9 Mistakes That Kill Your Credit

Credit can be a tricky thing — some behaviors are obviously harmful to your credit, like paying late (or not at all), or maxing out your cards. But some mistakes aren’t all that obvious, and in fact some actions that might seem beneficial can actually have a terrible impact on your credit. we’ve compiled the biggest mistakes to help you determine what might be killing your credit.

1. Closing Credit Cards Accounts

Some of you may wonder why closing credit cards is number one on this list — even above missing payments. In fact, closing credit cards is almost as bad of an idea to boost your credit scores as missing your payments, but it is also a clear number one on the list of credit myths. It is perhaps the most common piece of misguided advice that consumers are given when they ask, “How can I increase my credit score?” But here’s the reality: Closing credit card accounts will not increase your credit score, even if you don’t use the cards anymore. Here’s why:

A closed account will fall off your credit report sooner than an open one -Lenders and credit reporting agencies have to follow certain rules determining how long information can remain on the credit report. In most cases negative credit information will remain on your credit files for seven years from the date the debt first became delinquent. Positive credit information can remain indefinitely, however, closed accounts in good standing are usually removed from the credit report within ten years after closing. And while credit scores continues to benefit from the positive history associated with an account for as long as it remains on the credit report – open or closed – once that account is removed from the credit report all of that good history is gone.

Why is this a bad thing? Because a credit score favors a long credit history, as the length of your credit history counts for about 15% of a FICO score. Consumers with a younger credit history tend to be seen as more risky borrowers than consumers who have had credit for many years. So hang onto those old accounts if you can by leaving them open.

You will hurt your “utilization” measurements - In the short run this is significantly more important than your closed accounts eventually falling off your credit reports. “Revolving utilization” is the amount of your revolving credit card limits that you are currently using. For example, if you have an open credit card with a $2,000 credit limit and a $1,000 balance then you are 50% “utilized” on that account because you’re using half of the credit limit. This measurement makes up almost 30% of your score, and is almost as important to your credit scores as making your payments on time. As this percentage increases, your credit score decreases.

2. Missing Payments

Missing payments is number two on the list because it doesn’t take a credit expert to tell you that missing payments is a bad thing. It’s common sense, unlike closing a credit card account. The explanation why missing payments is a huge mistake is also fairly obvious. Credit scores look at your credit history to see how you have managed your current and past credit obligations in an effort to predict how likely you are to miss payments in the future. The most powerful “predictor” of future late payments is having missed payments in the past. There are three ways that missing payments can hurt your credit scores. They are:

• How Frequent Are Your Late Payments? – If you miss payments frequently then you may be penalized more severely than someone who misses payments infrequently.
• How Recent Are Your Late Payments? – Since scoring models are designed to predict how you are going to pay your bills in the future, the more recent the late payment, the worse it is for your score. For example, if your late payments occurred in the most recent two years, then statistically you are more likely to miss payments in the next two years than someone without any recent late payments.
• How Severe Are Your Late Payments? – The severity of your late payment also plays a big part in your credit scores. Consumers who have missed payments by only a few weeks and then bring their payments up to date are likely to score better than consumers who have payments that are 90 days past due or worse. If you have late payments, it is in your best interest to do all that you can to bring them up to date as soon as possible.

3. Settling With Your Lender on a Past Due Account

“Settling” is a term used in the consumer credit industry that means accepting less than the amount you owe on an account. For example, if you owe a credit card company $10,000 but you can’t pay them the full amount, then they will likely make you a deal for less than that full amount. They have “settled” for less than the full amount, which is likely much less than you contractually owe them. This may seem like a good idea because you are happy that you didn’t have to pay the full amount. However, the lender will report that remaining amount to the credit bureaus as a negative item. This remaining amount is called the “deficiency balance.” A deficiency balance is considered just as negatively by credit scoring models as any other severe late payments. If you can arrange a deal with your lender so that they will NOT report the deficiency balance then that will be your best course of action. If they will not agree to this, then work to find a way to pay them in full or your credit will suffer for 7 years.

4. Over-Utilization of Your Available Credit Card Limits

Having high balances on your credit cards are likely to cause your credit scores to go down (as we talked about in Mistake #1). In this situation, your best bet would be to use your cards sparingly and pay them down as much as possible each month. If paying your cards off every month is unrealistic, try your best to reduce that percentage as much as possible, and your score should slowly work its way back up. There is no magic target to shoot at, but it’s safe to say that the lower the percentage the better.

5. Excessively Shopping for Credit

Every time you fill out a credit application, you are giving the lender permission to access your credit reports. When they access your credit reports they automatically post what is called an “inquiry.” The inquiry is a record of who pulled your credit report and on what date. Federal law requires that the inquiry remain on the report for 24 months, however, credit scores only look at inquiries less than one year old.

Inquiries are used by credit scoring models to determine whether or not someone is shopping for credit. It is a statistical fact that consumers who have more inquiries tend to be higher credit risks than consumers with fewer inquiries. Thus, the more inquiries you have the more points you may lose on your credit scores.

6. Thinking That All Credit Scores Are the Same

Credit scoring is already a confusing enough topic to understand. Add to the mix that there are as many different types of credit scores as there are soft drinks, and it gets really confusing. The most commonly used credit score is a credit bureau risk score. A credit bureau risk score is designed to assist lenders in predicting whether or not a consumer will pay their bills on time in the future.

There are many different places where consumers can purchase their credit reports and credit scores, however, not all of the scores being sold are the same. On the surface this might not seem like a big deal, but it certainly can be. For example, if you are in the market for a new car and you purchase an “educational” (sold to consumers, but not used by lenders) or other type of credit score ahead of time for your own information, the score you get might be different from the score the lender is looking at. Every lender has different lending standards, so the same score may earn you a good deal with one lender but not with another.

7. Thinking That All Credit Scores Predict the Same Thing

Adding to the confusion in number six above is the fact that there are models that predict other things than general credit risk. Scoring models can be built to predict almost anything including:

• Insurance Risk – That’s right. Some insurance companies use credit scoring models to predict whether or not you are likely to file an auto or homeowner’s insurance claim. A poor insurance score may mean that you will pay higher premiums.
• Response Rates – If you receive pre-approved offers of credit in the mail everyday, it’s not random. You have been selected from hundreds of millions of other consumers to receive that offer because you have a “Response Score” that indicates you are more likely to respond to that offer than someone else.
• Revenue Potential – Credit card companies also use revenue scoring models to predict whether or not you will use their credit card and, hopefully, generate revenue for them.
• Collectability – For those of you who have collections on your credit reports, collection agencies assigned to collect those past due debts may be scoring you to determine whether or not you are likely to repay your collection debt sooner than someone else.
• Bankruptcy Potential – Bankruptcy scores predict the likelihood that you will file for personal bankruptcy. A poor bankruptcy score could cause your credit applications to be declined.
• Fraud Potential – Amazingly sophisticated, these models actually can predict whether or not a purchase you are trying to make with a credit card is likely to be fraudulent or not. What’s even more amazing is that it takes about 2 minutes to complete your check-out at a store, and in this short amount of time you may have been scored to see whether or not the retailer should accept your credit card.

8. Not Understanding Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act

This act, commonly referred to as the “FCRA,” is a list of credit reporting rules and regulations that govern lenders and the credit reporting agencies. You should become familiar with your rights — including the “permissible purposes” under which your credit reports can be accessed, your rights to dispute errors on your credit reports, and your right to a free copy of your credit reports from each of the three credit reporting agencies via www.annualcreditreport.com. See the Federal Trade Commission site for more info.

