You know that you need a down payment for a home when you're applying for a mortgage. But did you know that a small down payment may mean you need to purchase lenders mortgage insurance (LMI)? Learn what LMI is, how it works, and who needs it.
What is LMI?
Mortgage insurance protects your lender if you default on your mortgage. Home buyers who are putting down less than 20 percent will be required to purchase this insurance. If you own a home and you decide to refinance, you may need to purchase LMI if your established home equity is under 20 percent.
You'll pay a one-time premium for LMI, which is expressed as a percentage ranging from 0.6 to 4.5 percent of your mortgage. This premium can be paid upfront to keep your interest down, or added
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Let's face it, the stress of selling a home and moving can weigh anyone down. But with a bit of planning and a few helpful tips, you can minimize the hassle. Or, best-case scenario, avoid it entirely.
There are many online real estate platforms where you can find properties for sale. However, these platforms aren’t enough. You must ensure you’re putting your hard-earned money into the right property.
Are you planning to move out of your current province and hoping to find the perfect home in your new town? Moving to a new home in a new place is full of excitement and fun. However, it can get stressful if you’re not prepared. There’s a lot to be done before moving, and buying a house can feel completely overwhelming.
The home selling process can be complicated, but it's especially complicated for people who already own a home. The decision to sell their home first and then buy, or buy then sell, can be a difficult one. If you're a homeowner who would like to sell one home and buy another, it's important to weigh all the factors. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each option can help you decide which one is right for you.
Although there are many building materials that can be used to make a home, two of the most common types of building materials are stick and masonry. These two types of homes are very different from one another. Knowing the differences between stick homes and masonry homes can help you decide which type of High River home is right for you.
Closing on a new Chestermere home is an exciting step, but the complexity of the process might take some wind out of buyer's sails if not approached properly. Between all the paperwork and negotiations, buyers will certainly feel challenged at some point, but these tips will help streamline those procedures.
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A home-buying wish list may sound a little like a goal board where Bearspaw home buyers imagine everything from a fireplace in the bedroom to a full-fledged coffee shop in the basement. But a real wish list is a little more practical than that. It's about carving out necessities to guide buyers while they explore different neighborhoods and home styles.
A budget can be precisely what buyers need to stay on track when it comes to their finances. And while it may not be the most exciting part of owning a home, it's not actually difficult to map out. As buyers research the average costs of a variety of properties (e.g., single-family homes, condos, etc.) in any given area, they can start to get an average ballpark of what they can afford. From the down payment to the closing costs, learn more about what it takes to put everything in order.