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HOW TO SAVE FOR A DOWN PAYMENT

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Saving For A Down Payment

HOW TO SAVE FOR A DOWN PAYMENT

There are a lot of payoffs for owning your own home specially when mortgage rates are low. Unlike renting, you payments go toward increasing the equity in your own. So the question is, what is stopping you from buying a new home?

For most people, it is the initial down payment and the ability to keep up with the monthly financial obligations such as mortgage payment, insurance, utilities and maintenance, that prevents them from being able to purchase a home. Therefore, in order to be able to afford saving for a down payment to buy a home, there has to be an effort to make significant changes to your life style. For many, this means changing their spending habits, in order to be able to keep up with the additional costs of saving for, paying for and maintaining a home.

One of the best ways of saving for a down payment is to take advantage of government programs available to first-time home buyers such as the ones listed below:

RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan

Contribute to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) regularly and to the maximum allowed. The federal government’s RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan enables eligible taxpayers to withdraw up to $20,000 tax free from their plan to buy or build a qualifying home. The amount of money withdrawn must be repaid within 15 years.

If you buy the qualifying home together with your spouse or other individuals, each person can withdraw up to $20,000 tax free. A government form must be completed for each withdrawal.

Generally, an RRSP holder can participate in the Home Buyers’ Plan only once in a lifetime. The pamphlet, Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) – For 1998 Participants, is available from Revenue Canada and will help you determine if you are considered a first-time home buyer.

A qualifying home is a housing unit located in Canada. Those participating in 1998 have to buy or build a home before Oct. 1, 1999. You must also agree to occupy the home as your principle residence no later than one year after buying or building it. Once you occupy the home, there is no minimum period of time that you have to live there.

Ontario Home Ownership Savings Plan

(OHOSP) OHOSP is a provincial program where participants receive interest on the money they deposit and may receive a tax credit. If you earn less than $40,000 a year, or if you and your spouse have a combined income of less than $80,000, you can benefit from the program. To be eligible, you must be an Ontario resident over 18 years of age with a social insurance number and have never owned a home.

While there is no limit to the amount of money you may deposit in your OHOSP, you can only receive OHOSP tax credits on annual contributions of $2,000 ($4,000 per couple) or less. Depending on your annual income and the amount of money you invest, you can earn up to $500 individually or $1,000 a couple in OHOSP tax credits. Participants are eligible for tax credits for five consecutive years and must close the plan and use the funds to purchase a home by the end of the seventh year. Otherwise, OHOSP tax credits must be repaid with interest.

An OHOSP plan, with interest earned at competitive rates, may be opened at any participating financial institution. To qualify, a home must be located in Ontario and be suitable for year-round residential occupancy. In addition, you must live in the home for at least 30 consecutive days within two years of the date of purchase.

CMHC five per cent down

While Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) five per cent down option program doesn’t help you save for the down payment, it sure eases the way to home ownership.

With as little as five per cent down, all home owners now have access to CMHC mortgage insurance. This means CMHC may insure the mortgage on your home (against default in payments) for up to 95 per cent of the lending value of the home. This helps make home ownership a reality for many Canadians who can afford monthly mortgage payments but would have trouble saving for a larger down payment.

Previously available only to first-time home buyers, the program was expanded earlier this year to include all home buyers. Eligible borrowers include anyone who buys a home in Canada and occupies it as a principle residence. The mortgage insurance premium in 1998 is about 3.75 per cent of the mortgage loan and can be added to the mortgage or paid on a monthly basis.

Contributed by OREA.

FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS, CALL SAM ELGOHARY 416-565-5925

Sam Elgohary

Sam Elgohary is a Real Estate Broker with Century 21 servicing his clients in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). He has a wide range of experience in Pre-construction Development and resale and is always looking to give his clients the most up-to-date knowledge about the market to help them in making new investments or selling their homes. His close connections with builders and a wide network of agents give him a competitive edge on everything to do with Toronto Real Estate. Connect with Sam: Cell 416-565-5925.

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