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The-Mortgage-Gal

RRSPs for a downpayment

You can use your RRSP for all or part of your down payment, but the rules have changed in recent years.

If you think you know them, double check here.

What is it?

In February 1992, the federal government introduced the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP), which allows RRSP plan holders who are also first-time home buyers to use up to $25,000 of their RRSP to apply to the purchase of their home.

The plan, extended twice, is in effect as of July 1997 until further notice.

Who is eligible?

Buyers who have not owned a property in the last five years.

How does it work?

Up to two partners in the home can combine their RRSPs for a total maximum of $50,000.

The only subsequent requirement is that they pay the withdrawals back into their plans (without further deductions) over a maximum of 15 years.

Failure to do so will result in 1/15th of the RRSP initially withdrawn having to be added back to taxable income in any year the minimum re-deposit is not made.

The Home Buyers’ Plan enables you to borrow money to top up your RRSP plan using accumulated RRSP eligibility limits.

If your tax assessment notice indicates you are eligible for $18,000 in contributions in the current year, and you already have $9,000 in a self-directed plan, you are allowed to borrow — subject to credit approval – the $16,000 to buy the RRSP required to bring you up to the $25,000 Home Buyers’ Plan limit.

Then, you can claim the eligible deduction against your current year’s income in order to get a large tax rebate. You can use the rebate to pay down the loan or apply it to the cost of buying the home. Here, of course, the amount of tax you’re paying each year is an important factor.

If the $16,000 deduction in this example results in a $5,000 tax rebate, it can be used as you see fit. If, on the other hand, two partners each earning $80,000 per year take their maximum RRSP of $25,000 each in the current year, they could net a total of $15,000 or more in a tax rebate.

You are then allowed to withdraw up to the $25,000 maximum from the RRSP 90 days after topping up or creating the plan, subject to the re-deposit requirements described above.

What else should you know?

If you’re planning to borrow the money for the maximum RRSP, you could end up disqualifying yourself for a mortgage because your monthly payments will be too high.

Your “total debt servicing ratio” – the proportion of your gross income required to service both the home related costs and other monthly obligations – may exceed the usually acceptable monthly maximum of 42 per cent.

Another $600 per month could well make the difference in whether or not you’ll qualify for a mortgage.

Call us today 250-862-1806 so that we can further explain this unique program to you.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

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About the Author

Tracy Head helps busy families get a head start on home ownership.

With today’s increasingly complicated mortgage rules, Tracy spends time getting to know her clients and helps them to better understand the mortgage process. She supports her clients before, during, and after their mortgage is in place.

Tracy works closely with her clients, offering advice and options. With access to more than 40 different lenders. She is able to assist with residential, commercial, and reverse mortgages in order to match the needs of her clients with the right mortgage package.

Tracy works hard to find the right fit for her clients and provide support for years down the road.

Call Tracy at 250-826-5857 or reach out by email [email protected]

Visit her website at www.headstartmortgages.com

Download her app: Headstart Mortgage Architects

 

 



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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