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

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

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

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

Timeframe: Some portability options require the sale and purchase to occur on the same day. Other lenders offer a week to do this, some a month, and others up to three months.
Terms: Keep in mind, some lenders don’t allow a changed term or might force you into a longer term as part of agreeing to port you mortgage.
Penalty Reimbursements: Some lenders may reimburse your entire penalty, whether you are a fixed or variable borrower, if you simply get a new mortgage with the same lender – replacing the one being discharged. Additionally, some lenders will even allow you to move into a brand-new term of your choice and start fresh. Keep in mind, there can be cases where it’s better to pay a penalty at the time of selling and get into a new term at a brand-new rate that could save back your penalty over the course of the new term.
To get all the details about mortgage portability and find out if you have this option (or the potential penalties if you don’t), contact me today for expert advice and a helping hand throughout your mortgage journey!

Published by DLC Marketing team.

If you have had to declare bankruptcy, you may be wondering what is next.

Bankruptcy is not a financial death sentence. In fact, there are a few things you can do after declaring bankruptcy to help reset your financial status and get a mortgage in the future.

While there is no wait requirement to apply for a mortgage after bankruptcy, it is important to allow your credit time to heal in order to ensure approval.

The first step to rebuilding your credit is getting a secured credit card. If you are able to show that you are responsible with this credit card by paying your balance in full each month and not overspending, it will help to improve your credit score.

Once you’ve re-established your credit, you can apply for a mortgage. What type of mortgage you can apply for, and whether or not you qualify, will depend on a few factors, such as: how long ago you declared bankruptcy, the size of your down payment, your total debt-to-service ratio (how much debt you are taking on compared to your total income) and your loan-to-value ratio (loan value versus the property value).

Depending on this, you will have three options for your future mortgage loan:

Traditional or Prime-Insured Mortgage

This is a traditional mortgage, which will typically offer the best interest rates. To apply for this type of mortgage after bankruptcy the following requirements apply:

Your bankruptcy was 2 years, 1 day previous
You have one-year of re-established credit on two credit items (credit card, car lease, loan).
You have a minimum down payment of 5% for the first $500,000 and 10% for any additional amount over that
You have mortgage insurance – required for all down payments under 20%
You have a total debt-to-service ratio of 44% maximum
Your loan-to-value ratio is 95% minimum
Subprime Mortgage

This type of mortgage falls between a traditional and private mortgage, meaning you qualify for more than private but not enough for a traditional loan. To apply for this type of mortgage:

Your bankruptcy was 3 – 12 months prior
You have a total debt-to-service ratio of 50% maximum
Your loan-to-value ratio is 85% minimum
Private Mortgage

If you don’t qualify for a traditional or subprime mortgage, you have the option of looking into a private mortgage. Typically, your interest rate will be higher on a private mortgage but there is no waiting period after bankruptcy and the requirements are as follows:

You have a down payment of 15% of the purchase price
You have obtained a full appraisal
You have paid a lender commitment fee – typically 1% of the mortgage value
Your loan-to-value ratio is 80% minimum
If you have previously declared bankruptcy and are now looking to start over and apply for a mortgage, don’t hesitate to reach out to me for expert advice and to review your options today!

Published by DLC Marketing team

It’s natural to have uneasiness over the state of your retirement preparedness due to the inherent uncertainties involved:

How long will I live?
Will my health or my spouse’s health fail? and when?
How much will my current assets and investments grow in value?
How will inflation impact the next 5, 10 or 20 years?

There is no shortage of variables to consider when trying to figure out how you are going to fund your retirement dreams. There is also no magic number — often quoted numbers like $1,000,000 or formulas like six times your annual salary at age 50 have no basis in fact, especially not your facts. They have no way to know if your retirement plans include restoring a pricey vintage car or spending most nights glued to a hockey game on the TV.

A financial advisor can help crunch the numbers and offer investment alternatives, but you need to make the big decisions on the type of retirement lifestyle you envision and how much you can realistically afford to sock away along the way to fund that dream.

