How YOU can become a first-time homebuyer

By Alyssa Furtado
August 28, 2015

Looking to become a first-time homebuyer? No generation has had a tougher time getting into the housing market than Generation Y. Indeed, the deck is also stacked against millennials, who are burdened with heavy student debt, challenging job prospects and limited wage growth in a stagnant economy.

Housing prices, meanwhile, have continued to surge over the last decade, particularly in Vancouver and Toronto, fuelled by record-low interest rates and booming condo sales.

But first-time homebuyers still represent a large portion of the housing activity in Canada. According to the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP), an estimated 210,000 of the 425,000 homes purchased in 2014 were from first-time buyers.

And these property virgins aren’t just putting down the bare minimum to get into the market. CAAMP estimates that, on average, first-time buyers make down payments equal to 21 per cent of the price of their homes. That’s no small chunk of change. With average home prices across Canada surpassing $450,000, 21 per cent represents nearly $95,000.

So where does the money come from? Here’s what the CAAMP survey found.

Personal savings (40 per cent): First-time buyers are using their own savings to get into the housing market, with a reported 40 per cent of total down payments coming from the personal savings of applicants and their co-applicants.

Tax-free savings accounts represent a flexible way for first-time buyers to save up for a down payment. With annual contribution limits rising to $10,000 this year, couples have the potential to save up to $20,000 per year inside their TFSAs and invest the funds in a variety of ways – from high interest savings accounts and GICs, to stocks, mutual funds and ETFs.

Gifts and loans from family (17 per cent): Funds procured from the bank of mom and dad are on the rise. Gifts and loans from family represent 17 per cent of down payment funding for first-time buyers, up from 13 per cent five years ago.

RRSPs and Home Buyers’ Plan (12 per cent): Withdrawals from RRSPs using the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) have declined in recent years, down from 16 per cent between 1995 and 2004.

The HBP allows first-time buyers to withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSP to put toward a down payment on a home. But with declining savings rates, a relatively low maximum withdrawal amount (when compared to the amount needed to qualify for a home today) and the introduction of the TFSA, the HBP has become somewhat redundant in today’s market.

(Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently tabled a proposal to raise the withdrawal limit to $35,000, should he be re-elected.)

You have up to 15 years to repay your HBP loan, starting in the second year after the year in which you withdrew the funds. But research from the Canada Revenue Agency suggests that 35 per cent of HBP withdrawals are not repaid each year.

First-time power: Although it’s become increasingly more difficult to buy a home today, it’s clear that first-time homebuyers are the engine that fuels the housing market, representing nearly half of all home buying activity in Canada.

The challenge comes when first-time buyers can’t save fast enough to keep up with a hot real estate market. That type of pressure can lead to emotional decisions, such as buying before you’re financially ready or borrowing the funds through alternative lending or cash back mortgage incentives, all in order to avoid getting priced out of the market forever. Be sure to take your time, shop around for the best mortgage rates, and make informed decisions, instead of jumping in too fast.

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About Alyssa Furtado

Alyssa Richard is Founder and CEO of RateHub.ca – a website that compares mortgage rates, credit cards, high-interest savings accounts, chequing accounts and insurance with the goal to empower Canadians to search smarter and save money.

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