think a letter is going to neatly capture what we’re going to be looking at,” Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO, told the Financial Post. 

What’s the Impact on Canada’s Housing Market?

The fallout for the real estate and mortgage markets has been a big unknown since the start of the crisis, largely because both supply and demand fell in unison.

“The fact both sides of the demand-supply equation fell in virtually equal proportions…revealed an important characteristic of COVID-19,” RBC economist Robert Hogue wrote. “To date, it hasn’t created market imbalances.”

While home sales plummeted in April by 57% as the effects of the lockdowns took hold, the decline in home prices has so far been limited in many markets.

And with sales already rebounding in May by nearly 57% and new listings seeing a 69% increase, there are signs some markets may be back to posting year-over-year price increases in short order.

As of May, MLS benchmark prices were up year-over-year in the Greater Toronto Area (+9.4%), Greater Vancouver (+2.9%), Montreal (+11%), Ottawa (+15.7%) and Halifax (+9.3%), according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Still, as economic fundamentals remain below potential for the foreseeable future and as government assistance programs, such as CERB and the mortgage payment deferrals, come offline this fall, many expect modest price declines.

“We believe downward price pressure will build in most markets in the coming months,” wrote Robert Hogue of RBC Economics. “Nationwide, we expect benchmark prices to fall 7% by the middle of 2021, though believe a widespread collapse in property values is unlikely.”

Mortgage Insurers Making Headlines

CMHC Makes Policy Changes – Genworth & Canada Guaranty Stay Put

It came as a surprise to many mortgage industry insiders when the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) announced its plan to further tighten their lending guidelines on July 1, 2020. Thankfully for many potential homeowners, Canada’s two private insurers, Genworth and Canada Guaranty, have decided not to follow suit.

Citing a need to mitigate its exposure (and taxpayer’s) to what the Crown Corporation’s CEO Evan Siddall’s predicts will be a drop in house values by as little as 9% and as much as 18% due to COVID-19, and a potential surge in household debt from 176% to 200% through 2021, they implemented changes that would cut purchasing power by up to 11%.

Under CMHC’s new guidelines, which is set to go into effect on July 1, 2020, the following will apply:

• Maximum Gross Debt Service (GDS) ratios, or the max percentage of home ownership debt payments ie principal, interest, taxes, condo fees and heat when compared to gross income, will be lowered to 35% (from 39%)
•  Maximum Total Debt Service (TDS) ratios, or the max percentage of total personal debt payments relative to gross income, will be lowered to 42% (from 44%)
• The minimum credit score needed to qualify will rise to 680 (from 600) for at least one household borrower
• Many non-traditional sources of down payment that “increase indebtedness” will not be permitted. 

However, borrowers will still be able to access their RRSPs through the Home Buyers Plan or a home equity line of credit on another property they own.

According to Mortgage Professionals Canada, 61% of first-time home buyers buy with less than 20% down. And 20% of down payment funds come from borrowed sources. This move by CMHC could cut purchasing power by up to 11%.  For example, a family earning $100,000 with 5% down, with no other debt, would qualify for a $320,000 mortgage (approx.) Under the new CMHC guidelines that mortgage amount gets reduced to approx. $280,000.  

Siddall said in a statement, “COVID-19 has exposed long-standing vulnerabilities on our financial markets, and we must act now to protect the economic futures of Canadians. These actions will protect home buyers, reduce government and taxpayer risk, and support stability of housing markets while curtailing excessive demand and unsustainable house price growth.”

Critics of the move wondered out loud at the timing of these changes, when provinces have begun easing lockdown restrictions to kickstart the economy, they felt it was counterproductive to efforts focused on regaining confidence in the housing sector.  

Paul Taylor, CEO of Mortgage Professionals Canada was quoted as saying, “…I think the timing for the introduction of these restrictions is poor, especially since the Federal government itself is pouring billions of dollars into the economy to keep it afloat.”

Canada’s Private Insurers Hold Firm

In Canada, federally regulated lending institutions such as banks, non-bank lenders, credit unions and trust companies, are required to insure high ratio mortgages – those with less than 20% down –against default. There are three insurers in Canada -- CMHC is a federal Crown Corporation and Genworth and Canada Guaranty are private sector suppliers of mortgage insurance. 

After reviewing their policies and CMHC’s decision, the two private insurers have decided to NOT follow CMHC’s lead. Both insurers made statements defending their current underwriting polices and are confident in their ability to manage risk. This is positive for borrowers.

As the economy starts its slow climb to recovery, we have seen positive signs across the country as sales start to increase. 

When it comes to real estate, consumer confidence is key. As we continue to ease restrictions, continue to practice safe protocols, and consumers start to feel comfortable again, we may see both homebuyers and those critical home sellers become more active.

It’s hard to say what the true impact to the market might have been if all three insurers had decided to tighten their rules. It’s clear that having a competitive market for mortgage insurance greatly benefits homebuyers. 

Government, Monetary Policy and Fiscal Policy Reactions to COVID-19

By Mark Kerzner, President TMG The Mortgage Group

There was a second emergency reduction in the Overnight rate of 50 basis points on Friday, March 13 – to ensure market liquidity, and in response to the unprecedented economic impacts of the COVID-19 virus.  Many are anticipating yet another 50-basis points reduction that would bring the overnight rate to 0.25% in the near future.

Rates ultimately received by the end consumer are determined based on discounts or premiums from BANK Prime rates

One of the big questions following the latest emergency Overnight rate reduction by the Bank of Canada last Friday was whether or not Banks would follow suit with their PRIME rates and if so by what amount.

Yesterday afternoon it was confirmed that Prime lending rates are dropping but the price that new consumers will pay for variable based lending products may in fact be staying flat or potentially going up.  Discounts from bank PRIME of up to 1% appear to be vanishing. For existing variable rate and line of credit clients, your rates should be decreasing.

Just to reiterate, existing discounts for variable in-force mortgages are not changing.  Current discounts would related to new, renewing and refinancing mortgage clients who are choosing variable rate products.

After the Global Financial Crisis over a decade ago, variable rate discounts went from P-85 to P+100 almost overnight. One difference is that the ARM was a much more popular product a decade ago as the spread between it and fixed rate was much more pronounced. Today, the vast majority of consumers have been taking fixed mortgages, and are likely going to continue to do so.

Some have been asking questions about how is it now, that with the reduction in PRIME rates, are we seeing increases in mortgage lending rates.  As bond yields fluctuate (in part due to the oscillating markets) and liquidity premiums starting to dramatically increase, the cost of funds and the desired margins earned by lenders increases.

