What Are Investment Mortgage Rates

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Other Costs To Consider When Buying An Investment Property

Investment Tips & Financial Planning : How to Compare Bank Mortgage Interest Rates

Investment property owners need to look beyond just their monthly mortgage rates to get the full picture of investment property expenses.

First off, borrowers seeking a mortgage for a rental property with one to four different units will need to put at least 20% down because they arent eligible for CMHCs high-ratio default insurance, a requirement for mortgages with down payments of 20% or less. .

But Wilkins says borrowers who buy a second home for their kids or to use as a cottage arent impacted by that rule. In those cases, you can get a high-ratio insured mortgage with as little as 5% down, he says, meaning borrowers who qualify for high-ratio insurance on an investment property could get the same rates as borrowers looking for mortgages on a primary owner-occupied property.

Getting this deal would require the borrower to be able to meet their debt servicing obligations without using rental income, and the property would need to be vacant when the sale closes. When calculating debt servicing, mortgage professionals use two metrics: gross debt service and total debt service . GDS is the percentage of your monthly household income used to cover housing expenses. In order for you to be able to afford a home, it cannot exceed 35%. TDS includes housing expenses and all other debts, and it cant exceed 42%.

For the everyday Joe, buying a second property is a big deal, Wilkins says, and they need to be ready.

Investment Property Loan Rates Vs Conventional Loan Rates

Investment property loan rates are almost always higher than conventional loan rates, including second home loan rates, due to the steeper risk an investment property poses compared to a primary residence. If you plan to rely on the rental income from a tenant to contribute to the mortgage payments for the investment property, theres a greater possibility you could default on the loan if your tenant fails to pay rent.

How Do I Apply For An Investment Home Loan

The application process for an investment home loan is normally fairly similar to applying for an owner-occupier loan, although lenders may also consider other factors to do with the property that could affect your ability to repay the loan youre applying for.

These could include your potential rental income from the property, as well as whether the property is likely to appreciate in value. Because many lenders view investment home loans as riskier from their perspective than owner-occupier ones, the maximum loan-to-value ratio you can access on an investment loan may be lower, meaning the deposit you need may be larger than if you were buying the home to live in yourself.

Consider seeking professional financial advice to help you through the application process, particularly if you are considering investing in property for the first time. Its also important to read the documentation for a home loan before applying for it, which may include the Target Market Determination , Key Facts Sheet and other terms and conditions.

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Why Mortgage Rates Are Higher On Investment Properties

Investment property mortgage rates: How much more will you ...

If youre looking to get into the investment property market these days, you might be a little put off when you start hunting around for mortgage quotes.

According to a recent report in The Globe and Mail, investors now account for a fifth of all home purchases in Canada, including over a third of Torontos condo market. But the average mortgage rates theyll find can be up to 60 basis points higher than the mortgage on their own home.

Investment properties are treated somewhat differently than owner-occupied homes . Mortgage lenders also see them as inherently riskier assets to hold.

Heres everything you need to know about why mortgage rates are higher on investment properties than primary residences and what other costs you should consider when looking to rent, flip, or occupy a second home:

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Second Home Vs Investment Property

Are you buying a second home, or are you making an investment?

This might be confusing, especially if youre thinking about occasionally renting out the property using it regularly for vacation, for example, but also making it available on Airbnb for some of the time youre not using the property and instead are living in your primary residence.

Earning some money from your property doesnt automatically make it an investment, however. Accurately defining the piece of property depends on how much time you spend in it.

Elliot Pepper, co-founder, certified financial planner and director of tax at Northbrook Financial in Baltimore says that you need to pay attention to what he calls the 14-day limit rule.

Very broadly speaking, if you personally live in your second home for 14 days or fewer or less than 10 percent of the days it is rented during a year, then it would be considered a rental property and the income earned would be taxable, Pepper says, but you would also deduct the expenses associated with the property.

On the flip side, if you use the property for more than 14 days or more than 10 percent of the time its rented, any rental income you receive isnt taxable, but you also cant deduct expenses, Pepper says.

In general, a second home is like a vacation home one you purchase for enjoyment purposes and live in during part of the year. In contrast, an investment property is one you plan to rent out with the goal of generating income.

The Math Behind Rental And Investment Property Loan Rates

The rates that mortgage lenders charge are not entirely up to a lender. Property lenders frequently adjust rates so that they match up to the rules that have been set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Freddie and Fannie set fees and rules for the majority of mortgages of today. The fees that they are charging have a direct impact on the interest rate that you will finally pay.

