Pay your mortgage and save too...
Pay your mortgage and save too? Here's a
formula to build your wealth
Rob Carrick The Globe and Mail Jan. 31 2013
As false assurances go, there’s nothing like your bank telling you the house you’ve got
your eye on is affordable.
Maybe the mortgage you need will truly fit your budget. But you won’t know for sure
until you try my new measure of how balanced you are in terms of what you’re saving
and borrowing.
It’s called the Total Debt Service + Savings Ratio and it was introduced in
a column last
month
on how smart management of big costs such as home buying is a better way to
find money for saving than obsessing over little things like lattes.
The TDSS ratio is a guide to balancing debts, saving for things like retirement and
spending on essentials and luxuries. If you can keep your TDSS in the right zone, you can
do it all.
Think of the TDSS as a riff on the Total Debt Service Ratio, which all lenders use to
qualify mortgage customers.
The Total Debt Service Ratio is a comparison of your monthly mortgage, property tax
and heating costs plus other debt payments against your monthly gross household
income.
There is but one purpose to this ratio: Determining whether you will be able to repay
what you borrow.
In no way does it indicate whether you’ll be able to balance debt repayment, saving
through registered retirement savings plans or tax-free savings accounts, and spending on
non-essentials.
The TDSS does exactly that by adding the cost of saving to the analysis of what’s
affordable. Now, you’re measuring all your housing and debt costs plus a monthly
savings commitment of 10 per cent of your paycheque. If you can keep your TDSS in
line, you’re good to spend what’s left.
Here’s why lenders don’t automatically do this kind of number crunching: Mortgage
lending is an important generator of revenues and they won’t do anything to prejudice a
deal.
Tell a young couple they can’t afford a home and still manage a 10-per-cent savings
plan? Won’t happen.
Banks could actually benefit by using the TDSS to sell their investing products, however.
The conversation might go something along the lines of, “Here’s how much of a
mortgage you can afford and still contribute 10 per cent of your pay to an RRSP or
TFSA. And, by the way, here are the investment options we offer.”
But banks evolve the way the Toronto Maple Leafs improve – so slowly that you doubt
it’s even happening.
It’s up to you, then, to see whether you’ll be able to save and carry a mortgage.
To get you started, we’ve created an online TDSS
spreadsheet. Just plug in your numbers
and let the spreadsheet calculate your TDSS. (Click
here to download it.)
What you need to get started:
•
Gross monthly household income: Simply divide the combined annual pre-tax
salaries for you and your partner, if applicable, by 12.
•
Your projected monthly mortgage payment: If you plan to pay biweekly,
multiply your estimated payments by 26 and divide by 12 to get a monthly
amount.
•
Monthly property tax cost: Get the most recent annual property tax bill for the
home you’re considering, increase it by the inflation rate and then divide by 12.
•
Heating: Find out what the monthly heating bill is for the home you’re looking
at, or ask your real estate agent what a typical cost is.
•
Other monthly debt payments: Add your car loan or lease payment and
whatever else is applicable.
•
Savings: Block out an amount equal to 10 per cent of your monthly take-home
pay for contributions to RRSPs, TFSAs or emergency fund savings accounts.
Some background for interpreting your numbers: Lenders may let a client’s Total Debt
Service Ratio go as high as 44 per cent, but 40 per cent is a common ceiling.
If you can keep your TDSS ratio in that same zone or lower, you’re doing well. Because
you’ve left room for savings as well as repayment of your mortgage and other debts,
there’s room in your finances for extras like lattes, and also for extra savings.
If your TDSS is in the 40- to 50-per-cent range, affording the home you’re looking at will
be tougher.
You can do it, but your ability to spend on luxuries without incurring more debt will be at
least somewhat compromised.
TDSS scores that are even higher suggest you need to keep building your down payment
before buying a house.
One last thing: It’s a good idea to lock in your 10-per-cent savings commitment by
arranging automatic electronic transfers to a savings or investment account every time
you get paid.
Lenders ensure they get paid by deducting money directly from your account. Give your
savings the same courtesy.
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/mortgages/pay-yourmortgage-
and-save-too-heres-a-formula-to-build-yourwealth/
article8018965/?service=mobile
Kevin
& Faye Kitzman
Sales
Representatives
Remax
Real Estate Centre
Direct :
519-577-0603
Faye
Kitzman
Mortgage
Agent
Mortgage
Intelligence
519-588-0141
M08003930
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