The Government and Regulators are using other fiscal policy stimulants to work to protect the economy as well.

To stabilize funding, the Government of Canada, through CMHC, announced yesterday they were buying $50 billion of insured mortgage pools.

OSFI mandates the rate of the Domestic Stability Buffer – a rate of capital that is set aside to safeguard against shocks in the system. Over the past few years that amount has continually increased.

It was less than a year ago in April 2019, that the Big 6 banks were required to hold risk weighted capital of 2.25% against the backdrop of increasing indebtedness of Canadian households and increasing ‘vulnerabilities’ faced by those lending institutions.

Lowering the capital requirements to 1% increases the ability for banks to lend approximately $300B in freed up capital. This is largely anticipated to support small business loans, helping those firms meet immediate business and payroll obligations.

In the mortgage world one announcement that received attention on March 13th was OSFI suspending consultation on the minimum qualifying rate for uninsured mortgages. This means the previously announced changes to the Stress Test were now not coming into force. I can assume that OSFI and the Minister of Finance never likely imagined rates dropping this low and having people qualify at 4% (or lower) when they likely consider 4% to be a more normalized rate to begin with (and not a buffer rate).

For those with mortgages, it’s now very important to speak with a licensed mortgage broker to assess options you may have available to refinance, early renew, extend term, choosing longer term fixed rate products, etc.

For those of you in financial distress who are existing mortgage consumers you have a variety of options available to you. A mortgage professional can help you navigate that landscape with your current lender and potentially with your mortgage insurer as well.  Options may include, payment deferral, loan re-amortization, capitalization of outstanding interest arrears and other eligible expenses and special payment arrangements.

This situation is unprecedented and is requiring swift and significant action.

The Bank of Canada and the Federal and Provincial Governments are setting up defence mechanisms during this unprecedented global pandemic. Ensuring the financial system operates, protecting deposits, ensuring liquidity, and providing a means of support for business continuity are at the forefront.

A mortgage professional has always been best suited to guide you through your personal situation and to provide you with options worthy of consideration. That has never been truer than Today.

Know Your Words – Mortgage Words, that is

Buying a home is a big investment. With so much at stake, it’s important learn what you can about the homebuying process as well as understanding the “language” of mortgage lending.

A recent survey conducted by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, and the Bank of Canada in 2019 suggested that homeowners don’t have a good understanding of the terminology used in mortgage lending. A large percentage -- 74% of homeowners or soon-to-be homebuyers -- did not fully understand what a mortgage term or amortization period were.

So, to help you better understand what you’re getting into, here is a partial list of terms to increase your mortgage knowledge.

• Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM): A type of mortgage in which the interest rate applied on the outstanding balance varies throughout the life of the loan. The interest rate resets based on the lender’s Prime rate plus or minus a variance. With most ARM mortgages, different from VRM mortgages (variable rate mortgages) the mortgage payment adjusts automatically with each change in interest rate.
• Adjustment Date: A date used by the borrower and lender to move payment dates to a schedule that suits the borrower. Between the funding date and the adjustment date, the borrower typically pays interest only vs. principal and interest.
• Amortization Period: The number of years over which you have to repay a loan. The most common period is 25 years for a first-time homebuyer.
• Benchmark Rate:  A qualifying rate set by the Bank of Canada and can be adjusted at any time.  All insured and insurable mortgages must meet the standard affordability tests (Gross Debt Service and Total Debt Service) “as if” the interest rate is the Benchmark Rate. Also referred to as a “stress test”.  Designed to ensure that borrowers and the housing market can sustain higher interest rates.
• Bridge Financing: (Also referred to as Interim Financing) A loan against a property being sold allowing the owner to use their equity to purchase a new property and take possession of the new property before the Closing Date of the sale.  There must be a firm sale of the property being sold.
• Closed Mortgage: A mortgage whose term cannot be altered until maturity, unless the lender agrees and the borrower agrees to pay a fee called a pre-payment penalty.
• Collateral Charges: Unlike a standard mortgage, a collateral charge is often re-advanceable, meaning the lender can lend you more money after closing without you needing to refinance and pay a lawyer. A collateral charge may not be transferable -- it cannot be assigned (switched) to a new lender like a regular mortgage.
• Deposit: Money placed under the care of a third party (real estate representative, lawyer or notary) by the purchaser when he makes an Offer to Purchase. The money is paid to the vendor upon closing the sale or returned if the conditions are not satisfied. This is typically held in trust.
• Downpayment: The part of the home purchase money that is not paid out of the mortgage loan.
• Equity: The total value of the owner’s interest in a property, calculated as the value of the home less the total outstanding obligations.
• Fixed Rate Mortgage: A mortgage for which the rate of interest is fixed for a specific period of time (See term).
• Gross Debt Service Ratio (GDS): The percentage of the borrower’s gross monthly income that is used for monthly housing payments (principal, interest, taxes, heating costs, and half of any condominium fees).
• HELOC: A home equity line of credit (pronounced hee-lock) is a loan in which the lender agrees to lend a maximum amount within an agreed period (called a term), where the collateral is the borrower's equity in his/her house. These are often re-advanceable.
• Insurable Mortgage: This type of mortgage can now be considered the new “insured mortgage”. These are still eligible for default insurance but may be portfolio-insured at the lender’s expense or high-ratio insured at the client’s expense.
• Insured Mortgage: A mortgage transaction where the default insurance premium is paid by the client, as is typical in a high-ratio mortgage. 
• Interest Rate Differential (IRD): A compensation charge that may apply if you pay off your mortgage prior to the maturity date, or pay the mortgage principal down beyond the amount of your prepayment privileges, usually in a fixed-rate mortgage.
• Loan-to-Value: The amount of the mortgage loan compared to the value of the property.
• Monoline Lender: Monoline lenders focus on just mortgages as opposed to banks and credit unions which offer a variety of services. 
• Mortgage Default Insurance: If you have a high-ratio mortgage (more than 80% of the lending value of the property) your lender will probably require that you purchase mortgage loan insurance, which is available from CMHC, Genworth Canada or Canada Guaranty.
• Mortgage Life Insurance: Provides coverage for your family should you die before your mortgage is paid off. This insurance can be purchased through your mortgage professional.
• Open Mortgage: Allows the borrower to pay any amount of the principal, including the entire balance, off at any time without penalty. You may pay a higher interest rate for the flexibility of an Open Mortgage, but perhaps warranted if a sale is anticipated or in the case of buying property to fix up and sell.
• Portable Mortgage: A mortgage with an option that allows a buyer to transfer a current mortgage to a new property. (Subject to full borrower and property approval)
• Qualifying Rates: The rate used to qualify a borrower for a mortgage. Lenders use these rates to calculate your debt-service ratio, which is the ratio between your debt and income. This serves as a gauge of your ultimate ability to repay the obligation over the life of the mortgage.
• Stress test and Stress Test Rate: Similar to Benchmark Rate and used for uninsurable mortgages. The Stress Test rate is the higher of the contract rate plus a government defined increment, currently at 200 basis points, or the current Benchmark Rate. All uninsurable mortgages must meet the standard affordability tests (Gross Debt Service and Total Debt Service) “as if” the interest rate is the Stress Test rate. Designed to ensure that borrowers and the housing market can sustain higher interest rates.
• Term: The length of time that mortgage conditions, including the interest rate you pay, are in effect. At the end of the term, the borrower (you) can pay off the mortgage or renew for another term. Mortgage terms can range from six months to ten years; the most common is 5 years.
• Un-insurable Mortgage: These mortgages are not eligible for default insurance and apply to refinances, rental properties, stated income clients, and on purchases greater than $1M.
• Variable Rate Mortgage (VRM): A type of mortgage in which the interest rate applied on the outstanding balance varies throughout the life of the loan.  The interest rate resets based on the lender’s Prime rate plus or minus a variance.  With most VRM mortgages, different from ARM mortgages (Adjustable Rate Mortgage), the mortgage payment does not adjust automatically change with each change in interest rate.  The lender typically reminds you that you may adjust the payment by contacting them. 

