Should You Borrow For Your Down Payment?

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Saving for a down payment feels like it can take a lifetime. If you're looking at spending $450,000 on your first home, making a standard 20 per cent down payment means you will need to save $90,000 to enter the market. Even the minimum down payment of 5 per cent works out to a daunting $22,500, not including mortgage default insurance – a cost of over $15,000 for a $450,000 home. Once you factor in closing costs, like land transfer taxes, it’s no wonder half of 18- to 34-year-olds who don’t own a home say it’s because they need more time to save.

The rules about where your down payment can come from are fairly straightforward. As a minimum, lenders require you pay 5 per cent of the purchase price from your own resources. Borrowing from sources like a secured line of credit (such as a home equity line of credit, or HELOC) or RRSP also satisfies this requirement.

Using other resources, like an unsecured line of credit, is only permitted by some lenders after the 5 per cent minimum has been met (i.e. once you’ve sourced 5 per cent of the purchase price from savings, you may be allowed to borrow from other sources to increase your down payment). That said, carrying debt won’t necessarily keep you from being approved for a mortgage. And the source of your savings won’t be considered as long as you can show that saved money has been in your account for three months when you submit your mortgage application.

The good news is most Canadians use their personal savings (including money saved in RRSPs and TFSAs) as their primary source of down payment funds. But with mortgage rates at record-lows, it’s difficult to grow savings without taking on risk. So is it a good idea to borrow for your down payment? Let’s look at the pros and cons.

Pros

1. Get into the Market Quicker

This is the most tempting reason to borrow for your down payment. With house prices increasing all the time, borrowing can help get you into a desirable neighbourhood before prices climb above what you can afford.

2. Stop Wasting Money on Rent

While it’s not necessarily a bad financial decision to rent your home, your monthly rent cheque is guaranteed to be gone forever. By owning your own home, every dollar you pay in principal is a dollar you get to keep in the form of equity – assuming the value of your house doesn’t fall.

3. Grow Your Net Worth

If the Canadian real estate market continues the way it’s going (and there’s no guarantee it will), the value of a home can grow much faster than money in a savings account. In Vancouver, where prices are up 9.4 per cent since this time last year, that could mean a significant return on your investment.

4. Save on Mortgage Default Insurance

When you purchase a house with less than 20 per cent down, you’re required to pay mortgage default insurance (CMHC insurance). The premium you pay depends on the size of your down payment – rates drop as you pass the 10 per cent, 15 per cent and 20 per cent marks. Bryan Freeman, Vice President of CanWise Financial, a brokerage owned by RateHub.ca, suggests in some situations borrowing from a secured source like a HELOC to increase your down payment could save you thousands on CMHC insurance, and lower your monthly payments.

In this scenario, by borrowing $5,000 to bring the down payment up to a full 20 per cent, you’ll not only save $7,290 on CMHC insurance, you’ll also save $55 on your monthly mortgage payment and $1,400 in interest over a five-year fixed term at 2.49 per cent.

Cons

1. Repayments Can Be Costly

If you’re borrowing from a financial institution, your down payment loan will likely be subject to a much higher interest rate than your mortgage. If you decide on a cash back mortgage to cover your down payment, your mortgage rate could be significantly higher than a conventional five-year fixed mortgage – and you’ll end up paying the higher rate on the entire balance of your mortgage.

2. Lower Equity Adds Risk

Additional monthly debt repayments lower your cushion against surprises like unexpected repairs or a sudden job loss. Since you typically need at least 20 per cent equity in your home to be approved for a home equity line of credit, you may find yourself out of options if you can’t cover your costs with savings.

3. More Debt Decreases Affordability

When you apply for a mortgage, lenders consider (among other factors) your debt service ratio. Taking a loan to cover your down payment will impact your debt service ratio, meaning the cost of monthly payments could impact how much you can borrow for your mortgage.

4. Borrowing From Family Can Cause Other Problems

While research shows many first-time buyers use gifts or loans from family as a source of down payment, taking money from family can lead to other problems. Contention over expenses like furniture or decorations can strain relationships and reduce your ability to enjoy your new home.

Conclusion

While there are advantages and disadvantages to borrowing for a down payment, the answer comes down to your budget and comfort level. If you’re confident you can afford additional monthly payments while staying prepared for unexpected expenses, then borrowing money for a down payment may be a suitable option for you. If you’re not comfortable making extra payments to the bank (or the bank of Mom and Dad), then maybe saving up the old-fashioned way is a better option.