9. Not Knowing That You Have 3 Credit Reports & Corresponding Credit Scores

Most consumers understand that they have a credit report. However, many do not know that they have three credit reports compiled and maintained by three separate and competing companies called “credit reporting agencies.” These companies are essentially repositories that store your credit history and sell it to lenders and consumers. The three largest of these companies are: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Each agency maintains credit files on more than 250,000,000 consumers. They do not share credit information with each other, so you are likely to have a unique credit report at each of these agencies. In turn, each of these credit reports can be used to calculate many different credit scores. Do not assume that your credit reports and scores are all the same

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Getting Debt Help: Five Steps Toward Debt Consolidation

Debt stress can negatively impact every aspect of your life. The only way to cure debt stress is to get rid of it by consolidating and managing debt with a goal of eliminating it. Here are five tips for starting a debt consolidation plan:

• Understand How Credit Card Debt Consolidation Works: Debt consolidation involves rolling several debt accounts into one. You can accomplish this by borrowing enough to pay off all of your credit card accounts, but tightening credit restrictions are making this increasingly difficult. You may qualify for enough to pay off your debts by putting up your car or home as collateral, keeping in mind that debt consolidation lenders can repossess your car or foreclose on your home if you don’t repay them. A safer way to consolidate debts is getting debt help from a professional credit counseling service. Before seeking debt help, you’ll need to gather some information.
• Know What You Owe (and to Whom, and What It’s Costing): This step may temporarily increase debt stress, but it’s worth for achieving credit card debt consolidation. You’ll need to review all of your credit card accounts and list how much you owe, who you owe, and the annual percentage rates (APRs) and minimum payments for each account. The APR for each account appears on each billing statement.
• Choosing a Credit Card Debt Consolidation Option: You’ll need to decide if you can develop and commit to your own debt consolidation plan, or if you need help. Seeking professional debt help can help you stay on track, and provides an interface between you and your creditors.
• Cooperation and Cutting Up Cards: If you seek help from a professional debt consolidation program, your counselor will review your income and debts and negotiate a repayment plan with creditors. You make payments to your debt consolidation agency, and they disburse funds to creditors. The downside is that your plan can be voided if you fail to meet written terms, and you may be required to close your credit card accounts.
• DIY Credit Card Debt Consolidation Methods: If you’re making your own debt consolidation plan, you can approach it in a way that works best for you. Sometimes it’s easiest (and psychologically satisfying) to pay off any small debts first for reducing the number of bills you have and streamlining debt management. Financial advisers often recommend paying your bills in the order of highest APR to lowest. You would pay more toward the highest APR debt until it’s paid off. Then you would pay that amount plus your minimum payment on the next highest APR debt and so on. This method is sometimes called the avalanche method, as it gains momentum as debts are paid off and more is paid toward each remaining debt.

Get started today toward regaining financial security. The one debt management plan you cannot afford to use is the ostrich method, which requires burying your head in the sand and doing nothing.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

How Our Financial Calculators Can Help You in Creating a Budget

The main purpose of a budget is to determine where your money is coming from and where you want it to go. For a budget to show the picture clearly, you need to gather financial statements, record your income sources, list your monthly expenses, categorize your expenditures and make necessary calculations to suit your goal. Creating a budget can be boring and tedious if you don’t enjoy collecting data and crunching numbers. Since the process requires a lot of calculations, you can make the task easier, faster and more accurate by using our financial calculators.

We have five different financial calculators to help you perform all your finance related calculations fast, easy and accurate. Each of these calculators is designed for a specific purpose. However, you can use all of them to assist you in creating a budget. Here is how each can help you create a budget.

Student Budget Calculator:

This calculator is designed to assist students to create their budget when attending a college or university. It allows you to input your income and expenses in categories such as school expenses, professional fees, food and groceries and living expenses. The budget automatically assumes the school year to be of eight months starting from September and ending in April.

How much do you owe?

When creating a budget, it is very important to take into account every penny you owe the bank or any other lender. This calculator lets you enter all your credit cards, loans, other existing installment loans (such as car loan), interest rates and payments. It helps you get a clear picture how much you owe and how long it will take to be free of debts.

Mortgage Loan Calculator:

If you have an existing mortgage or planning to take out one, then this calculator will come in very handy. Once you enter the mortgage amount, interest rate, amortization period and other relevant data, it generates an amortization schedule for your mortgage. It lets you see at a glance your principal balance and how much interest you will have to pay. If you are planning to make any prepayment, it even shows you its impact on your mortgage, including the total saving you will be able to make on the interest. It helps you state your mortgage loan clearly in your budget.

Savings Goal Calculator:

One of the main purposes of creating a budget is to save money by prioritizing the important expenses. This calculator helps you do just that. Once you enter the number of years to save, your savings goal, the amount you have in current savings, savings per period, expected rate of return and the expected rate of inflation, it shows you graphically the current status of your saving and how far from your goal you are.

Line of Credit and Loan Payments Calculator:

Loans and repayments play a big part in every budget. This calculator lets you enter the loan amount, annual interest rate, term in months and other relevant data and gives you a clear picture of your loan or line of credit payment.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Watch Your Wallet With These Personal Finance Tips

Does facing your personal finances leave you a bit bewildered? There are others out there that feel the same way you do. A lot of people find finances to be overwhelming since they were never shown how to manage them. The piece that follows offers some tremendously useful advice on the subject of personal finance.

Steer clear of products or schemes that promise you overnight success. Many people have fallen into the get rich quick schemes located on the Internet. You should certainly learn; however, carefully watch how much time and energy you put into learning. You do not want to spend so much time learning that you are unable to work and earn a living.

Develop a better plan for the future by keeping a journal of all of your expenditures. However, if you put this into a notebook that you can just shut and put away until you deal with it later, you may find it just gets ignored. Try to put up a whiteboard in the office or bedroom that you can list your expenses on. By doing this, you’ll probably see the board much more often, which will ensure it remains on your mind all day.

It may be helpful to keep a small envelope in your purse or bag whenever you go shopping. This way, you have a place to store all receipts that you receive. Keep this information available as a record that you might need at a later date. It will be good to have them on hand, so that you can verify all the charges on your credit card statement and contest any that are incorrect.

Don’t fall for the scam that an organization can guarantee you a clean credit report. A lot of companies out there make vague statements about how they will repair your credit history. But what worked for someone else may have no bearing on your credit issues. There is no way to guarantee success in credit repair and if anyone says otherwise, they are being dishonest.

If you bought a defective item, chances are you will notice it within a few weeks only. Businesses make a lot of money off of extended warranties but they are not always useful for the end user.

Avoid large fees when investing. Most brokers have hefty fees for the services that they render. These fees can really take a chunk out of the money you make. Do not use brokers who take big commissions, and stay away from funds with high management costs.

Purchase your lean meats and other protein sources in bulk. This will provide you with both a cost and time savings. If you use everything you purchase, buying in bulk can be much cheaper. If you cook meals for the rest of the week, it can save you a lot of time.

Your car and house are very likely going to be your biggest expenses. Paying the interest on these things often eats up a lot of money each month. Try to pay them off quickly by making extra payments or applying your tax refund toward the principal.

Sometimes your score will actually drop for no good reason. This can happen without any errors on your part. If you keep up on your credit report your score will go up!

Credit Card

Use compact florescent bulbs in place of incandescent bulbs where you can. Your new CFL bulbs will significantly reduce both your carbon footprint and your energy bill. As an added bonus, your CFL bulbs will last longer than the average incandescent bulb. Buying bulbs less frequently can help you save money.

Stop buying things with your credit card if you cannot pay it off. Go over your expenses and eliminate things that are not vital to your survival. Try to find another form of payment for the things that you really cannot live without. Finish paying off your balance before using the card again, and then try to pay your credit card balance in full every month to avoid future troubles.

Make a few extra bucks by having a garage sale and clear out some space at the same time. Let all of the neighbors know about the upcoming garage sale – one might even offer to sell items for them in exchange for a small commission. Garage sales offer a lot of latitude when it comes to making money.