Of course there are more, but these seem to be the ones that homebuyers often ask about. If you need clarification or have question, contact your mortgage professional.

Reduce your holiday debt

Happy New Year! As we enter this new decade, do you have some spending regret?  You promised to stick to a budget; you promised to scale down and have an old-school, back-to-basics, holiday. But some items were just too hard to resist.

Well, you’re not alone. Holiday spending has been ticking up over the past few years, according to a report from PWC Canada. While the 2019 numbers aren’t out yet, PWC predicted that holiday spending would be up 1.9% to an average of CA$1,593. Why? Canadians’ confidence in the economy and their own personal finances is up. And while a quarter of Canadians planned to spend more than they did in 2018, it’s younger shoppers who are leading the charge, with 42% of Gen Z and 35% of millennials bringing more joy to their world.

Every holiday season, many consumers reach their debt limit. And January is when there is a rise in bankruptcy filings and consumer proposals.

What can you do?

Here are a few tips to help get rid of that extra debt quickly.

Create a budget
Know where you’re at financially and start wherever you are. If you’re unsure of where to start, try a budgeting app. Once you know what you earn and what you spend each month -- it helps to see those numbers written out and itemized -- any monies left over can be used to pay off debt.  See what bills have high-interest rates, and pay those off first.

Change spending habits in the short-term
Put away the credit cards. Pay at least the minimum amount owed to avoid extra fees, but if you can, pay extra to get that debt down faster. Look at your other expenses and see where you can trim.  You can review your grocery budget; cancel subscriptions and/or put memberships on hold.

Find, or negotiate, a lower interest rate
Credit card interest rates can be notoriously high. Sometimes, if your payments have been current, creditors may be willing to reduce the rate if you simply ask. Your card company wants to keep your business, after all, and now is when competitors unleash their most attractive balance-transfer campaigns.

Get a game plan to pay off multiple cards/debts
If you’re still stuck with high-interest cards, list them in order of rates, highest to lowest. A reasonable approach is to attack the highest-interest cards first (making sure you pay the minimum on the other cards) and work your way down.

Consolidate debt
This doesn’t actually reduce debt but it can make monthly payments easier and if the loan has a lower interest rate than a credit card, then you’ll save dollars in the long run.  If you own a home, consider speaking with a mortgage professional for a way to consolidate debt.

Refinance Your Mortgage
Mortgage rates are lower than consolidation loans and the increase can be amortized over the life of the mortgage. If you think refinancing may work for you, contact your mortgage professional and review all your current debts.

Use your holiday bonus
If you got one, consider using it toward paying off debt rather than spending it on a vacation or other luxury purchases. I know, you worked hard to get it, but you’ll be less stressed in the long run.

Life insurance loan  
If you’ve been paying into a life insurance policy that has built up a cash value, check to see how much is available to you. You won’t be cancelling your policy but companies may let you borrow the cash that’s been accumulated.

Don’t despair, there is usually a  solution for everything.



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Buying a house doesn’t have to be stressful

Buying a house should be an exciting time but it can get pretty stressful, not only for first time home buyers, but for move-up buyers as well.

The number one worry is finding problems after moving in. The next worry is that prices will drop and the house won’t be worth the original purchase price.

You can reduce some of that stress and worry by putting together a team of experts who will guide you through the entire process. 

It starts with a mortgage professional who will take a look at your finances, including your credit score, to qualify you for a mortgage. A lot of information about you and your credit management abilities come up during this process. For example, derogatory items may be on your report, but that doesn’t necessarily deny your ability to qualify for a mortgage. Everyone’s situation is different and a mortgage agent is familiar with most situations, and can offer options.

Once you know the amount of house you qualify for, you can confidently work with a Realtor to find the right home for you. On average, home buyers spend five months house-hunting and visit 10 locations before deciding to buy. It’s certainly a good idea to take your time to make sure to get the house that’s right for you. 

Interestingly, a 2013 BMO Psychology of House Hunting report found that 33% of home buyers felt rushed into making a purchase – that increased to 39% for first timers. Sixty-eight per cent were prepared to settle for a home that was less than perfect. Four-fifths of prospective buyers said they know a home is right for them as soon as they step inside. So, you may not be alone.

Once you’ve put together the Offer to Purchase with a Realtor, working with a trusted lawyer is the best way to make sure there are no surprises at closing. The bottom line is to take your time, work with professionals and do some research. 