Thanks to increased risks surrounding refinancing or purchasing investment properties, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae charge a higher fee on these transactions. These fees will trickle down to the borrower as an increased interest rate.

For example, a 20% down property investment loan will attract a fee that equals 3.375% of the overall loan amount.

This equates to $3,375 for every $100,000 borrowed.

In most instances, the borrow will choose to pay higher interest rates rather than having to pay extra in the closing costs. So, in what way do the fees translate to a final rate?

In this example, 3.375% in property loan investment fees could be covered by adding an extra 0.5% to 0.75% to the rate.

This only applies to single-family homes. If you decide to invest in a duplex, the fees may increase by another 1.0% or 0.125% to 0.250% will be added to the rate.

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Investment Property Mortgages: Everything You Need To Know

Buying investment property can mean many things. Sometimes people even use this phrase to describe buying a home they live in because, after all, that property is a big investment for them.

But investment property most commonly means buying a home that you dont live in, but instead rent out. Lets take a look at the key things you need to know about buying and financing investment property.

Six Types Of Investment Property Loans

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Getting an investment property loan is harder than getting one for an owner-occupied home, and usually more expensive.

Many lenders want to see higher credit scores, better debt-to-income ratios, and rock-solid documentation to prove youve held the same job for two years.

Additionally, most will insist on a down payment of at least 20%, and many want you to have six months of cash reserves available.

If you already have four mortgages, youll need some savvy to get a fifth. Most banks wont issue new mortgages to investors who already have four, even when the loans will be insured by a government agency.

But just because its harder to get investment property loans doesnt mean you shouldnt try. Although you might not qualify for a conventional mortgage, you might get one backed by the Federal Housing Administration or Veterans Administration . You could also opt for a hard money loan or a home equity line of credit .

Some lenders wont even care about your credit or employment history, as long as they see lots of potential profits in the investment property youre considering.

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How Do I Compare Investment Home Loans

Much like finding the right investment property, finding the right investment home loan for your needs generally involves a good deal of research into the various options available to you. You can use the Canstar website or make your own enquiries to compare investment home loans based on features such as their interest rates, fees and the features that are important to you.

Should You Refinance Your Mortgage When Interest Rates Drop

Determining whether its the right time to refinance your home loan or not involves a number of factors. Most experts agree you should consider a mortgage refinancing if your current mortgage rate exceeds todays mortgage rates by 0.75 percentage points. Some say a refi can make sense if you can reduce your mortgage rate by as little as 0.5 percentage point . It doesnt make sense to refinance every time rates decline a little bit because mortgage fees would cut into your savings.

Many of the best mortgage refinance lenders can give you free rate quotes to help you decide whether the money youd save in interest justifies the cost of a new loan. Try to get a quote with a soft credit check which wont hurt your credit score.

You could increase interest savings by going with a shorter loan term such as a 15-year mortgage. Your payments will be higher, but you could save on interest charges over time, and youd pay off your house sooner.

How much does the interest rate affect mortgage payments?

In general, the lower the interest rate the lower your monthly payments will be. For example:

  • If you have a $300,000 fixed-rate 30-year mortgage at 4% interest, your monthly payment will be $1,432 . Youll pay a total of $215,608 in interest over the full loan term.
  • The same-sized loan at 3% interest will have a monthly payment of $1,264. You will pay a total of $155,040 in interest a savings of over $60,000.

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Thoughts On Primary Residence Vs Second Home Vs Investment: Know The Key Differences

  • warren abramson

    The rates with me for primary versus 2nd home are the same dont know who charges more

  • Colin Robertson

    Warren,

    Sometimes theyre the same, sometimes theyre not. Certain scenarios with some banks, not all, may charge for second home occupancy.

  • master-tez

    Hello Colin, Thanks for the article and overall website dedicated solely on explaining mortgages. Q) I have my first property but it is not my primary resident. ie., renting now. In this case, what happens when i buy another property which will be my primary resident. Will that count as second home or primary home?

    master tez

  • Its not about what you have first or second or third, its about occupancy. So the one you actually live in would be primary, regardless of when it was purchased. A second home can refer to a second property that is a vacation home or a rental property, but in either case wouldnt be where you primarily live throughout the year.