If you really need some kind of number for reference, 2019 Federal Government data showed the average annual spend for a household over 65 (including taxes) was $64,461. As you get closer to retirement and some of the bigger bills fade away (mortgage, kid’s education) you will have a clearer picture of your needs.

Retirement age and life expectancy are two more uncertainties to deal with. The average Canadian calls it a day just shy of 83 years, but it is on the rise. If you are 20 now, it is expected that you will have about a 50/50 chance to hit 90! The average age for retirement is 63, so simple math (83 minus 63) tells us you will most likely need at least 20 years of retirement income.

Hopefully you have been saving and investing with your RRSP and/or TFSA and have also developed some other passive income streams to supplement your government pension income. If your employer has a pension plan and you maxed out that and your CPP for 35 years, you may be able to live entirely off of your pension income and not worry about saving anything for retirement!

The key point is to confirm how much you are going to receive. The average CPP cheque is $625/month or just over half of the $1204 maximum. Makes sure you investigate any private or employer pension benefits you have as well as your CPP and OAS benefits to determine how much you will receive. A reverse mortgage may also be an option to generate cashflow.

It’s never too late to get started with retirement savings and investing, but you have to realize that catching up will be harder than it sounds, even as your income rises. If you have unused TFSA or RRSP contribution limits (you can easily check by looking at your latest income tax assessment), by all means, start playing catch-up as soon as you are able.

Another problem with starting late is that you miss out on the magic of compound returns. Maxing out your TFSA every year from age 25 to 65 with an index fund at 5% would yield $725,000. Starting at age 40 would leave you with only $287,000. You could try and compensate for a late start by taking on riskier investments with higher returns, but that doesn’t always end up well!

If you are planning to rely on a side hustle, spouse and/or inheritance to get you through retirement, just be aware that those options can be easily derailed. If your spouse dies, your survivor’s pension could be considerably lower. Side hustles are great, but your health may fail or maybe you can’t find a job – only 10 to 20% of retirees report doing some sort of work. As for inheritance, your parents may live to be a 100, they may make some bad investments, or they may even get remarried.

Anxiety is a natural by-product of retirement planning, and the cure is having the knowledge and facts you need to make your own judgement on how much is enough.

Published by HomeEquity Bank.

According to a recent study by Angus Reid, Seven-in-Ten Canadians say money is a source of stress.You may feel the pressure of the current economic circumstances, such as rising inflation, which makes it more challenging to maintain your standard of living. More Canadians are becoming stressed about their financial situation, from increasing expenses such as out-of-pocket health care and home retrofitting costs to higher grocery and electricity bills.

At times like this, you might be looking for advice and guidance on how you can navigate the uncertain economic climate to maintain your standard of living. The good news is that if you are a Canadian 55+, the CHIP Reverse Mortgage by HomeEquity Bank is a solution for today.

Here are 5 benefits of the CHIP Reverse Mortgage:

A Reverse Mortgage allows you to leverage your most valuable asset- your home. You could access up to 55% of the equity in your home, tax-free, with no required monthly mortgage payments, and no negative impact on your cash flow.
A survey found that 92% of Canadians 45+ are keen on aging in place, but finances are a barrier*. With a Reverse Mortgage, you can stay in the home and community you love. You can release more equity in the future, if you choose not to take the full amount or if the value of your home rises. Additionally, you will still be able to benefit from future home price appreciation.
With a Reverse Mortgage, there is no restriction on how you spend the money you receive. You can use a Reverse Mortgage to relieve financial pressure, increase your cashflow, buy the vacation property you always dreamed of, cover health care expenses, finally renovate or make home improvements, and more!
Because you are tapping into your home equity, the funds are not added to your taxable income, nor do they affect government benefits such as Old Age Security (OAS) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Also, unlocking part of your home’s equity allows a larger portion of your registered investments to continue growing on a tax-free basis- potentially providing more assets to leave your heirs.
A critical safeguard in today’s economic climate is HomeEquity Bank’s No Negative Equity Guarantee, meaning you will never owe more than your home is worth when you decide to move or sell. This feature ensures that if your home depreciates below the mortgage amount owing, HomeEquity Bank will cover the difference**. You can stay in the home you love while you wait for the housing market to recover. As an added protection, HomeEquity Bank’s process includes independent legal advice for your lawyer to review the mortgage contract to ensure you understand all the features of the contract.
Contact your DLC mortgage broker to find out how the CHIP Reverse Mortgage by HomeEquity Bank can be a viable option to help you live your best retirement!