Do not take out more student loans than you need this will cause a huge problem down the line. Private schools can be very costly to pay off.

Student loan debt has fewer consumer protections than other kinds of debt, so make absolutely sure that you can repay any student loan debt you accrue. Getting into that private school and being unsure of your future will more than likely put you into debt for a very long time, so be very careful about this.

Flexible spending accounts can be used for a variety of expenses. Flexible spending accounts can help reduce your medical or childcare expenses. These accounts let you set aside a specific amount of pretax dollars for these expenses. There are conditions involved though, so speak to a tax professional.

Your FICO score is effected largely by credit cards. When you maintain a large balance from month to month, your score will be lower than it should. Fortunately, you can start increasing your score rapidly by paying off your cards. Always try your best to keep your balance below 20% of the credit card’s maximum credit limit.

Personal Finances

Don’t waste money on lottery tickets. Put the money in your savings account instead. This is a better option because it will grow over time versus being wasted on a gamble.

As you know, many people are insecure with their personal finances, leading to eventual money problems. Reading this article should have shown you ways to prevent this from happening to you. Utilize the tips above to better your personal finances.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Consolidation Tips And Techniques To Help You

Do you know much about debt consolidation is? You probably have but are not fully understand what debt consolidation is. The information in this article will provide you in consolidating your debts.It will give you information you need to get your finances.

Just because a firm is non-profit doesn't mean they are completely trustworthy and will be fair in their service charges for debt consolidation.Some companies use the nonprofit terminology to lure unsuspecting people in and then hit them with giving you loan terms that are considered quite unfavorable. Make sure you reference them with the local BBB or get a personal recommendations.

Make sure a debt consolidation service have the proper qualifications. Is there any organization that they are certified these counselors? Are they backed by reputable institutions that have a good reputation for reliability? This is great way to figure out whether the company is one that you should deal with.

Do you own a life insurance? You might want to consider cashing in the policy so that you could pay off your debts. Get in touch with your insurance provider to ask much your policy. You can sometimes borrow back a part of what you invested in your policy to pay off your debt.

You will be able to save on interest costs and will only have to make a single payment. After consolidating debt, try to pay it off prior to the expiration of the introductory rate.

When you're trying to work on getting debts consolidated, consider how you first put yourself in this position. You do not want to find yourself in debt consolidation program. Try to develop new strategies for managing your finances so this situation to avoid it from occurring again.

Understand that taking out a debt consolidation will have no impact on your credit score. Some reduction tactics do have an effect on it, but debt consolidation only lowers the interest rate and total amount you pay on your bills each month. It is pretty useful strategy for anyone capable of remaining current with the payments.

Look for a credible consumer counseling firm that is local area. These organizations offer valuable debt management and combine your multiple accounts into a single payment. Using this service won't affect your credit as much as a debt consolidation services.

After you've found your debt consolidation plan, only use cash to pay for your expenses. You want to get into the habit again of relying on your credit cards. This is exactly what got you to get into this mess in first place! Paying in cash means that you just use what you have.

Make sure your documents you get from a debt consolidation company are filled out correctly. It is important to pay attention during this time.Errors will delay the help you are seeking, so be sure that you have filled everything out correctly.

Ask about what their privacy policy. Know how the information is kept in their system. Ask the company if the files are used. If such precautions are not in place, then your credit information may be available to prying eyes which can result in your personal identity being stolen if the computer system gets hacked.

Ask yourself why you ended up with a high amount of debt. You need to think about this before beginning debt consolidation. Figure out why the debt exists, put an end to it and continue to pay debts off.

Now that you've come to the end of this article, you understand a bit more about debt consolidation. Pay attention to all the terms of any debt consolidation you choose, and ask questions if necessary. This will help you to make a sound financial decision and manage your debt in a responsible way.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a real estate mortgage professional. 

Consolidating Debts Can Be Effortless With One Of These Tips

Consolidating debts applications can be a wonderful alternative in case you are in fiscal stress, however they are not the same. In order to choose the best one, you want a standard comprehension of precisely what the applications can offer, what to take into consideration and what phrases are in your very best monetary attention. This article offers you most of that information and facts. Read more to find out more.

Do your homework in your possible debt consolidation loans firms.

Not each one of these businesses is right for your situation. Some usually are not even trustworthy—there are tons of “take flight by night time” operations in this particular marketplace. Don’t get caught in the trap. Check out the firms completely before making any judgements.

Find a debt consolidation agency that hires competent staff members.

Advisors needs to have a qualification from a professional business. Will be the firm genuine with the support of well-known and very trustworthy institutions? This can help you kind the great organizations in the bad.

Find out whether a debt consolidation loans organization will take your specific condition into mind.

A one size fits all technique generally is not going to operate when it comes to these sorts of financial matters. You need to deal with someone that will take the time to determine what is going on along and work out how best to street address the specific situation.

You can pay off your debt by borrowing dollars underneath the correct terms.

Talk to financial loan providers to find out the costs that you simply be entitled to. You may have to set up security, such as a car, to find the dollars you need. You should make sure your loan is paid back promptly.

Recognize why you are in this article to begin with.

Consolidating debts is only 50 % the combat. You must make changes in lifestyle for so that it is a highly effective means to boosting your monetary well-being. It means going for a tough look at your credit history and bank accounts. Determine what resulted in this circumstance.

With regards to handling debt consolidation loans, make sure that you chill out.

This practice is quite typical and can help improve your financial situation when all is claimed and carried out. You have the opportunity to lower fees each month, reduce great curiosity, get rid of late costs, placed a stop to people harassing phone calls, and ultimately come to be debt cost-free. You can bounce back with this, nevertheless, you should always keep relax and take note of your payment plan.

Lots of debt consolidation loans specialists offer home equity loans but do not present these items as a result.

If you work with your own home as being a security for a mortgage loan, you will be trying to get a residence value bank loan. This may not be a great choice unless you are self-confident about spending this loan again promptly.

For those who have a number of bank cards, consider merging your entire accounts into one.

You can save a great deal on your passions and charges if one makes one particular big transaction once a month rather than giving dollars to several credit card banks. Handling the debt is going to be much simpler in the event you blend your accounts.

Have a loan to support consolidate the debt.

Though, this is dangerous for that relationship should you never pay for the money-back. This might be your only opportunity to get a keep in your condition, but handling the debt with debt consolidation will only function if you’re capable of handling the relation to new debt consolidation financial loan.

It is usually much better to try to restoration your debts with out delivering on extra debts, say for example a debt consolidation personal loan. When you can discover ways to pay off whatever you are obligated to pay, even should it be with the help of a credit history consultant, get it done! You will save time and expense.

While engaging in a consolidating debts means a smaller bill for the short term, do not forget that furthermore, it means your instalments will pull on for considerably longer. Is it possible to pay for that in case one thing were to take place later on? Some individuals discover that repaying one of their smaller outstanding debts performs greater for these people. Think about your choices.

As has become stated, not all debt consolidation loans applications are appropriate for everybody. To discover the a single which fits your life-style, assess the advice in the following paragraphs once again. Think about it cautiously when analyzing your options, and ensure to continue having a advanced level of caution. In this way, you can expect to come up with a great fiscal decision which will help to help you get out of debt.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

BMO Releases 30 Tips for 30 Days During Financial Literacy Month

TORONTO, ONTARIO—(Marketwired - Oct 31, 2013) - To mark Financial Literacy Month in Canada, BMO Financial Group is releasing a financial tip for each day of the month during November. Part of ‘Making Money Make Sense’, BMO’s tips are designed to help individuals and families gain a better understanding of their finances, save money and manage day-to-day finances more effectively.

