To no one’s surprise The Bank of Canada has left its key interest rate unchanged at 0.5%. After reading the latest Monetary Report, it doesn’t sound like it will raise its policy rate any time soon. Inflation is flat, as is wage and export growth, and there is still uncertainty in the US and globally.
Despite record low interest rates, some new home buyers are finding it challenging to qualify for a mortgage due to a new round of rule changes announced late last year. These changes have also affected existing mortgage holders who may want to refinance to get a lower rate.
While low interest rates and robust regional housing, markets continue to be the norm, Canadians are still burdened with record-high debt loads. The ratio of debt to disposable income rose to 167.3% by the end of 2016. That means Canadians owe $1.67 for every dollar of disposable income, up from $1.66 the year prior.
If you’re sitting with equity in your home yet can’t seem to manage your debt payments, refinancing could still be an option. With credit card interest rates often pushing the 20% range and unsecured lines of credit in the 7% and higher range paying off high-interest debts can make sense.
Let’s review a refinance. Specifically, you are increasing the amount of your mortgage to pay off debt. Your actual mortgage payment may or may not increase, depending on a number of factors, and you may incur a penalty to break your existing mortgage if you are refinancing midterm, but your overall monthly payments should decrease. You could be paying off the refinanced debt at a much lower interest rate, which could save you thousands of dollars in interest in the long run.
Here are some reasons to consider a refinance:
- Decrease your overall monthly debt payments by using your equity to pay off those high-interest credit cards or unsecured loans, which can help you better manage your budget.
- You can refinance to purchase another property. Using the existing equity in your home can be a great way to buy a rental property which, if done right, can also make the interest you pay tax deductible.
- You could also take out some of the equity for investment purposes.
- Or you may want to refinance to renovate.