1source: Falling Behind: 53% of Canadians say they can’t keep up with the cost of living – Angus Reid Institute

*Survey Methodology: Survey conducted by Ipsos, on behalf of HomeEquity Bank from April 13-16, 2022, polled 1001 Canadians 45+ to assess public opinion on the role and contributions of Personal Support Workers and financial barriers to access.

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

Published by DLC Marketing Team

Interest rates on savings accounts and GICs are climbing but they are having a hard time matching the rapid increase in inflation which is now over 8% — you are actually losing money by holding cash. Investing in financial markets can provide higher returns, but there are no guarantees and as we have seen lately, they can be volatile. As someone who is new to investing, you may be asking yourself:

• What do I invest in?

• How do I evaluate and manage my risk?

• Should I consult a financial advisor?

These are all great questions and we have compiled some basic advice below to help you get started.

DIY isn’t just for home repairs
There are lots of online options to invest in financial markets on your own without anyone required to facilitate the transaction. You can easily open a trading account and buy and sell individual stocks and various other investments (ETFs for example). This approach has become widespread because it is the cheapest investing option available and is very convenient, but only if you have the time and motivation to learn or a trusted mentor to help you get started.

Seek professional help?
You could choose to consult with a financial advisor. Many of them have professional accreditation and offer advice and can make transactions on your behalf. Make sure you understand how they will be paid as seemingly small annual fees can have a huge effect on how fast your investment grows over the years. Some investment advisors also require a substantial minimum investment before they will work with you, and they may offer only a limited range of investment products.

Rely on Technology?
A robo-advisor is an online investing platform that falls between the DIY approach and a financial advisor in terms of user-friendliness. Most banks and online investment firms offer this service. Robo-advisors use a live interview or online questionnaire to create, and then continuously manage a portfolio based on the information and risk preferences you provide. They require little sophistication on the user’s part, they have a small or no minimum amount to get started, and the fees are reasonable —usually around 0.5%.

Fees can take a real bite
We have mentioned fees for all three options above (DIY, financial advisor, robo-advisor) because most people don’t understand how a seemingly small annual fee can rob your investment fund over the years. A $100,000 in a mutual fund with a 2% annual fee (MER on a mutual fund for example) earning a 5% return will grow to $209,378 in 25 years. That same $100,000 invested in an ETF with a 0.2% annual fee earning a 5% return for 25 years will grow to $322,873. Mutual funds are a popular option for TFSAs & RRSPs, but you should investigate the fees and whether the returns they are providing justify their cost.

There are many options when it comes to investing in the markets and the choice is entirely up to you — make sure to do your homework and make informed decisions.

For powerful personal finance education and training with immediate results, check out the complimentary livestreams each week from Enriched Academy. View the schedule and sign up for upcoming sessions on their events page.

Published by DLC Marketing team.

One of the biggest benefits to purchasing your own home is the ability to build equity in your property. This equity can come in handy down the line for refinancing, renovations, or taking out additional loans – such as a second mortgage.

What is a second mortgage?

First things first, a second mortgage refers to an additional or secondary loan taken out on a property for which you already have a mortgage. This is not the same as purchasing a second home or property and taking out a separate mortgage for that. A second mortgage is a very different product from a traditional mortgage as you are using your existing home equity to qualify for the loan and put up in case of default. Similar to a traditional mortgage, a second mortgage will also come with its own interest rate, monthly payments, set terms, closing costs and more.