"We recognize the importance of promoting financial literacy across North America and applaud the efforts of the federal government," said L. Jacques Ménard, Chairman of BMO Nesbitt Burns and Financial Literacy Task Force Vice-Chair. "BMO strives to help our customers and Canadians gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to make responsible financial decisions at all stages of their lives, and we’re confident that Financial Literacy Month will have a positive, long-term impact on the overall financial knowledge and skills of Canadians."

BMO’s 30 Tips for 30 Days in November:
Tip #1: Understand your needs and look for an investment advisor who takes an interest in your specific life situation to help you meet your financial goals.

Tip #2: Open a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) as early as possible and making regular contributions will ensure financial stability during retirement.

Tip #3: Investing in an RRSP is a great way to save for retirement in a tax-efficient manner. No tax is paid on investment growth in an RRSP so investments compound far more quickly than they would if invested outside of an RRSP.

Tip #4: Familiarize yourself with the wide range of investments that can be held in an RRSP, including bonds, equities, exchange traded funds (ETFs), guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) and mutual funds.

Tip #5: Spousal RRSPs can be an effective income-splitting strategy to help defer taxes right away and reduce overall taxes in retirement.

Tip #6: Invest in a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) to save thousands of dollars in taxes over the long term and to help you grow your savings faster.

Tip #7: Diversify your portfolio by including a mix of investments spread across several sectors to reduce volatility without lowering expected returns.

Tip #8: Consider preferred shares as an investment choice in today’s low interest rate environment. They are a hybrid of equities and bonds and offer guaranteed fixed dividends with stable share prices and predictable distributions.

Tip #9: Create a comprehensive household budget and revisit it often to help keep your overall finances in check.

Tip #10: Track your day-to-day spending habits and take advantage of rewards programs to make the most out of every dollar spent.

Tip #11: This holiday season, encourage friends and family to contribute to your child’s RESP to help pay for his or her education.

Tip #12: Donate securities to benefit from tax savings while supporting a cause that you believe in.

Tip #13: Ensure you are covered with travel medical insurance to avoid financial risk before going on vacation.

Tip #14: Use a combination of a credit card, debit card and cash for added security, convenience and flexibility when travelling to or shopping in the U.S.

Tip #15: Take advantage of credit cards that offer affordable emergency medical and travel insurance to save money and have peace of mind when you travel out-of-country.

Tip #16: Students should pay off credit card balances in full each month and take advantage of rewards and discounts associated with their student-specific credit card to save money.

Tip #17: When planning for a new home, housing costs - including mortgage payments, utilities and taxes - should not take up more than one-third of your total household income. If you can land safely within these parameters, then homeownership is an affordable and realistic option.

Tip #18: Under the federal government’s Home Buyer’s Plan, use your RRSP to help make a down payment on your first home.

Tip #19: Use the tax refund generated from your RRSP contribution to pay down your mortgage.

Tip #20: Before getting married, have an open dialogue about your current finances including your respective saving and spending habits. The “financial talk” will help with the transition from “my money” to “our money.”

Tip #21: Establish a realistic budget for your wedding day and identify ways to minimize costs.

Tip #22: Re-visit your financial situation and budget accordingly when “expecting” a new addition to the family.

Tip #23: Save for your child’s education by investing monthly Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) cheques in a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).

Tip #24: Create a payment schedule, which includes spaced-out payments and planned financial commitments, to manage day-to-day finances.

Tip #25: Use trusted online financial tools and resources to make smart financial decisions and set yourself up for financial success.

Tip #26: Pay yourself first and put 10 per cent of your income into a high-interest savings account to boost your savings potential.

Tip #27: Bring your lunch to work and put the dollars you save towards retirement.

Tip #28: Include an emergency fund in your financial plan to help ensure you are prepared for unforeseen expenses and to avoid incurring high interest debt.

Tip #29: Consolidate high-interest debt into a line of credit to save on interest costs and become debt-free sooner.

Tip #30: Small business owners should implement year-end tax strategies that will reduce costs and help save money.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Simple Ways To Raise Your Credit Score

If you’re like most people, the recession took a toll on your finances and probably your credit score. So how do you get it back to where it needs to be? While it usually takes seven years for any negatives marks to be removed from your credit report, there are a couple quick and simple ways to you can raise your credit score now. Here are a couple to keep in mind.

1. Keep paying things on time:
The most important thing to remember is to keep your credit report clean from here on out. Pay your bills on time. Make sure you aren’t over your limit on any of your credit cards. Keep the balances on your credit cards low. Keeping your finances clean is the best way to raise your score.

2. Don’t cancel any of your credit cards:
This may seem counterintuitive, but canceling credit cards actually lowers your credit score. Part of your credit score is based on how much credit you utilize (your credit utilization score), so the more credit you have available, the higher your credit score. If you cancel a credit card, you no longer have that credit available, which lowers your credit utilization score, which in turn lowers your credit score. Even if you’ve paid off a credit card, keep it open and gather up the extra points you get from having that extra line of credit. If you qualify, you can also apply for a new credit card to raise your credit utilization ratio, although don’t apply for more than one. Applying for too much credit at once can lower your score. Here is a good list of the best rewards credit cards that can help you save money and raise your credit score.

3. Open the lines of communication with your credit card lenders:
If a bunch of credit card debt is keeping your credit score down, talk with your credit card lenders to see if you can strike a deal to pay off that debt. Many lenders are open to making deals with you, since all they are really after is the money you owe. Just remember, if you do make a deal with a lender, ask them how they will be reporting it to the credit bureaus. They have two options: “Paying as agreed,” which won’t hurt your credit score, or “Not paying as agreed,” which could bring your credit score down. Make sure they are reporting it as “paying as agreed” before you agree to any deal.

4. Sign up for a secured credit card:
If your credit is so bad that you keep getting denied for a credit card or loan, try signing up for a secured credit card. Traditionally, you put down a “deposit” for a secured credit card that ends up being your credit limit, so it doesn’t matter how bad your credit is, secured credit cards are available for everyone. Just make sure to apply for a card that reports to all three credit bureaus, otherwise having the extra line of credit won’t affect your credit score.

5. Make sure there are no mistakes on your credit report:
Over 42 million people in this country have errors on their credit report, and 10 million of those have errors that affect their credit score. Make sure you are regularly checking your credit report to make sure there are no mistakes and that you haven’t been a victim of identity theft. Fixing simple mistakes on your credit report can be a quick way to boost your score. Each of the different credit bureau has instructions on their web sites on how to fix an error, or you can hire a credit repair service to do the work for you (as well as try other methods to raise your credit score.)

Keep in mind, the only guaranteed way to raise your credit score is to keep your report as clean as possible and wait until negative information expires from your credit report, which takes seven years (some bankruptcies take 10 years.) As new positive information appears and old negative information disappears, you’ll see your score start to rise.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

9 Things You Must Know About Debt Consolidation

Looking for a way to cope with overwhelming debt? Credit counseling agencies may offer some relief. Their debt consolidation programs, called debt management plans, can help you get back on track — but they can also be unnecessary and even detrimental when done through a poorly run organization or for the wrong reasons.

Here’s what you need to know about consolidating accounts through an agency.

1. It’s a third-party payment system. Tired of juggling many different accounts? With a debt management plan, you make one payment to the credit counseling agency, which distributes the money to your creditors until they are paid in full. These agencies do not make loans, nor do they settle debts. Instead, they have preset arrangements with most financial institutions, many of which lower interest rates and fees, so more of your payment goes toward the balance rather than finance charges. However, if you just happen to have accounts with creditors that don’t offer any concessions, that benefit is reduced.

2. Agencies range in quality. With something as precious as your finances, be exceedingly careful about who you work with. Look for a nonprofit credit counseling organization that belongs to either the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) or the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA). They ensure member agencies pass rigorous standards set forth by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services Inc., or another approved third party, and that their counselors pass a comprehensive certification program. Even if they are members of such organizations, though, be picky. The agency should be organized, send payments and statements on time and offer strong consumer education and support. If it falls short, contact another branch.