  • master tez

    Thank you for taking time to answer my question.

  • CP

    I can not afford to purchase a property in the area I currently work. I would like to purchase a property out of the area, and would commute on my days off I would reside with a friend during the week. Would this situation qualify me for primary residence mortgage loan?

  • Colin Robertson

    Shannon,

    There might not be a need to change occupancy type if its your intention to move in and extenuating circumstances outside your control are delaying that. You might just want to have proof thats the case.

  • Can I Get A Second Mortgage On My Rental Property

    Infographic: History of Mortgage Rates

    Yes, getting a 2nd mortgage for an investment property youve already secured a buy-to-let mortgage against is possible, as long as you hold enough equity in the property and the lender is convinced your rental income is high enough to cover both debts secured on the BTL.

    This is known as a second charge buy-to-let mortgage and the debt youd take on would sit behind any mortgages you already have on the property. This means that the second charge mortgage lender would be second in line for any proceeds that come from a sale of the property, in the event that it has to be repossessed and offloaded to clear the outstanding debts.

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    Tax Treatment For Investment Property Mortgages

    If you have a rental property, this will show up in a section called Schedule E of your tax returns, which shows all the income and expenses of your rental property.

    Expenses include mortgage interest, as well as many other things like property taxes, insurance, HOA dues , maintenance fees, rental management fees, and depreciation.

    If the net number on Schedule E is positive, that number counts as income, and youre taxed on it.

    If the net number is negative, that number counts as a loss, and reduces your taxable income. But theres a catch here because higher earners dont always get the benefit of reduced taxable income each year. If you make too much, a rental property loss on Schedule E would instead accrue yearly and count as an offset to capital gains when you sell the rental property.

    Talk to your tax advisor for advice on which scenario would fit your profile.

    How Do I Compare Investment And Rental Property Mortgage Rates

    The only way to find the lender with the most competitive investment or rental property mortgage rate is to compare multiple lenders, and then compare their rates and fees. Within days of being preapproved, youll receive a Loan Estimate from each lender. These let you compare every aspect of the loan side by side, so you can see the total cost including the investment property mortgage rate, origination fee, closing costs and more.

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    Tax Considerations For Investment Property

    If you earn rental income from your investment property, youll owe taxes on that income.

    But there are also a number of deductions you can take, including property taxes, repair costs, interest paid on the mortgage, and operating expenses.

    Since the rental functions as a business, the IRS also allows you to deduct costs such as advertising fees, utilities, and insurance.

    You can also depreciate the property on your taxes, which effectively gives you a tax break based on normal wear and tear that could lower the propertys value. Note that you can only depreciate an investment property. You cannot depreciate a primary residence.

    If you plan to sell your investment property, capital gains taxes will apply. If you sell an investment property at a loss, you can deduct the loss.

    Rueth noted that tax laws are changing, so its important to check with your certified public accountant about the rules and guidelines. But she said there are ways to minimize the amount you, and your heirs, owe in capital gains taxes, keeping more of the wealth you earn in your family.

    Tax obligations can get complicated when it comes to investment properties, so its best to consult a tax professional about your investment property deductions and what you owe.

    What Are Investment Property Mortgage Rates Today

    Finance & Investment Tips : What Is an Average Mortgage Rate?

    Typically, investment rates are 0.5% higher than those for primary residences when you make a 25% down payment, and 1.5% higher if you put down 20%, according to Rueth.

    The average current mortgage rate is about 3% according to Freddie Mac .

    Based on that average, an investment property borrower with excellent credit who qualifies for the most competitive investment property rate might receive 3.5%. Someone who receives a rate at the higher end of the spectrum might get a rate of around 4.5%.

    While your interest rate may be higher than on your primary home, the gains you make could far exceed what you pay.

    Of course, its always preferable to get a lower rate. But even 3.5% is still lower than rates have been for primary residences in recent years. Locking in an investment property mortgage rate under 4% before rates rise can create significant opportunities for growth and profit over time, particularly if the property is in an in-demand market where home values and rents are rising.

    Buying an investment property now gives you a chance to earn rental income that, depending on rental rates in your local market, could cover your mortgage payment. Your tenants would effectively be paying your mortgage, while you build equity in the property.

    The equity you build in this property can help you finance the next investment and the next one after that. So while your interest rate may be higher than on your primary home, the gains you make could far exceed what you pay.

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