Second mortgages versus refinancing

As both refinancing your existing mortgage and taking out a second mortgage can take advantage of existing home equity, it is a good idea to look at the differences between them. Firstly, a refinance is typically only done when you’re at the end of your current mortgage term so as to avoid any penalties with refinancing the mortgage.

The purpose of refinancing is often to take advantage of a lower interest rate, change your mortgage terms or, in some cases, borrow against your home equity.

When you get a second mortgage, you are able to borrow a lump sum against the equity in your current home and can use that money for whatever purpose you see fit. You can even choose to borrow in installments through a credit line and refinance your second mortgage in the future.

What are the advantages of a second mortgage?

There are several advantages when it comes to taking out a second mortgage, including:

• The ability to access a large loan sum (in some cases, up to 90% of your home equity) which is more than you can typically borrow on other traditional loans.
• Better interest rate than a credit card as they are a ‘secured’ form of debt.
• You can use the money however you see fit without any caveats.

What are the disadvantages of a second mortgage?

As always, when it comes to taking out an additional loan, there are a few things to consider:

• Interest rates tend to be higher on a second mortgage than refinancing your mortgage.
• Additional financial pressure from carrying a second loan and another set of monthly bills.

Before looking into any additional loans, such as a secondary mortgage (or even refinancing), be sure to speak to your DLC Mortgage Expert! Regardless of why you are considering a second mortgage, it is a good idea to get a review of your current financial situation and determine if this is the best solution before proceeding.

Published by DLC Marketing team.

Not all insurance products are created equal. One of the most common mistakes homeowners and potential homeowners make is that they hear the word “insurance” and just assume they have it! Well, you might have one kind of insurance, but you might be missing coverage elsewhere. It is important to understand all the different insurance products to ensure you have proper coverage.

To help you get a better understanding of the insurance, below are the four main insurance product options you will encounter and what they mean:

Default Insurance: This insurance is mandatory for homes where the buyer puts less than 20% down. In fact, default insurance is the reason that lenders accept lower down payments, such as 5% minimum, and actually helps these buyers access comparable interest rates typically offered with larger down payments.

Default insurance typically requires a premium, which is based on the loan-to-value ratio (mortgage loan amount divided by the purchase price). This premium can be paid in a single lump sum, or it can be added to your mortgage and included in your monthly payments.

In Canada, most homeowners know of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), which is run by the federal government, and have used them in the past. But did you know? We also have two private companies, Sagen Financial and Canada Guaranty, who can also provide this insurance.

Home (Property & Fire) Insurance: Next, we have another mandatory insurance option, property and fire coverage (or, home insurance, as most people know it by). This is number two on our list as it MUST be in place before you close the mortgage! It is especially important to note that not all homes or properties are insurable, so you will want to review this sooner rather than later.

In addition to protecting against fire damage, home insurance can also cover the contents of your home (depending on your policy). This is important for anyone looking at purchasing condos or townhouses as the strata insurance typically protects the building itself and common areas, as well as your suit “as is”, but it will not account for your personal belongings or any upgrades you made. Be sure to cross-check your strata insurance policy and take out an individual one on your unit to cover the difference.

One final thing to consider is that you may not be covered in the event of a flood or earthquake. You may need to purchase additional coverage to be protected from a natural disaster, depending on your location.

Title Insurance: Another insurance policy that potential homeowners may encounter is known as “title insurance”. When it comes to lenders, this insurance is mandatory with every single lender in Canada requiring you to purchase title insurance on their behalf.

In addition, you have the option of purchasing this for yourself as a homeowner. The benefit of title insurance is that it can protect you from existing liens on the property’s title, but the most common benefit is protection against title fraud. Title fraud typically involves someone using stolen personal information, or forged documents to transfer your home’s title to him or herself – without your knowledge.

Similar to default insurance, title insurance is charged as a one-time fee or a premium with the cost based on the value of your property.

Mortgage Protection Plan: Lastly, we have our mortgage protection plan coverage. This is optional coverage, but one that any agent can tell you is extremely important. The purpose of the mortgage protection plan is to protect you, and your family, should something happen. It acts as a disability and a life insurance policy in regards to your mortgage.