3. All plans are basically the same. Financial institutions don’t give preferential treatment to any one organization, nonprofit or otherwise. So while the agencies and employees vary, the plans are all structured the same way: Your counselor determines how much it will take to pay your creditors in full in three to five years. The payment is usually around 2.5 percent of the total debt, though in hardship situations, there is some wiggle room. NFCC spokeswoman Gail Cunningham says the organization has negotiated with the top 10 credit issuers to reduce the minimum monthly payment to as low as 1.75 percent, while also cutting interest rates to meet the 60-month maximum repayment time frame. You can stop the plan at any time, and you can also pay more — and get out of debt faster — when you have extra funds.

4. Before consolidation, counseling. Why consolidate bills if you can’t pay for basic expenses or if there are better alternatives? You wouldn’t, which is the reason consolidation begins with a counseling appointment where your entire financial situation is assessed. If you have enough cash left over after subtracting expenses from income, consolidation will be presented along with other options. When a counselor is knowledgeable and compassionate, these sessions can be enlightening and motivating. Not all are. If he or she acts bored, judgmental or pushy, request a different counselor.

5. Consolidation is not right for everyone. How do you know if debt consolidation would work in your favor? First, the bulk of your balances should be in unsecured debts, such as credit and charge cards, personal loans and, sometimes, collection accounts. If most of your liabilities include other types (tax debt, child support arrearage, old parking tickets, for instance), these plans won’t help. Second, you should be confident that you can pay not just for a month or two, but for years. And third, you need to have just enough money for essential expenses, some savings and your debt. If you have too much cash left over, you’re better off managing the accounts on your own.

6. It’s simple, steady, and efficient. While you’re on the plan, your payment remains constant. You never have to wonder how much you should be paying each month, as it will be the same amount until all creditors are satisfied. When one account is satisfied, the others receive a larger portion of your payment, which speeds up the repayment process. Consolidation can also provide welcome respite from creditors calling about overdue accounts, as they generally stop when the plan begins.

7. You still have work to do. Those you owe will still be sending you account statements, which you’ll have to monitor and send in. Agency reports do not reflect the interest that you’re still being charged, so if you don’t submit them, the balance the agency reports will be wildly different from what your bank statements say. Many clients get a rude awakening when they think they’re all paid off, only to find they still are in the hole for thousands.

8. No more charging until you’re done. One of the agreements you make when consolidating your debts with an agency is that you will close the accounts and not get any new ones until you are debt-free. This can be a mighty difficult adjustment if you’re used to whipping out the plastic on a daily basis. However, it does make sense. After all, if you are still charging while repaying, you’re spinning your wheels. In case of emergency, you’re allowed to leave one card, which is typically a general purpose account with a low or no balance that you can use anywhere.

9. Consolidation is not bankruptcy — but it can be perceived similarly.By consolidating, you’re paying 100 percent of your obligations, which is quite different from discharging them in a bankruptcy or settling the debt. Still, your credit report can take a hit if your monthly payments are less than what you would normally pay. Also, while consolidation is not factored into a credit score, some creditors notate that you’re paying through a third party, which can be a red flag to a lender or anyone else looking at the report. “We look at it as a bankruptcy. It shows that they need help paying their bills,” says Stuart Davis, a senior loan consultant forPrinceton Capital out of Los Gatos, Calif. According to their underwriters, the plan needs to be complete before they will make a loan. On the other hand, the NFCC’s Cunningham says that most people who consolidate do so because they’re already stumbling and missing payments, so making timely and consistent payments through the service can help their reports.

Clearly, consolidating debts through a credit counseling agency can be helpful, but you may also be able to achieve the same results on your own. How? Suspend charging and request rate reductions from each of your creditors. If they turn you down, make a few larger than average payments and try again. Then, review your budget to know exactly the amount you can afford to send every month. Plug the numbers into a good debt repayment calculator to know how long it will take to become debt free. Pay more to the accounts with the highest interest rate, and when one is paid off, add the payment the next most expensive debt. Finally, commit to living within your means and prepare for life’s inevitable financial emergencies.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Seven Reasons Credit Applications Are Rejected

A credit file profile is not the only reason for having a credit application refused. There may be other less obvious causes for a rejection.

Not on the electoral roll
The electoral roll is something to which lenders turn for confirmation that the applicant is who they say they are. Not being registered on it can lead to a refusal for credit.

Make sure there is uniformity in your address details
Check the address is formatted consistently. There could be problems if Royal Mail’s postcode address file and the electoral roll don’t match. Disparities in address details can mean a lender turns you away.

Social media
Would-be lenders might check you out on social media and if the vibe from you or even your friends seems irresponsible, this might reflect on their readiness to lend to you. [Read more: How your Facebook friends could damage your credit rating]

A lender’s interpretation of earnings
One reader’s bank statement showed a regular payment coming from an employer, so the bank presumed it was a wage. When the bank found out that in fact it was from a scholarship and was not technically earnings it would not then lend to her.

Another reader’s bank couldn’t understand how his earnings, which were largely paid as dividends, were worked out and so reduced the amount it was prepared to lend for his mortgage.

Not being able to produce the right paperwork to establish identity
Problems can arise in meeting identity requirements. For example bank statements and utility bills downloaded from online may well not be acceptable when it comes to proving who you are. A utility bill needs to be recent so some bills, such as a water bill which does not come as frequently as bills for some other utilities, may not be suitable if it is dated some months before.

One person in a couple may receive the utility bills, so the other will not have those in their name.

Not everyone has a passport or a driving licence and few have, say, a police warrant card and gun licence which may be on the list of acceptable documents. Other identity proofs needed may include an assortment of items that also may not apply to the individual at issue, including evidence of state benefits.

Being too old
As you get older borrowing becomes more difficult.

No track record of past borrowing
Not only should a potential borrower be capable of fulfilling the demands of a regular contract responsibly, they need to be able to demonstrate this with some track record. This could be by managing a credit card or a mobile phone contract. Avoid borrowing more than you can repay. Consider closing down any credit facilities that are not needed as they could give a misleading impression about your borrowing intentions.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Settling Unsecured Debts

If you are experiencing money problems, trouble paying your debts or your financial situation is deteriorating you need debt relief. Ideally, you can either avoid paying some of your unsecured debts or you can pay off some of your debts for less than 100 cents on the dollar. Depending upon the situation you might be able to settle one or more of your unsecured consumer debts for anywhere between 5% and 85% of the balance owing.

Type of debts where generous settlements may be available

If you owe money to the government the government will usually take the position that it wants you to repay the entire debt. It is also difficult to settle debts with certain types of consumer creditors such as a landlord or a utility; water, hydro, cable or internet service provider. If you do not pay your rent your landlord is going to evict you. If you do not pay your cable bill your cable service will be disconnected. However, there are plenty of opportunities to settle debts at major discounts with certain types of unsecured debts including credit cards, personal loans, lines of credit and cellular phone charges.

Settlements involving purchased debt

In Canada today about 90 per cent of the debts collection agencies attempt to collect are debts owned by the original creditor. However, in some cases a creditor will sell a large group of debts to a company called a debt buyer, a company that specializes in buying debts. Typically debt buyers purchase debts that are more than 3 years old for pennies on the dollar. If a collection agency is attempting to collect an older debt from you that is owned by a debt buyer the collection agency may be willing to settle this debt for as little for 5 cents or 10 cents on the dollar.