Here are the suggested steps to make sure you get on the right track and into your new home:

• Determine the location and the type of home to suit your  needs. Most people will have an idea of where they want to purchase their new home based largely on familiarity and convenience. For example, living close to work or schools might be a priority, or selecting a certain area of town with parks and amenities, and/or walkability scores. This is also a good time to think about how much you want to spend and what you can afford.
•  Get your finances in order. During the pre-approval process is a good time to make sure you have the finances to cover your down payment and disbursements on your anticipated purchase.
•  Start your home search. How you find the perfect property is entirely up to you. Many home buyers enlist the services of a Realtor. It’s important to only look at homes within your budget.
• Hire professional services. You will need a lawyer to complete a real estate transaction. A real estate lawyer ensures your paperwork is correct and that the transaction is complete. They will review the contract and mortgage documents, conduct a title search, purchase title insurance on your behalf, register the property in your name, get signatures, prepare a Statement of Adjustments that shows the amount you will pay in closing costs, and collect and disburse fees.
•  Hire a  home inspector. Home inspections have become part of the homebuying process for both new home purchases or resales. It might seem like a waste of money to pay for a home inspection for a newly-constructed home, but you might consider getting an inspection a few months before the expiration of the New Home Warranty.  Better safe than sorry.
• Insurance Agent. Lenders also require you to have fire insurance so an insurance agent will help you find the best coverage and the best price.
• Make an offer. This is done by presenting the seller with an Offer to Purchase. Sellers have the right to accept, reject or put in a counter offer. Remember to include all necessary details in your purchase offer. The deposit will be paid, in trust, to the Realtor.

If you’re planning on purchasing a first home or a new home, then get started with a mortgage professional.

Use the Smith Maneuver to Build Wealth

What’s the Smith Maneuver? It’s a wealth-building strategy to create a tax-deductible mortgage. You may have heard, and envied, that mortgage holders in the US can claim their mortgage interest as a tax deduction. Well, you may be able to use that strategy in Canada with the Smith Maneuver. Here’s how it works.

In Canada, if you borrow money to invest in a product that produces an income such as an investment property or a dividend paying stock, the interest on the borrowed money may become tax deductible.

If you borrow against the equity in your home, invest it in income-producing products, then you can use the tax refund to further pay down the mortgage. By repeating that a number of times, you can pay off your mortgage.

The man behind it all was Fraser Smith, a financial strategist based in Victoria, British Columbia. He pioneered The Smith Maneuver, a ground-breaking, legal strategy that lets ordinary Canadian homeowners make their mortgages tax deductible. In his work, he saw that too many Canadians were waiting until their mortgages were paid off before they started to build an investment portfolio, missing out on years of compounding interest, and putting themselves in the position of being house rich and cash poor in retirement, unlike his wealthier investors who used tax strategies to grow wealth. So, he learned the rules of tax deductibility and penned the book The Smith Maneuver for all Canadians.

In a simplified way -- here’s how it works: It starts with a re-advanceable mortgage, which is a mortgage linked with a line of credit. The credit limit for your mortgage plus the credit line is normally 80% of the appraised value of your home, but new rules have changed that to 65% of the value of your home. With each mortgage payment, you pay down some principal, which immediately becomes available credit in the credit line. You can now borrow this amount to invest directly from the credit line.  Your investment credit line interest is normally tax deductible and you should receive a refund, which will be small in the beginning.

Use the line of credit portion to invest in incoming-producing products but never in an RRSP – you’ll lose the tax deduction.

At tax season, you can deduct the annual amount of interest you paid on your line of credit against your income.  Then apply the tax return and investment income against your non-deductible mortgage and invest the new money that’s now in your line of credit. Repeat this until your nondeductible mortgage is paid off.

By doing this you get to build a large investment portfolio without waiting to pay off your mortgage first; you get to quickly pay down your non-deductible mortgage in a hurry; and your new investment loan is tax deductible.

To learn more about this strategy and to see if it can work in your situation, contact a mortgage broker.

Important Mortgage Features to Consider

Real estate continues to be a hot commodity in most parts of the country, despite the many changes we’ve gone through over the last few years. Prices in some areas are up and listings are in short supply in other areas, but the housing market overall has been moderating over the last year, and analysts are forecasting a balanced market for the rest of 2019 and into 2020.

Interest rates are comparatively low and competition among lenders to offer favourable rates is high.  It’s always a good idea to read the fine print to make sure you’re getting the best mortgage product, at the best rate, for your particular need.

Because lenders do differ, it’s important to know what features are important to you before deciding on a lender. Here are six characteristics of mortgages to assist home buyers assess their offers:

1. Blend and Extend. The “increase and blend” option has been around for almost 20 years and may be an option in some situations. For example, if your current lender doesn’t allow a change in the maturity date, then you’re locked into the remaining time left on the term.  While that’s not the end of the world, in a rising rate environment this can be inconvenient. If you’re moving up, and buying at your maximum loan-to-value, you probably don’t want just a 1 to 2-year term, and with the new benchmark rule, you may not even qualify.  If rates have dropped since the original mortgage you could run into the “Interest Rate Differential” (IRD), which might be too large and you can’t move.  
2. Early Payout Penalty Calculation. Some chartered Banks are known for their extremely large IRD penalties.  If you don’t know whether you’ll keep the mortgage for the entire term then make sure you understand the payout penalty. 
3. Mortgage Registration. Is the mortgage registered as a non-standard charge, either a running account, or a collateral charge? If so, then it becomes challenging to switch this mortgage out to take advantage of lower rates, although collateral switches are becoming more widely available. Consider this scenario: If the lending institution knows you will have to incur $1,000 or more in possible costs, as well as put in the time and effort to complete a refinance with another lender, then there might be little incentive to offer you best rates at renewal time when a small rate reduction might be enough to keep your business. On the other hand, there are advantages such as making it easier to qualify with fewer expenses down the road if you need to access additional funds.
4. Pre-Payment Privileges. Is the lender offering 10/10, 15/15, or 20/20?  That means allowing prepayments of 10%, 15 % or 20% annually on the outstanding balance of the mortgage.  Also, can these lump sum payments be made anytime per year or only at the mortgage anniversary? And how easy is it to make lump sum payments? Do you have to go into the branch, call a 1-800 number? Or can you simply go online and do it.  These are important factors to consider.
5. Porting Features. This feature can vary from lender to lender. Read the fine print, especially if you know you might need to move before the mortgage maturity date. Some lenders require a sale and purchase to occur on the same day in a port, which can be inconvenient. A more flexible, and available program allows typically up to 60 days gap or 60 days overlap; and then there can be exceptions allowing longer periods beyond that.
6. Online Access. All of the chartered Banks offer online access as do a number of monoline lenders. Generally online access allows you to see your balance, make additional lump sum payments, or make a payment increase. This can be a time-saving feature for tech-savvy consumers. 