Typically, when you get approval for a mortgage, it is based on family income. If one of the partners in the mortgage is no longer able to contribute due to disability or death, a mortgage protection plan gives you protection for your mortgage payments.

If you have any questions about mortgage insurance or what are the best options for you, please do not hesitate to reach out to a Dominion Lending Centres mortgage expert for professional advice! They can take a look at your existing plan and discuss your needs to help you find the perfect coverage to suit you and your family.

Published by DLC Marketing team.

We often hear the mantra, “pay yourself first” when it comes to personal finance. This concept of automatically routing some of your salary every payday (before you can spend it!) into a retirement investment account isn’t hard to understand, but it’s hard to implement if you need every nickel just to survive until your next paycheque.

Discipline and dedication to the cause will help, but they are only part of the savings solution. The fact is that to succeed at saving in today’s world, most of us will need to earn more and spend less. Making more money will help you mow down any and all expenses that pop up along the way and leave you with more money in your jeans. However, any size paycheque goes a lot farther when supplemented with restraint and monitoring to control expenses at their source… before they vacuum up your potential savings.

Making more money is often preferred to budgeting as cutting back can be painful, but there are definitely some drawbacks. More income means more taxes and it many also lower benefits like your GST rebate or CCB benefits. If your tax rate is around 20%, an extra hour at $15 hour will have the same effect as cutting about $12 from the household budget.

Working more will also rob you of precious free time so there are significant social costs as well. If you have to incur additional expenses such as a babysitter or dining out more because you have less time or energy to cook, those costs need to be factored in as well.

Perhaps the biggest problem with working more is the very strong tendency to spend more! This is where discipline and determination come into play — make sure you earmark that extra money for saving and try to keep your expenses at the current level. Making more money won’t solve your problems if you continue to spend too much, make poor spending decisions, fail to invest, and have no goals to help motivate you and measure your financial progress.

You should also look at your debt cost to see if you should be saving in the first place! If you carry a credit card balance for example, you should definitely be throwing everything you have at it instead of saving. Even with the recent rise in interest rates, you would be lucky to get 4% on cash savings — most credit cards have rates four or five times that figure. You could also invest any extra money, but you have to add in the risk factor, and you would be hard-pressed to get returns that exceed the interest rate on most credit cards.

Turning to defensive savings strategies, there are countless articles churned out every day on how to spend less, and they may yield some good tips that are practical for your situation. Look for easy things like taking advantage of grocery store bargains, collecting points or discounts on a credit card (but paying the balance in full every month!), or clipping coupons.

There is no end to the money-saving ideas and hacks, but the first step is to know your costs. You can’t kill what you can’t see, and household expenses are no exception. You need to track all your expenses for at least a month and analyze where your money is going.

You may find some low-hanging fruits like a lightly used membership you could cancel, or maybe you didn’t realize how much those nights out on the town are adding up to every month. On the other hand, you may find the low-hanging fruit is long gone and that making more money is your only way forward! Make sure to track your expenses first and give yourself a realistic starting number before you dive into a more austere budget.

Finding the cash to start saving and investing is becoming increasingly difficult these days and while more income will certainly help, you will also need to continuously manage your expenses and make smart buying decisions to really pile up the savings.

For powerful personal finance education and training with immediate results, check out the complimentary livestreams each week from Enriched Academy. View the schedule and sign up for upcoming sessions on their events page.

Published by HomeEquity Bank

If you are an individual aged 55+, it may surprise you that you currently represent 33.09% of the total Canadian population. What may not surprise you, is that Canadians 55+ know what they want in order to live a fulfilling life as they enter retirement. However, they do not always have the financial means or are unaware of the financial options available to them to support their lifestyles into retirement.

Here are some of the financial options available to Canadians in retirement:

1. Credit Cards: Credit cards may be the perfect financial option for you if you are a retired individual with an income source and short-term financial needs. They give you easy access to credit that you can use to meet your short-term financial needs. However, keep in mind that credit cards require a monthly payment. So, if you do not wish to take on high interest debt, it is best to always have a concrete plan to pay off the borrowed amount before the deadline.