Settlements involving debts owned by the original creditor

Typically major credit grantors in Canada attempt to collect a debt on their own for 3 to 6 months before placing the accounts for collection on a commission basis with a collection agency. When an account is initially placed with a collection agency it is referred to as a first assign. Some creditors may not permit settlements on first assigns. Other creditors may permit settlements for approximately 85% of the balance owing. After a year a delinquent account may be recalled and placed with a new agency as a second assign and the creditor’s blanket settlement instructions may then be reduced to somewhere around 65% of the balance owing. Upon the expiry of another year the debt will likely become a third assign and the settlement guidelines may be reduced to approximately 50% of the balance owing.

In some cases it may be possible for a collection agency to obtain permission from its creditor-client to settle a debt for an amount even more generous than that permitted under the client’s blanket settlement instructions. A creditor may consider settling a debt for a lump sum payment less than its blanket settlement guidelines where the creditor is satisfied the consumer will never be in a position to repay the debt or the creditor is on the verge of insolvency.

Importance of obtaining a written settlement offer before making a payment

In the event you negotiate a settlement with a collection agency it is important that you obtain a satisfactory written settlement offer from the collection agency before making your payment to the collection agency. Failure to do so may result in the creditor or another collection agency attempting to collect the balance from you.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Tips To Paying Your Mortgage Down Faster

Everyone knows they should make extra payments on their mortgage, but life tends to get in the way and make it a low priority on the overall budget.  Most of us will have something they could pay towards the mortgage, yet it doesn’t seem like much compared to the balance, so we spend it on other things…and let’s face it, paying down your mortgage isn’t sexy!
So is it important?  Let me show you an example of the impact of even small extra payments on your mortgage.  For example on a $250,000 mortgage over 30 years at 3.99%, 2 years into the mortgage if you were to start making $100 extra payments alone, you would knock 3.7 years off your mortgage and save $23,468!

So how do make this happen?

One of the easiest ways is to have your Bank or Credit Union deduct a small amount from your pay and have it automatically added to your mortgage or a savings account.  This makes it easier than having to remember every time you get paid to make that extra payment.  If your mortgage is with another institution, you will likely have to use the Savings account to save it up and then contact them to have the money transferred to the mortgage.  Most lenders can take out the extra payment automatically from the account your normal payments come out of.
The other way is to ask the lender to increase your payment amount by $x amount…obviously this is a more permanent solution.
What about Biweekly Payments, or Weekly Payments?
The sooner you make your payment the better.  As well, by paying in an accelerated manner, more money is being paid onto the mortgage, reducing your principal and interest costs.  For example:
$1,000 x 12 (monthly payments) = $12,000/year
$500 x 26 (biweekly accelerated) = $13,000/year
$250 x 52 (weekly accelerated) = $13,000/year
If you can manage this, it makes a significant impact on your mortgage!
Here we see just changing from Monthly to Biweekly accelerated alone knocks 4.1 years off of a 30 year mortgage!

Please note!  Some Bank’s offer weekly & Biweekly payment options which are not accelerated!!  This is useless, as it does not reduce your principal any more than Monthly payments…beware!
Other ways to pay down your mortgage faster!
•    Use your tax return to pay down your mortgage…this can make a big impact on your mortgage over the long term!
•    When you get a pay increase, increase the payment on your mortgage by the same amount.
•    If you receive any “extra” payment or gifts, put them on your mortgage asap!
•    Instead of gifts or presents on your Birthday, your spouse’s Birthday etc, pay extra down…a free & clear home is a much better gift!
•    Check with your lender consistently and ask for a new Amortization Schedule based on your new balance and payments…when you start to see the end date is getting closer (What we call Mortgage Freedom Day!) you will be able to focus on it more.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

8 Negotiation Tactics To Help Reduce Your Credit Card Debt

Call at a good time: One of the simplest yet most effective negotiation tactics is to choose the right time to call a credit card company. Call first thing in the morning, as people are more likely to be pleasant and willing to help you out. If you call at the end of the day, people tend to be tired and cranky.

Let them know you will pay back your debt: What concerns credit card companies most are people who are trying all sorts of dirty negotiation tricks to get out of paying their debts altogether. It is crucial that you explain to them that you do intend to pay back your debt. What you are asking is some small help. If you do this nicely, you may be surprised how understanding credit card companies can be!

Take advantage of your first time: If you have not asked for a lower interest rate or to have a late fee waived with this credit card company before, make sure you tell them. These companies are usually much more generous with first time offenders than with those asking for extensions on a monthly basis.

Show them you are a loyal customer: If you've been a long-time customer or a big spender for several years, use this to your advantage. By reminding a company of your loyalty, you'll find that they will be more willing to renegotiate your credit card debt because they don't want to lose your business.

Ask for a lower interest rate: Unknown to many, credit card interest rates are often negotiable. If you have had a good payment history, you shouldn't have any problems with requesting for a lower interest rate. Explain that you'll be able to put more money towards paying off your principal balance instead of your interest rate charges.

Have late payment fees waived: This is such a simple, yet very effective bargaining tactic. Late payment fees can usually easily be waived if you settle your bill within a short period of the due date. If you have, leverage a solid credit history on top. An extra phone call, that is likely to be well worth the effort.

Request to miss a payment: If you have had some unexpected financial issues that you are expecting to resolve in the coming weeks or months, explain your situation honestly to the credit card company and ask very carefully if you could miss a payment or two. Beware though that these kind of skipped payments may have a bad impact on your credit rating.

Speak to the decision maker: An effective negotiation tip is to talk to the person in charge as soon as you can. When you first call, you will probably be diverted straight to a customer service representative. If this is the case, request to talk directly to the manager or another person who can make decisions. Don't forget to write down all the names, designations, and contact details of everyone you talk to, as well as the time, day, and details of the discussions.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

How to Protect Yourself from Overzealous Debt Collectors: Know Your Rights

A couple of weeks back, a debt collection agency based in Glendale, Calif., agreed to pay $1 million to settle complaints from the Federal Trade Commission over its business practices. The agency, which went by the name “National Attorney Collection Practices,” had been harassing delinquent borrowers with debt collection notices bearing an illustration of Uncle Sam’s fist upending some hapless soul and “shaking him down” for loose change.

The harassment didn't end there.
Targeting Spanish-speaking debtors and lower-income consumers who’d fallen behind on loans to payday lending operations, “National Attorney” inundated debtors with phone calls, postal mailings, and text messages to their cellphones that: 

• falsely represented that its notices were coming from attorneys 
• "unlawfully … threatened legal action, arrest, imprisonment, or garnishment" if debtors didn’t pay up 
• and failed to include necessary “disclosures” advising debtors of their legal rights. 

In some cases, the FTC accused National Attorney of even sharing details about consumers’ debts with their friends, family, and co-workers, apparently in an attempt to pressure the consumers into paying. And to top it all off, the FTC says that National Attorney “refused to provide their business address or validation letters to consumers, thereby depriving consumers of the right to send cease-and-desist letters or to dispute alleged debts.”Summing up its charges, the FTC alleged that National Attorney “engaged in deceptive and unfair practices in almost every facet of their dealings with these consumers” — and fined the company $1 million.


Know Your Rights
Of course, the FTC can’t step in to stop every debt collector from breaking the law — at least not in real time.So what can you do to protect your rights, and prevent companies like National Attorney Collection Practices from taking advantage of you when the FTC’s not looking? Well, the first step is knowing what your rights are.Online consumer complaint service Scambook.com cites at least four main rights you have to protect yourself:

• Keep work and home separate: National Attorneys crossed a big red line when it tried to collect debts from consumers at their place of work. Tell debt collectors not to contact you at work — ever. 
• Let’s keep this between you and me: Even legitimate attempts to collect a debt are matters to be discussed between the lender and the debtor. If you find out that a debt collection agency has contacted your friends or family — or anyone else — about your debt, tell them to stop and then file a complaint. 
• You catch more flies, and fewer FTC lawsuits, with honey:What constitutes “harassment” is often going to be in the eye of the beholder, but Scambook says that once communication from a debt collector has risen to the level of harassment, it’s no longer kosher. Tell them to knock it off. 
• Support your local post office: Technology is a marvelous invention. But even so, debt collectors have no right to harass consumers over the phone and by text, by day and by night. If you are the subject of such harassment, tell them you want all future communication to be conducted by mail. This is a request they must honor. 