There is more to getting a mortgage than just rate. Talk to a mortgage broker first who can help you navigate the mortgage terms and who can help you find the best product for your needs.

Mortgage Fraud – Don’t Let It Happen to You

There has been a growing concern about fraud in the industry for a number of years.  According to Equifax, suspected fraudulent mortgage applications have increased by 52% in Canada since 2013.

Because the mortgage industry’s rules and guidelines have become more complex, there is increased diligence among lenders and brokers.

The mortgage stress test has made it more difficult for some consumers to qualify for a mortgage. And in today’s high-tech world, it’s not always the case that lenders and borrowers meet face-to-face.

There is also pressure for some files to close quickly, from consumers who expect their real estate transactions to be fast, with minimal paperwork, which could lead to potential fraud.

Categories of Fraud

These are the general categories of fraud:

1. Fraud to get shelter. An individual commits fraud in order to get a mortgage on a home they could not otherwise obtain or afford.
2.  Title Fraud. The identity of a homeowner is assumed and a new mortgage is taken out assuming the homeowner’s name and credit history but with loan proceeds going to the fraudster. The fraudster will use forged documents to transfer ownership and will use fake identification to get the mortgage on the property.
3. As part of other criminal activities. A mortgage may be fraudulently obtained to get access to a home for illegal purposes.

These are the general types of fraud that occur:

1. Fraud Involving Property.  Overvaluation of property; misrepresentation of property characteristics; builder bail-out scheme using a “straw” buyer.
2. Fraud Involving Employment Status.  Forged employment letter; forged or altered pay stub; inflated income; misrepresentation regarding self-employment
3. Identification Fraud.  Forged or altered ID, nonexistent individual
4. Equity Fraud (Down Payment). Bogus gift letter; bank account statements not the borrower’s
5. Title Fraud. Fraudulent title transfer when mortgage has not been paid in full; property not in name of seller; identity theft relating to title fraud

Fighting Fraud

It’s in the best interest of the real estate and mortgage industry to work together, along with consumers, to reduce fraud. To further protect yourself and to help avoid the situation:

• Always store personal information, including birth certificate, SIN, bank account numbers and credit card details, in a secure place
• Shred documents, such as credit card statements
• Never reply to spam or e-mails that ask for banking information, credit card details, passwords or other sensitive information
• Safeguard your personal financial information.
• Contact your mortgage lender or broker first if you are having difficulty making your mortgage payments.
• Consult your lawyer before giving another person a right to deal with your home or other assets.
• Do a land title search with your provincial or territorial land registry office. This search will show the name of the property owner and any mortgages or liens registered on the title.

You can also help to protect yourself by inspecting your credit report at least annually by contacting Canada’s two credit-reporting agencies: Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada.

Fraud is serious business in Canada and has a negative impact on the entire industry. Fraud hurts people, not just companies or the government. When lenders are defrauded, consumers pay the price.  Losses from fraud could ultimately result in higher interest rates and fees for borrowers.

TMG mortgage professionals stay up-to-date about mortgage fraud through internal training sessions, and through industry educational sessions. They understand the concept of fraud, recognize fraudulent schemes and understand their consequences. This knowledge helps brokers protect themselves, their clients, their business relationships, and the industry as a whole.

There’s real estate life outside of Toronto and Vancouver

If you read the headlines about the housing industry, you’re bound to think that affordability is out of reach, and if you’re a first-time home buyer, you may think you will never be able to own a home. You’d be forgiven to think that. It’s likely you’re reading about the two major centres – Vancouver and Toronto. What’s happening in these two cities seems to dominate the news, but it’s not the whole story.  

There is affordability and life outside these two biggies and your dreams of home ownership are very much alive. 

In a recent news article, Phil Soper, CEO of Royal LePage said the move to towns near secondary municipalities has been gaining in popularity. He went on to say that eight of the 10 fastest appreciating Canadian areas are in Ontario, led by areas surrounding Windsor, London, Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge, Kingston, Niagara/St. Catharines, Hamilton, Belleville/Trenton and Guelph, he said.

In Ontario, Brad Knight, a mortgage broker with OMAC powered by TMG, is seeing the (Spring) market coming to life, finally. 

“For the longest time, we had no inventory but now we’re seeing more listings and slightly higher prices.”

Knight works in the St. Thomas/London area and is seeing lots of families coming from Toronto. “Because there is more flex-time in the workplace and many who can now work from home, the market here is attractive with the average price of a single-detached home selling for approximately $365,000.”

The average days on market is 15-22; but with the additional listings, some are selling much faster, if the property is priced right, Knight said.

He also credits the better weather for some of the boom, but still finds the mortgage stress test coming into play for first time homebuyers. He’s not sure how the new government incentive, slated to roll out in September, will affect buyers.

“Right now, the weather has improved, mortgage business is up and it’s turned out to be a good June.”

 In Corner Brook, Newfoundland, the mortgage business is not bad. According to TMG broker Brian Patey, the year started slowly but now the market has caught up to where it was last year. 

“We don’t get the big swings here like they did in St John’s, where the market was hot, due to the oil industry in Alberta, but now that’s dried up and the market there has calmed down. But here, we’re pretty steady”, he said.

The market in Corner Brook is small and homes can be bought for under $200,000, which according to Patey are selling pretty fast now – the $300,000 and higher sit a bit on the market.

It’s still tough for first time home buyers because of a lack of jobs. “There’s not a lot of industry coming into this area,” Patey said. 

Despite the challenges, he is optimistic and so are the Realtors in the area. The biggest change for Patey has been the time of year when the market gets busy. “It’s not a typical Spring market anymore. Now I can be very busy in January and February.”

The real estate market in Saskatoon is starting to rebound according to Corinne Lokinger, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker. “We have seen a 16% increase in sales this year over least and a 21% increase in condo sales.”

Although still considered a down market, condo sales are doing well and consumer confidence has risen, which is stabilizing the market she said. “First time home buyers are buying the lower-priced houses and condos.”

For a while in Saskatoon, listings were down and days on market were longer – upwards to 77 days. But as the prices stabilize and the listings pick up, Lokinger is seeing that the houses that are priced right, are selling.

Lokinger also said the market there certainly felt the slowdown after the stress test was introduced, but it’s turning around now.

“I’m feeling pretty good about what’s happening now. I’ve been talking to mortgage brokers and to other Realtors -- call it intuition, but it seems like something big is coming to Saskatoon,” she added.