2. Private Loans: Private loans are another option for retired individuals with an income source and short-term financial needs. Like credit cards, they give you easy access to credit but have required monthly payments. Furthermore, having a reasonable repayment plan is important as they charge very high interest and repayment terms are very rigid.

3. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC): If you are a retired homeowner that has an income source and need a large sum of money immediately or over a period then, it may be worthwhile to explore HELOC as a financial option. HELOC allows you to borrow a large sum of money for your financial needs. However, it is also important to consider that HELOCs require monthly payments, the qualification for the loan can change based on changes to your income or home value, and you may be asked to repay the loan at any time if it is called.

4. Downsizing: Downsizing is a popular financial option and may be great for you if you are a homeowner in an urban area willing to transition into a smaller home located in a rural area. Downsizing allows you to access the value of your home’s equity to meet your financing needs in retirement. However, it is crucial to note the land transfer fees, commissions, moving costs associated with downsizing, and having to say goodbye to the home and community you have grown accustomed to.

Now, before revealing the fifth financial option for Canadians in retirement, you may find it interesting that a study from the National Institute of Ageing showed that 91% of all Canadians want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible after retirement. Furthermore, 95% of Canadians 45+ say that being able to retire in their own homes would give them the independence, comfort, and dignity they need as they age. However, due to costs associated with in-home care, many individuals cannotto remain in their homes. If you are among these Canadians, then the fifth financial option provided below may be the most suitable for you.

5. CHIP Reverse Mortgage: If you are a retired Canadian homeowner who wishes to remain in your dwelling while maintaining your current lifestyle, you have to look no further than the CHIP Reverse Mortgage. This finance option allows you to access up to 55% of your home’s equity value to meet your short- and long-term financial needs. With the CHIP Reverse Mortgage, you can choose to receive your money in a tax-free lump sum or tax-free monthly payments. Furthermore, you are not required to make any monthly mortgage payments but instead pay back the loan through the value of your home when you sell it or move out.

As the Canadian population ages, these are just some of the financing options that Canadians can utilize to enjoy retired life.

Contact your DLC mortgage broker to find out how the CHIP Reverse Mortgage by HomeEquity Bank can be a viable option to help you live your best retirement!

Published by DLC Marketing team

It’s time to go back to school… for your finances! The fall is the perfect time for a credit clean-up so that you are ready for the holiday spending season – and anything else the year can throw at you!

When it comes to cleaning up credit, there is no better time than now to recognize the importance of your credit score and check if you are on track with your habits. To get started with your credit clean-up, there are a few things you can do:

Pull Your Credit Report: For most of us, our credit score is something we only think about when we need it. However, if you are unsure of where you stand, this is a great time to find out! The Fair Credit Reporting Act lets you get one free credit report every year through Equifax or TransUnion. Pulling your own credit report results in a “soft” inquiry on your report and will not affect your credit score. Click here to get your free credit report today!
If You Find Errors, Dispute Them: When doing your annual credit score review, it is a good idea to go through line-by-line and confirm no errors. If you find any errors, report and dispute them immediately as they could be affecting your score.
Consolidate Your Loans: One of the best tips for managing your credit and working towards future financial success, is to consolidate your debt. Consolidating debt means reducing multiple loans to a single monthly payment, which typically has a lower interest rate allowing you to maximize spend on the principal amount.
Once you have put the effort into cleaning up your credit, you will want to keep it that way! A few tips for maintaining your credit and maximizing your financial future include:

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

NOTE: If you find you need more credit, it is better to increase the limit versus utilizing more than 70% of what is available each month.

Whether you qualify for a mortgage through a bank, credit union or other financial institution, you should be aiming for a credit score of 680 for at least one borrower (or guarantor). If you are ready to start your home-buying journey, or are looking to refinance your existing mortgage, a DLC Mortgage Expert can help you review your credit score and financial information to help you get the most from your money.