Also keep on the lookout for other instances where debt collectors are playing fast and loose with the rules. To name just a few violations, the FTC called out National Attorney for:

• Failing to disclose in the very first text message that the company was a debt collector trying to collect a debt. 
• Failing to provide details on the supposed debt the company was attempting to collect, and failing to inform the consumer of his or her right to dispute the debt’s validity. 
• Including statements on the outside of the envelopes on postal mailings, noting that the contents relate to an attempt to collect a debt. Because these envelopes could be seen by anyone, that’s a violation of the rule against informing third parties about a consumer’s debt situation — and it’s a no-no. 

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

3 Helpful Tips On Debt Consolidation

If your debts have become uncontrollable and you are serious to get out of this financial instability, you must go for debt consolidation. With the help of debt consolidation all your multiple unmanageable debts will be consolidated into a single debt. After consolidating your debts, you also do not need to face the hassle of paying off your creditors separately. All your various creditors are paid off with a single monthly payment that you make to your consolidation company. Thus, there are various benefits of consolidating your debts. However, you must be aware that in order to have a successful debt consolidation, you need to know certain tactics. This article provides you with some tips on debt consolidation that may help you out.

Debt Consolidation Tips

Here are some tips on debt consolidation you need to know before you go for consolidating your debts with the help of a debt consolidation company.

• Reputable company - Before you choose a debt consolidation company, make sure to have a thorough research on the debt consolidation company that you want to go for. Research well online about the company and find out if it is a reputable one. All debt consolidation programs are not equal. Shop thoroughly and this in turn will help you get the best deal that suits your needs. Investigate not only whether they are offering you a low fees or not but also how long the company has been in the business, their experience and reputation.

• Non-profit companies - Non-profit organization may offer you much lower fees but you must keep in mind that non-profit doesn't mean that they are eager to help you out with your financial situation. Some also make fake claims to be a non-profit company in order to attract you. Thus, you need to be cautious about them.

• All debts do not need consolidation - All debts are not similar and may not even need consolidation. Thus, do not unnecessarily consolidate them. Analyze each debt separately. You must read the terms and conditions for each of your debt carefully. Estimate the APR and total cost of loan with help of an online loan amortization calculator. If you find out that your existing unsecured debt is cheaper than the consolidation loan that is being provided to you, it is better to avoid consolidating it.

Apart from these tips mentioned above, you must also figure out the total cost of your debt consolidation loan. Securing a low interest rate provides you with the main benefit of consolidating. Thus, make sure to utilize these tips on debt consolidation if you want to secure a successful consolidation.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Canadian House Hunters, Weigh Your Mortgage Options

Before we move into our new house this summer we have a really big decision to make. Do we go with a fixed or a variable rate? The answer to this question varies for everyone depending on their financial situation and tolerance for risk.

According to a popular study by Moshe Milevsky, choosing a variable rate has saved home owners money nearly 90 percent of the time. Sounds like an easy decision then, right? Not exactly.

This Time it’s Different
Interest rates are still at historic lows, with most experts predicting that rates will increase at least 1-2 percent over the next two years. Five-year fixed rates are currently under 4 percent, which is definitely an attractive rate to lock into and protect against the risk of future interest rate hikes.

But if the math favors choosing a variable rate mortgage over time, why are people so divided on this issue?

The vast majority of Canadians still choose the five-year fixed term. Proponents of fixed interest rates enjoy the peace of mind knowing that their payments won’t change and they also feel that we are in one of those rare situations where locking into a five-year term will save home owners money.

Since variable rates are always initially cheaper than five-year fixed mortgage rates, the decision ultimately comes down to saving money now vs. the potential of saving money in the future if interest rates go up.

What Options To Consider?
Let’s take a look at some real numbers to help make our decision. These are the current interest rate options for us, along with some pros and cons to consider:

Five-year variable interest rate = 2.20 percent (prime minus 0.80 percent) – As I mentioned, this is likely the smart choice since the variable rate has saved money nearly 90% of the time vs. a fixed rate. However, this time could very well be different, and if interest rates climb quickly back to historic levels this can become a losing proposition.
Five-year fixed interest rate = 3.89 percent – All things considered, a five-year fixed term under 4 percent is extremely low and would give us the peace of mind knowing that our payments wouldn’t increase even if interest rates soared. On the downside, by choosing this option we would be paying $260 more per month than if we went with the variable rate.
Three-year fixed interest rate = 3.54 percent – This option would give us the flexibility of not locking into a five-year term and also benefiting from a 0.35 percent discount over the five-year term. The monthly payments would still be $200 more than the payments on the variable rate.
1 year fixed interest rate = 2.64 percent – This option might be the best for us if we feel this is still a period of uncertainty. We would maintain our negotiating power after just one year and we also benefit from a 1.25 percent discount off the five-year fixed rate. But if interest rates were to rise quickly over the next 12 months we would still have to renew our mortgage at a higher rate when it came due.
As you can see, the five-year fixed rate has a built-in premium of 1.69 percent over the best variable interest rate. If the Bank of Canada decided to raise interest rates fairly quickly and aggressively over the next few years, the five-year fixed rate would likely be the better option.

Economic Factors at Work
The Bank of Canada meets eight times a year to make interest rate announcements and historically will move the rate by 25 or 50 basis points (0.25 or 0.50 percentage points) at a time. There is definitely the potential for interest rates to move between 2 – 3% in a single year.

The problem is, we are not very good at predicting where interest rates are headed. When it comes to monetary policy, there are a lot of moving parts to consider. It’s not as simple as just trying to contain inflation or trying to prevent a housing bubble.

Think of the soaring Canadian dollar. If interest rates were to rise sharply, the loonie would continue to climb vs. the American dollar, which puts increasing pressure on our manufacturing sector that relies heavily on exports.

Interest rates are indeed at historic lows but, with the outlook of the world economy still very uncertain, it is likely that the Bank of Canada will continue to move cautiously to avoid triggering another recession.

The Affordability Factor
Ultimately, whatever we decide to choose will carry some risk. Often the fixed vs. variable interest rate question is more about affordability than anything. Can your budget handle a 2 percent – 3 percent hike in interest rates? If not, then the fixed rate gives you that peace of mind to know that your payments won’t change for five years. If you can handle an increase in mortgage payments then you might find a great opportunity to save thousands of dollars in interest over the life of your mortgage by choosing the variable rate.

In our case, I think we are leaning toward the five-year variable rate, but with a twist. We will set our payments as if we were paying a 4.5 percent interest rate. This way we will be knocking years off of the overall amortization of our mortgage while saving thousands of dollars of interest. And we will still have the peace of mind knowing that we have built in a 2.3 percent cushion into our monthly payments in case interest rates rise.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

How Debt Consolidation Works

You see advertisements for it all the time — “Get debt-free and lower your monthly payments! Call now!” Debt consolidation ads are as ubiquitous as diet pill ads and sometimes just as outlandish.Despite the remarkable claims, debt consolidation isn’t magic and doesn’t really eliminate your debt (at least not immediately) because it involves getting new debt. That’s what debt consolidation is — taking out one new loan to pay off all your other loans. Still want to call now? Be warned: You may wind up in worse financial straits than you were before.

Dealing with student loans, car loans and mortgages, as well as any other debts is daunting. If you can pull all those expenses together under a lower interest rate, like many ads boast, you will end up making lower payments. In addition, the idea of lumping several payments into one might appeal to you. Indeed, with this process, you are far less likely to forget to pay a bill. It seems like a win-win situation.

