More Canadians purchasing second homes

Second Home Program | CMHC Borrow up to 95%

More Canadians than ever are purchasing second homes. No longer the purview of the wealthy, second home ownership has gone mainstream. For many Canadians, it’s the dream of a summer cottage, golf retreat or a winter chalet. For others, career or family demands fuel the desire for a second home: for business stays, or to shelter the university student studying in a distant community.

Now that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has introduced a Second Home program – helping Canadians borrow up to 95% of the home’s value – the purchase of a second home is easier than ever. And the attraction of the real estate investment is just as compelling with your second home as it is with your first. Not only can it be a good financial investment, but it’s an important emotional investment too. Here are some things to keep in mind when you finance a second home:

Can you afford it? This is the most important question you have to ask yourself. If you are planning to purchase a second home, you’ll want the best possible financing for your new real estate  investment. There’s no question that financing is easier than ever. But a mortgage broker can help you figure out exactly how much second home you can comfortably afford. It’s a great time to begin that conversation; market conditions are in your favour, and mortgage interest rates are still at a near all time historical low.

What are your financing options? The CMHC Second Home program has been the big breakthrough for Canadian secondhome buyers CMHC will insure a property purchased for a family member attending college or university away from home. And the program is very popular as a means of purchasing a vacation property. There are a few provisos here: either the borrower must occupy the property for at least some part of the year, or a family member must occupy the property on a rentfree basis. The property must be winterized, and be accessible for yearround occupancy.

And it must be located in Canada. Be careful with island properties; they should have yearround bridge or ferry access. Note, too, that program can’t be used to purchase timeshares or similar rental pools.

What do the mortgages look like? By far your best bet here is to talk to an independent mortgage broker with access to a wide range of lenders. The mortgages for second homes can vary widely in the rates and requirements. The i Second^TM mortgage available through Mortgage Intelligence is one of the most attractive and flexible mortgages for this purpose.