Alterna - Homebuying

Fixed

A fixed rate mortgage has an interest rate that remains the same over the term of the mortgage.

Benefits

Payments will not change
Easy to budget with set payments
Protects you against rising interest rates

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Variable

A variable rate mortgage has an interest rate that fluctuates with the Alterna Savings prime rate.

Benefits

The potential to pay off the mortgage faster if the prime rate falls
Historically, proven to be less expensive over time
Can be converted to a fixed rate mortgage at any time

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Flexi-Mortgage

Our Flexi-Mortgage allows you to split your mortgage into different terms and rates.

Benefits

Combine short- and long-term options that can be fixed or variable rates
Greater flexibility
Customize your own mortgage rate strategy

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Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between closed and open, fixed and variable mortgages?

Closed mortgages
A closed mortgage usually provides a lower interest rate than an open mortgage. However, it can’t be prepaid, renegotiated or refinanced without incurring a penalty.

Open mortgages
An open mortgage may carry a slightly higher interest rate than a closed mortgage, but it gives you the choice of paying your mortgage off whenever you like, without penalty.

Fixed rate mortgages
A fixed rate mortgage has a set interest rate for its entire term. This means you get the advantage of always knowing what your payments will be. We offer fixed rate mortgages with terms from 6 months to 10 years.

Variable rate mortgages
With a variable rate mortgage your interest rate fluctuates with Alterna's Prime rate, which can help you save if interest rates fall during your mortgage term. But if interest rates go up, so will the cost of borrowing. The good news is our variable rate closed mortgages can be converted to a fixed rate mortgage at any time.

How much can I afford to spend?

Your down payment

A conventional mortgage requires a down payment of at least 20% of the purchase price. If you make a down payment of less than 20%, you will need to get mortgage default insurance, through a provider such as the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) or Sagen^TM. In some cases, mortgage default insurance may be required even with a 20% down payment.

The premium charged for mortgage default insurance is based on the mortgage amount and the size of the down payment. For your convenience, it can be paid as part of your regular mortgage payments.

For more information, speak to one of our mortgage specialists.

Your monthly payments
As a general rule, you should plan to spend no more than about 32% of your gross annual income on housing. This means if your family’s gross annual income is $55,000, you should aim to pay no more than $17,600 a year or $1,467 a month for:

Mortgage payments
Property taxes
Utilities
Condominium fees

You should also try to ensure that your housing expenses plus other financial liabilities, such as payments on personal loans, credit cards, childcare expenses or support payments, add up to less than 40% of your gross annual income.

Visit our Mortgage Calculator for a further breakdown.

Pre-approval takes the guesswork out of house hunting
Before you start looking at homes, find out exactly how much you can borrow. Our knowledgeable mortgage professionals can help you to determine this amount based on your down payment and the monthly payments you can afford.

Once you have your mortgage pre-approval, you’ll be ready to house hunt with confidence knowing you can make an offer quickly if the perfect place comes along.

What government help is available for first-time homebuyers?

The federal Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) allows first-time home buyers to withdraw up to $35,000 from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to buy a qualifying residence. You then have up to 15 years to repay your RRSP in annual instalments. To qualify, neither you nor your spouse can have owned a home in the last five years.

It’s important to note that some RRSPs, such as locked-in or group RRSPs, do not allow you to withdraw funds. So, be sure to ask your RRSP issuer for information about the type of RRSP you have and whether withdrawals are allowed.

The federal First-Time Home Buyer Incentive also helps first-time home buyers reduce their monthly mortgage payment. The incentive provides up to 5% for the purchase of an existing home and up to 10% for a new build. To qualify, your household income must be less than $120,000 ($150,000 if you live in the Toronto, Vancouver or Victoria Census Metropolitan Areas) and neither you nor your spouse can have owned a house in the year of acquisition or in any of the four proceeding years. The amount of an insured mortgage and the CMHC incentive is capped at $480,000, meaning the maximum home price you could purchase with a 15% down payment is $565,000.

Homeowners do not have to pay interest on the incentive, but money must be paid back after 25 years or when the property is sold, whichever comes first. The government will share in the upside or downside of any change in property value.

Savings adds up over time.
The following is for illustrative purposes only and assumes a mortgage rate of 3.09%.

	Without CMHC	With CMHC
House Price	$500,000	$500,000
Down Payment	$50,000	$100,000
Cost of Mortgage Insurance	$13,950	$11,201
Size of Mortgage	$463,950	$411,251
Monthly Payment	$2,271	$1,965
Monthly Savings		$252
Annual Savings		$3,024
Savings over 25 years		$75,600

How do I choose the right mortgage?

You can choose from a number of mortgage options, including fixed or variable, open or closed, to meet your needs and lifestyle. Our homebuying specialists can assist you along the way.

This handy checklist will help you prepare for your first meeting with your Alterna mortgage representative, plus give you an idea of costs normally associated with home purchases.

Building your homebuying team

Once you are ready to look for a home, it's time to assemble a team of professionals who can support you. The mortgage professionals at Alterna can help you choose the right mortgage for your needs and provide you with a mortgage pre-approval—so you’ll know exactly how much you can afford to spend.

Other professionals who can help you in your homebuying journey:

Realtor: Although you can purchase a home without a realtor, it’s a good idea to enlist the services of an agent. By providing a realtor with a detailed description of your needs, they can offer you objective advice and help you find and compare a number of properties.
Home inspector: A clean bill of health from a qualified home inspector can help ensure you’re not buying a home with any hidden surprises. When hiring an inspector, it’s wise to ask for references.
Lawyer: A real estate lawyer can help protect your interests by preparing and reviewing documents related to your purchase agreement, mortgage documents, title documents and transfer documents.

Anticipating your closing costs

Know what to expect well in advance of the day of closing. You'll need to budget for:

CMHC or Sagen^TM insurance premiums: This will apply if you buy a home with less than a 20% down payment.
Land transfer taxes: The provincial government levies this one-time tax when you buy a home. The amount could come to about $20,000 on a $700,000 home (be sure to ask your lawyer for details on your particular situation). If you are a first-time homebuyer of a newly constructed home, you may be entitled to a rebate.
Legal fees: You are responsible for paying your lawyer's fees and disbursements. Services your lawyer may charge for include conducting a title search, drafting the title deed and preparing the mortgage.

Legal

*Subject to meeting Alterna Savings’ pre-approval criteria (i.e. satisfactory credit score, proof and validation of income, etc.), Alterna Savings guarantees your pre-approved fixed, or variable, interest rate for up to 120 days from the mortgage rate guarantee start date. If the mortgage is not funded within the 120-day period, the interest rate guarantee expires. Applicable to residential mortgages only and subject to Alterna Savings lending criteria for residential properties.

†Payment Protection Legal Disclaimer:
Creditor’s group insurance coverage is optional and is underwritten by Co-operators Life Insurance Company. Supporting services, such as enrollment intake, medical underwriting and claims administration are provided by the employees of CUMIS Services Incorporated. Coverage is governed by the terms and conditions of the creditor’s group insurance policy issued to the creditor and is subject to terms, conditions, exclusions and eligibility requirements. See the Product Guide and Certificate of Insurance for full coverage details.

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Your goals

What's the right mortgage for you?

Our current mortgage rates

Tools and Resources

Articles

How to choose the best mortgage option

What is a 'mortgage stress test'?

Your mortgage renewal checklist

Learn more about Alterna Savings mortgages & fees

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