Back in Northern Ontario, another smaller market TMG mortgage broker Taya Weiszhaar saw a slow start to the year but business has now picked up. She services areas around Kirkland Lake, North Bay, and Sudbury.

“We had a lack of inventory and high prices,” she said. “Now, we have good, quality listings that are priced right. Some are on market for only three days.”

Interestingly, the largest part of her business comes from first time home buyers who are keen to own a home and are interested in knowing their options. 

“I’m not seeing a problem with these buyers getting their down payment but our prices are low compared to major centres – you can buy a house for under $280,000 and I saw a couple listed at $89,000 and $108,000. I also advise them to buy the house first, the vehicle second.”

Weiszhaar also finds that first time home buyers are in some ways easier to finance because they haven’t accumulated the debt that her repeat buyers have. 

As for the new government incentive Taya is not impressed and says it really won’t change qualifying in her market. “The first-time buyers in my market are motivated and will work hard to save the down payment,” she said. “If the government really wanted to help, they would lower the benchmark rate so that more people can qualify.”

She feels good about the future and says, “People buy houses when they’re ready, no matter the rate. They are looking for the right house at the right price and that’s it.”

 

The Ongoing Stress Test Debate

By Mark Kerzner,
President, TMG The Mortgage Group

The controversy over the mortgage stress test continues. Banks, economists, mortgage lenders, Realtors, mortgage brokers, and its association Mortgage Professionals Canada (MPC) are urging government to make some changes, not to get rid of the stress test altogether, but to consider some variables, such as income growth and mortgage repayment which may not have been factored in.

So it was curious to hear Evan Siddall, CEO of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), imploring the Standing Committee on Finance to “..look past the plain self-interest of [mortgage brokers]… Apparently, the MPC [Mortgage Professionals Canada] is content to see home builders, real estate agents and mortgage brokers receive short term benefits while Canadians bear the long-term costs.” 

I am not sure where this personal attack is coming from or how this advances his agenda. As an industry we have provided a valuable sounding board and meaningful suggestions for tweaking rule changes to ensure a healthy and stable housing market today, and for the future.

When many industry experts support the position that a stress test could consider other factors such as principal repayment and income growth, for example – and such support also coming from very credible bank economists -- some of whose employers choose not to deal with brokers directly-, then it's uncertain why Siddall would personally attack an Association  representing the broker channel.
In addition, the Chief Economist of MPC, Will Dunning, just published a report further detailing reasons why the stress test should to be tweaked, along with market commentary by various economists and their positions on the subject.

The stress test was introduced without consultation from industry insiders and stakeholders and now the Government has a locked-in position they seem unwilling to change. The stress test is having a negative impact on the housing market and could very well affect the economy in the long term.
However, the story is not one side advocating for the all-out removal of stress tests against the other side locking into an unchangeable position.

Let’s look at the entire story. When the February 2010 stress test was introduced on mortgage terms less than 5 years, and on variable-rate products, it was done seemingly to protect a consumer’s ability to handle payments in an increasing rate environment at the time of renewal.

This time around it appeared as though the stress test was introduced for different reasons. The overall amount of sovereign debt was considered too high as it approached $700 billion.  There was concern about runaway prices in Toronto and Vancouver.

However, the stress tests introduced in October of 2016 by CMHC and then extended to conventional mortgages by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) in January 2018, was ostensibly to reduce future debt burdens. 

The result has kept an estimated 40,000 would-be homebuyers on the outside looking in, according to an April TD Report.  According to the Globe and Mail “The government [was] responding to concerns that sharp rises in house prices in cities like Toronto and Vancouver could increase the risk of defaults in the future should mortgage rates rise.”

From my perspective, if we are going to be heavily relying on a Benchmark rate in qualifying applicants, then the way the Benchmark rate is determined should also be changed.

It is currently set from the mode of the big banks’ posted rates. It should be determined either by a market-driven rate (perhaps as a delta to bond yields), have an established floor (say 4.25% for example) or relate specifically to the contract rate itself.

We have seen interest rates drop over the first two quarters of 2019, yet bank posted rates and the stress test have not. As interest rates were rising last year the banks chose to increase their posted rates, and the Benchmark rate was correspondingly increased. 

When the 2016 stress tests were introduced, the Benchmark rate on which it was calculated was 4.64%.  At the same time the discounted 5-year fixed rates were in the 3.69% to 3.99% range. Today, 5-year fixed rates can be found in the 2.89 to 3.19% range and the Benchmark rate is 5.34%.
For clients renewing their mortgages AND who have made their contractual payments as agreed, to qualify them at a rate higher than their contract rate if they want to transfer their mortgage is simply anti-competitive.

The mortgage industry supports high underwriting standards to ensure a buffer exists in our collective ability to withstand higher interest rates.

Instead of creating animosity and adversity, let’s work together to create an environment that encourages qualified and responsible First Time Homebuyers in accessing the market.

If you are a mortgage customer looking to access the market make sure to use the services of a mortgage broker who can help you navigate the rules, options and opportunities to align with your long term goals and objectives.

Canadian Housing Affordability Improves – Really! Here’s Why

Housing affordability has been big talk in the country for a few years now. We’ve had rising interest rates and rising house prices, to a point where government felt it had to intervene to mitigate any negative impacts on household debt. To guard against that, and to perhaps force house prices to come down, the mortgage stress test was introduced, whereby borrowers needed to qualify at a higher rate than the actual contact rate.

Conventional wisdom is that falling prices should improve housing affordability but the stress test resulted in a percentage of the population, mostly first-time home buyers, getting priced out of the market.

Over the past six months we have heard anecdotal evidence that the situation is improving, and now we have some hard numbers that explains why. National Bank’s latest study of 10 major Canadian housing markets found that income growth was the reason, and that it had outpaced home prices -- and it looks as if that trend will continue. Rising incomes along with lower home prices, and relatively low interest rates, are a good start on the road to affordability.

National Bank measures affordability by looking at how much household income is spent on mortgage payments. Experts suggest that households should spend no more than a third of their income on housing costs. In the first quarter of 2019, the amount needed to pay mortgage payments on a average Canadian home was lower than the last quarter in 2018.

This is the case even in Vancouver, in both condo and non-condo markets. For example, in the condo market, a typical Vancouver household in the first quarter of 2019 the income needed to service a mortgage was down half a percentage point, quarter-over-quarter. And, it’s the first improvement in 15 quarters in the condo market.  The improvement was even better for a house at 2.5% lower.