But is it too good to be true? Yes and no. If you dive into a debt consolidation deal without reading the fine print, hidden fees can worsen your financial situation. You may even owe money for longer, and it might cost you more long term. However, when entered into cautiously, debt consolidation can help you get control of your finances.

It can be frustrating to wade through the decisions involved in debt consolidation. Several methods exist, including using a bank, a finance company or even credit card offers. Often, you can qualify for lower interest rates if you are willing to put up your home as collateral, but you risk losing your home if you cannot make payments.

In this article, you’ll find out about the different methods of debt consolidation, how to tell the bogus deals from the legitimate ones and how to combine those pesky student loans (or not). Read on to find out if you show some of the telltale signs of having too much debt.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Know What You Are Getting Into With This Info

People are looking to purchase real estate out there for many reasons. Whether you're attempting to find a home for your family or if you just want to make a profit by flipping a house, here are some great tips you can use for buying real estate. Focus on these tips, and learn about the market.

If you are purchasing a rental property with tenants, check their lease length and history. It is not unheard of for a person desperate to unload a property to find or hire short term renters to entice a buyer. Once the home is sold, you could be left scrambling to find new tenants.

To make money in real estate, location has always been the buzzword. But, you can make money now based on the replacement cost; many properties are selling for less the cost to build it new. You can buy property now by looking at the long term cost of carrying it.

If you're not finding an ideal home in your price range within desirable neighborhoods, considering fixer-uppers will open options for you. The neighborhood is such an important factor in being happy in your home, you may want to lower the standards of the house enough to make it affordable to stay in the better neighborhood. Fixing up a house is a great way to make it truly your home!

To get the best return on your real estate investment, always look at prospective properties through the eyes of the buyers you hope some day will purchase the home from you. A one-bedroom house is definitely cute and cozy, but you may find it difficult to sell later if located in a kid-friendly, suburban neighborhood that is filled with three-bedroom ranch homes.

To help you buy or sell real estate you have to find an agent that you are not personally involved with already. To hire a good friend or relative is setting up a potential disaster from the beginning. Not all agents work out with their client and there are ways to fire them. Imagine if it is your boss' wife or your aunt.

Learning some tips and tactics to use in the real estate market will ensure that you're always getting the best possible deal as a buyer. You never want to be left out in the cold on any deal. People are looking for ways to take advantage of you at every turn. Use the tips above and you'll do great.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

What To Do When You're Buying Real Estate

Buying real estate is a huge decision and most often, is one of the weightiest financial commitments you can make. In order to get the best deals out of the real estate market and purchase property that will satisfy you without regret, you should take steps to educate yourself on the real estate buying process. This article contains a few tips to help.

Be realistic in your decision to buy real estate. The cost associated with real estate ownership goes far beyond mortgage payments. You must factor in insurance, taxes and the maintenance of the home itself when you calculate the impact on your income. If you know what you can afford on a yearly basis, you can budget your money accordingly.

When you are a buyer for a new home and in a bidding war with other people that want the same home remember that you may not have the time to really look the house over and get a good inspection on it. You must be prepared that if you get the home some things might have been looked over such as repairs that need to be made.

Use caution when buying a home that is on the short sale market. There are so many parties that are involved in this type of transaction that makes it easy for something to go wrong before you gain the deed to the home. Be prepared to lose the home that you think you may be winning at auction.

Coordinate with the seller for a professional inspector to visit the home to really look things over thoroughly. Make plans to meet your inspector at the home so you can accompany him through the entire procedure. It will help you to understand the results that are in the report better.

Before you buy real estate, you should spend some time in the neighborhoods the at you are interested in. Locals there are usually going to tell you more about what really happens in the area than a real estate agent who is working on a commission that they only get if the deal closes.

A piece of property that you decide to buy is going to be with you for a long time. Obviously, you will want to find out all you can about a property before purchasing it. In the same way, you should do everything you can to educate yourself about the real estate buying experience beforehand.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Get Smart And Follow These Tips On Buying Real Estate

The way the real estate market works might seem more simple than it sounds. You find a house you like, you put in an offer, and you move in if accepted. Nevertheless, from finding financing to locating the right inspector, there's so much more that goes into it. Here are some of the things you may not have known about purchasing real estate.

In order to buy a new home wisely, you should carefully inspect the property you wish to purchase. If you notice any problems, make note of them and discuss them with the seller. The more things you can get them to fix prior to the sale, the better. This will add value to the home and save you from costly repairs down the road.

If you're thinking about relocating, you may want to consider looking online at the neighborhood of the house you're thinking of purchasing. You can find a lot of information, even for the smallest cities. General demographics about the neighborhood, such as income levels and age distribution, can give you a good idea of what to expect if you were to move there.

Home buyers always need to consider how many bathrooms they need. The ideal is to have a bathroom for each bedroom plus a half bathroom near the living room for the guests. When the possibilities don't support the ideal floor plan, try to buy a house with at least two and a half bathrooms: one for the master bedroom, one for the other bedrooms and the half for the guests.

Things like these always seem so obvious in hindsight, yet you would be shocked at just how many homeowners are neglecting to use tips like these when purchasing homes and other types of properties out there. Don't become one of the many real estate losers out there. Use the tips above to come out ahead on any deal.

Visit Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Village to consult a mortgage professional.

Learn The Best Move When Buying Real Estate

You've been looking all day for good tips on buying real estate but have found nothing of use so far. It can be frustrating with the amount of unverified information out there. Pay close attention to the tips provided in this article and you should find plenty of good information to help you on your way to being an expert on the subject.

Spend some time shopping for your home before you contact a realtor. If you have an idea of exactly what you are looking for and the correct price range, two to three times your yearly gross, it makes the job for your realtor much easier. Your realtor can then target specific homes that will make it on your short list.

When you have kids, or are planning to start a family in the future, make sure you buy a home that can accommodate everyone. Keep safety in mind, as well, particularly if a home has a swimming pool or stairs. A house in which children have been raised is probably a safe house.

Make sure that you get all of the closing documents ahead of time. Going into closing blind can lead to a very long meeting as well as oversights. Read the documents thoroughly ahead of time and ask any questions prior to closing. This will make for a much smoother transaction on the day you go in to sign.

If you have kids and are looking at buying a house, try to include your children during the search process. So much of their life will be changing with the move and by including them in the search you will make the transition a little bit easier. They will feel like they can have some sort of input in the change.

To save money on your real estate taxes, you should challenge the bill each time it comes out. Every taxing authority has a formal process to ask for them to reevaluate your property and many homeowners find that they are able to get the value down, simply by providing information about prices that other homes in the area have recently sold for.

Some buyers try to sell and buy properties at the same time, which can have a disastrous effect. Sell your old house before you buy the new one. Trying to coordinate the two sales is very hard, and if it is unsuccessful, you can be stuck with paying two mortgages at the same time

If you are shopping for real estate, don't give a low offer on a home you are very interested in buying. An extremely low offer will scare off the current owner and make it appear that you are not willing to negotiate. A more reasonable offer shows the owner that you are serious about buying it.

Searching for real estate can be overwhelming, luckily there are many sources available. Many real estate companies list available properties on their websites, which you can browse through at your leisure. If you are just curious and do not want to commit to a real estate agent, Craigslist and the local newspaper, are also great places to start.

In the beginning stages of home buying, you will want to get pre-qualified for a home mortgage loan. This is really a simple, but valuable process. To obtain this pre-approval, a mortgage lender will review your personal income, savings, and monthly out-of-pocket expenses. By reviewing these numbers, the lender can calculate how much you can finance and how much the monthly payments will be for the loan.

In conclusion, it can take a lot of time out of your day trying to find good information about buying real estate. This article has compiled some of the best information available. Follow what is mentioned carefully and you will be in great shape for whatever you were hoping to accomplish.