In Toronto that measure dropped a full percentage point but consumers still need a substantial chunk of their income to cover housing costs on an average Toronto home. However, more buyers are looking outside these larger areas where homes are more affordable. These include Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina Winnipeg, Saint John, Halifax and St John’s.

The National Bank’s two economists, Matthieu Arseneau and Kyle Dams, were quoted as saying, “…mortgage rates were not a drag on affordability for the first time in seven quarters.” They remain confident that more relief is on the way.

Even the Bank of Canada expressed growing confidence that the country’s economy is rebounding. Interest rates remained unchanged for a fifth straight time and said recent data has “reinforced” their view a slowdown at the end of 2018 and early 2019 was temporary.

However, we’re still not out of the woods yet --there remains the issue of the stress test. There has been a concerted effort among lenders and the real estate and mortgage broker channels to lobby government to consider making changes. The mortgage brokers channel’s association, Mortgage Professionals Canada, (MPC) has been campaigning aggressively to modify the mortgage stress test.

Many economists have added their voices to the campaign against the current stress test, pointing to the negative impact it’s had and/or will have on the housing market and on the economy – reduced housing activity can have long term impacts.

 One of the core issues in their arguments is that the government didn’t take into account rising incomes.  MPC chief economist Will Dunning makes a good case in his recent report titled, “The False Binary” that to take into account the future growth of borrowers’ incomes, the stress tests should be set at 0.75 percentage points above the actual contracted interest rates – they are currently at a minimum 2 percentage points above contracted rate.

The economy may be gaining strength; incomes are rising and affordability is easing in many areas. What home buyers and the housing market needs now is a little help from government. No one is advocating to remove the stress test, but perhaps they might consider lowering it.

Buy a House Now or Wait?

There are a lot of questions surrounding affordability in the housing market. There is some uncertainly as to whether the housing market will continue to slow down, with prices starting to decline in some regions, which may make buying a house a reality for first-time home buyers. A common question is: Should I buy now or wait until later. Let’s take a look at a few factors.


Market Slowdown and the decision to buy

There is no doubt the market has slowed down compared to what it was doing two years ago, prior to the introduction of the B-20 rules and the mortgage stress test. It appears that the dire warnings from industry insiders about the impact the stress test would have on the housing market has played out as predicted. While some welcomed the stress test, it may have worked too well, to the point of inertia.
When housing prices and sales steadily rise, buyers and sellers feel confident about their decisions, but confidence in markets takes a dip when prices or sales fall or rise rapidly. Buyers and sellers want to know if the market has hit bottom or if it will decline further. Prospective buyers’ question when they should jump in.

Also, buyers can have different motivations: They may be transitioning from renting, switching homes, or looking for an investment property. Family make-up is another factor – some will have school-aged children, others may have extended family arrangements, still others may be downsizing. The right decision for a buyer or a seller depends on their circumstances and motivations.
A buyer may want to hold on to see whether prices will drop further over the summer, which may or may not be an effective strategy.  For others, especially parents of young children, a move during the school year can be challenging.

Sellers usually want to wait for prices to rise, or at least stop falling, before they list their properties.

Spring Market

The Spring buying market is late due to weather conditions across the country but there are some signs of improvement. The most recent data shows slow but steady activity in home sales across the country, with prices dropping in some regions – it’s all very fluid.

The Economic Big Picture

The Bank of Canada (BoC) has taken a new position on interest rates and is leaving them comparatively low. In fact, there are rumblings that rates could go down in the near future. Our economy is closely tied to the US economy where the Fed has stopped raising rates – Canada’s interest rates can’t really deviate too far from US rates.

At its latest interest rate announcement, the BoC left its rate unchanged, at 1.75%. More importantly, the Bank removed any reference to future rate hikes and instead acknowledged that “monetary policy needs to maintain a degree of accommodation … until the economic outlook improves.”

The Bank acknowledged that the slowdown in global economic growth in the latter part of 2018 was “greater than expected” and it attributed this in large part to uncertainty arising from “trade policy conflicts”. And once again, it predicted “that the economy will pick up in the second half of the year”.

There was no mention when rates would rise again, but did say, “it will closely monitor “developments in household spending, oil markets, and global trade policy to gauge the extent to which the factors weighing on growth and the inflation outlook are dissipating.”

What to do about the stress test?

The consensus seems to be to modify it. CIBC economist Benjamin Tal said in an interview recently that the stress test has had a broad impact on slowing down the housing market, affecting 50% of new mortgage originations. Because interest rates are not rising any time soon, Tal says the stress test may be too severe. The test also doesn’t take into account that over a 5-year mortgage term, incomes are rising while, at the same time, mortgage principal is getting paid down. By modifying it, more first-time home buyers may be able to get into the market.

There is a lot of pressure on the government from banks, mortgage broker and Realtor associations, as well as economists to consider modifying the stress test – we’ll see what happens as we head into the latter part of an election year.

So, do you buy now or wait and see?

The future is always uncertain. The best way forward is to get the facts about what’s happening, review your personal goals and work with real estate and mortgage brokers who can help you decide.

Yes, you can be a homeowner

The news is full of negatives about housing market slowdowns, mortgage stress tests that shut millennials out of homeownership, low inventory, a slowing economy – it goes on. Although it may seem gloomy to many, there are a few silver linings. The Canadian dream of homeownership is still alive, although it may look a bit different than the traditional idea of owning a home.

First of all, the make-up of home buyers has seen a distinct change from the more traditional trend of buying with a partner/spouse. According to the recent RBC Home Ownership Poll, 28% of those polled say they need help and are purchasing or planning to purchase with their family. That is almost as many as those who say they can purchase alone (32%).

When compared to past years, buying a home with a partner or spouse has been steadily declining (42% versus 49% in 2017), while non-traditional trends, like purchasing a home alone (32% versus 29% in 2017), are climbing.

It’s also clear that what’s happening in today’s market is having an impact on buyers with 56% of Canadians thinking it's better to wait until next year to purchase a home. Almost half  of those are prepared to push the purchase out two years or more (highest among 18-34-year olds, 55%). Of those waiting to buy, 54% have the expectation that house prices will come down (as high as 68% of British Columbians and 58% of Ontarians expect the price of housing to drop).

Here are some highlights in the poll:

• Canadians feel it makes more sense to buy than rent (66%).
• Canadians are well positioned to weather a potential downturn in housing prices (71%) or an increase in interest rates (63%).
• Affordability (21%) and being in a safe neighbourhood (20%) top the list of what Canadians must have, while buying in 'the right' neighbourhood is less of a concern (6%, steady decline since 2015).
• Canadians are most willing to sacrifice the conveniences of being close to a major highway (16%), dining and entertainment (13%), good schools (11%) and public transit (10%).

A new housing reality

In the poll, eight-in-10 Canadians say a home or condominium purchase is still a good investment (81%). When we look at the condo market, there is a lot happening. This year, a record number of condos are set for completion in the GTA, which will likely slow price growth.

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), in its most recent forecast said it expects the monthly trend for sales to improve slowly over 2019. Low interest rates and a strong job market is positive, with pricing projected to stabilize over the next two years, except in markets where there is a shortage of supply.

Non-traditional housing and co-owning arrangements are popping up across the country. The focus is on community is the key to cohousing projects that generally consist of individual homes, built around a common house with shared amenities. These amenities generally contain a kitchen and dining room and can have anything from kids’ playrooms and workshops to guest rooms and gardens.


Get ready

While it’s true that government policies have made it harder for some to qualify, the new ‘shared equity program’ and the RRSP withdrawal increase may help some of those people. 

As we head into the Spring market, listings will start to increase as buyers and sellers come out of hibernation. It’s important for homebuyers to educate themselves about mortgages, including how to qualify in this new stress-test environment. Working with a TMG mortgage professional will help you navigate the ins and outs of the mortgage process, from qualifying to approval and through to closing.

If you don’t qualify right now, your mortgage professional will show you ways to increase your likelihood of qualifying in the future.

Yes, you can fulfill your dream of homeownership.

Why a mortgage professional?

By working with a licensed mortgage professional, you have a trusted adviser and problem solver. Brokers take the time to first understand a client’s needs, both short term and long term, then recommend the right mortgage and present options. In addition to straight home purchases, brokers work with clients who refinance to consolidate debt, who are looking to purchase second homes, who are looking for the best options at renewal time, and brokers help clients make property-related investment decisions.

What if thoughts were things?

By Bud Jorgenson, Vice-President, Prairie Region
TMG The Mortgage Group

I was speaking with a mortgage broker recently who was struggling as their volume was down from previous years. 

They explained they weren't doing anything differently and just found themselves in a funk, and were asking for my perspective on what they should do. 

 Of course, we discussed all the reasons why things had changed for them. 

We talked about the changes in the market, the increased competition, the rate discounters, the underwriting rule changes etc.

My response was and is today that these changes have zero effect on your business and the only thing that matters is your response to these changes. 

I heard the concept of "thoughts are things" about 25 years ago and after testing it and seeing it in action with so many successful people throughout my professional life, I believe it to be the determining factor in our success or failure, in both our professional and personal life.  I also love that this is the one thing that I have complete control over.  How we can apply this in our everyday life as mortgage brokers is so simple. 

When walking into a first meeting with a client, take a moment to visualize how you would like the meeting to go, see it unfolding in a positive way and resulting in you completing a mortgage for them. 

When a cold call comes in asking for your best rate, it's so easy to consider this a waste of time. Instead, see it as an opportunity, and challenge yourself to turn that client from a discount shopper to a value client. 

When dealing with underwriters or speaking to realtors about partnering, or in every action, spend a few minutes setting the stage by visualizing the outcome in a positive way.  We all know people in our lives who seem to have that humble confidence that attracts people and opportunities that has helped them be successful. Let's be those people. 

I can't ever speak or write about success without throwing in a golf analogy.  I will finish with a quote from golfing great Jack Nicholas who is arguably the greatest golfer in history with 18 major wins.  When asked what he believed to be the most important factor in his success he said the following...

“I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head,” Nicklaus said. “First, I see the ball, where I want it to finish, nice and white, and sitting up high on the bright green grass. Then, the scene quickly changes, and I see the ball going there: its path, trajectory, and shape, even its behaviour on landing. Then there is a sort of fade-out, and the next scene shows me making the kind of swing that will turn the previous images into reality.”

5 Tips for Success

By Mark Kerzner, President TMG The Mortgage Group

A colleague asked me recently if I could share a couple of things that I do each week that helps me to be successful.  I often look to others for inspiration so I was quite flattered to be asked this question myself.

I thought about it for a bit and below is what I shared.

Below are some key fundamentals that govern who I am and how I see myself.

1.     Honour time commitments. Know what’s in your calendar, leave enough time to get to next meeting, and don’t double book.

It may not seem like a big deal if you are 10 or 15 minutes late for a meeting or a call, but trust me when I say, that’s not the case. The other person (people) are literally waiting and starting to wonder what else they could be doing with this time. They may begin to feel that they simply don’t matter or they may also have other commitments. Cancelling at the 11^th hour can be equally as annoying.

2.     Honour your time commitments with family. If you say you will be home for dinner at 6:30 p.m. be home. It adds a lot of stress to both your family and business when you don’t meet those commitments.

Just like a business meeting that begins late, when family takes a back seat to your clock you run the risk of setting off a negative chain of events and resentment at home. We have all heard that time is precious (and it is) but it’s also limited. Often we have drives, school plays, teacher meetings, etc. that also need our attention and commitment.

This doesn’t mean you have to be home for every dinner or attend absolutely every school event. It just means that when you say you are going to be there, make sure you are.

3.     Don’t TRY.  Try is really a useless word. Either you will or you will not.

When you say you will ‘try’ you are building in an excuse right from the get go. Going back to the concept of commitment -- commit one way or the other … if you cannot do something don’t say you will ‘try’ and then don’t do it.

4.     Do something creative/fun each week.

I really enjoy hockey, coaching and watching my children perform (dance). It helps me to turn off from the office for a few hours a couple times each week. Find your passion and take the time to make it happen.

5.     Be driven by your work passion.

Just like we need to find our personal passions we need to do the same thing at work. Considering we spend 40 or 50 or 60 plus hours each week on our business, find those aspects of your work that you really love. I think I have the greatest job in the industry. I get to work with talented, committed and passionate people every day who strive to put Canadians in financial situations to enable them to own homes and set them up for success. I am truly humbled that I have been able to represent my industry colleagues with Government, Regulators and the Media and I do not take that responsibility lightly. When you love what you do, you stop counting the hours.

The truth is that we all find inspiration in different places. I wanted to share my experience and encourage you to find your own, and then share that as well.