Trust & Intergrity

Why would I use a private mortgage lender?

You would use a private mortgage under any of the following circumstances:

• You want to purchase an unconventional property that a prime lender or bank won’t finance.
• You need fast financing and don’t want to wait for a long approval process.
• Your bad credit history means you are being turned down by conventional lenders.
• You only need a short term loan.
• You have nonconfirmable income that is preventing you from obtaining a traditional mortgage.

Is your bank turning you down?

If you can’t qualify for a refinance or HELOC, you may want to consider a second mortgage.

find a broker

Calculating interest on a private mortgage

To look at a sample private mortgage loan, let’s assume a homeowner needed to borrow $400,000 at 8% interest on a 2 year term. We would then want to calculate the monthly payments and total interest over the term as follows:

Step 1 : Calculate monthly payment

8%annual interest rate÷12months in a year=

0.66%monthly interest rate

0.66%monthly interest rate$400,000mortgage amount=

$2,667monthly interest payment

Step 2 : Calculate interest over term

$2,667monthly interest payment12months in a year2years in term=

$64,000monthly interest rate

At the end of the 2 year term, the borrower would have made payments totaling $64,000 towards interest. At the end of the two years, the borrower would still owe the lender the full $400,000 principal back.

With a credit score under 600, it is likely that you will be turned down by a bad credit or prime lender and you may have to turn to a private lender. Private lenders provide an option to clients with bruised credit. Since it is a fast financing option with a higher risk to the lender, interest rates are almost always higher.

What mortgage rates and fees should I expect on a private loan?

Mortgage interest rates can range from 10-18% depending on the property, borrower and current economic conditions. Since they are almost always higher than rates offered by conventional mortgage lenders, you would only turn to a private lender when turned down by banks and bad credit lenders such as Home Trust.

Rates depend on the source of funding. If, for example, a private lender is funded by a MIC, then they will want to make a solid rate of return for their investors.

Fees associated with a private mortgage loan

With a prime or conventional lender, the broker is paid a commission directly from the lender. When using a private lender, you (the borrower) pay the broker’s fee directly. Private loans also incur set-up fees bringing total fees paid between 1-3% of the loan amount.

The good news is, these fees can be financed through the mortgage loan. Let’s say you need to borrow $100,000, and can therefore expect fees of $3,000 ($100,000 * 3%). In order to cover these fees, you would apply for a loan of $103,000 to cover the extra costs.

Private mortgage lenders specialize

Private lenders will often specialize become an expert in a certain lending category. Some examples include:

• Commercial vs. residential: Private lenders will generally specialize within a property type to focus investment.
• Re-finance for debt consolidation vs. renovation etc.: Lenders will sometimes specialize based on the reason for seeking a mortgage loan. Some lenders may only provide funds to those who are refinancing with the intention of purchasing another property.
• Prefer urban areas: Large urban centres are more appealing to private lenders as these areas carry more real estate value.
• Often prefer region they live in: Lenders are most comfortable investing in the area they live as they can personally evaluate the property. However, this is not always the case.

What time frame can I expect with a private loan?

Approval usually takes place within 1 week of application and can be as soon as a couple of days. The processing of the loan and the release of funding takes around 2-3 weeks.

Private mortgage lenders want their clients to be able to transfer on to a prime lender within a year to 18 months. They deal in fast financing and therefore need to be able to collect their return on investment within the specified time. Therefore, a private lender will try to help the client move on to a prime lender, which is also in the client’s best interest.

What criteria will they look at?

More so than prime or conventional lenders, private lenders have tighter guidelines on other factors to compensate for the added risk.

• Property type and value. This is arguably the most important factor in being approved by a private lender. The mortgaged property must be in good condition and will have to undergo a strict appraisal before you are approved. If you have a poor credit score, you are considered a riskier client and lenders need to ensure that their investment is secure, in case you default on your mortgage.
• Income. Your income can fall into one of two categories: confirmable and non-confirmable income. Confirmable income is preferred by lenders, and is proven through Notice of Assessments (NOAs).Non-confirmable income, common among self-employed or commission based employees, forces lenders to use an estimate of your income based on the average income typical of your employment.
• Down payment (if purchasing). With a private mortgage lender, the minimum loan-to-value ratio on the property is 85%. That is, you need to put in a down payment of at least 15% to be approved. If you can afford to put in a higher down payment, then it is advisable to do so. A larger down payment means you have more funds invested in the property and that you have more at stake. Lenders also take this as a sign that you can keep track of your personal finances.
• Equity (if refinancing). If you are refinancing, private lenders may allow you to go up to a maximum of 85% in loan-to-value. For example, if your property is value at $400K, you can refinance up to $340K. Many private lenders prefer a maximum LTV of 75%, especially in British Columbia. With respect to a minimum equity stake in your property, there is none.

What if I have a collateral – charged mortgage?

If you’ve signed up for a collateral mortgage with a bank, you’ve essentially pledged all your equity to that bank. Consequently, it makes it almost impossible for another lender, even a private lender, to refinance your property, provide a second mortgage or even for you to switch lenders at the time of your renewal.

A good mortgage broker can help connect you to the right private mortgage lender. With a private lender, the broker’s commission isn’t included in the loan amount, so your broker will charge you a small upfront fee. Despite the charge, it may be worth it to find a lender who can provide you with the lowest mortgage rate for your financial needs.

In summary, the principal difference between prime lenders and private mortgage lenders is that private lenders consider unique properties based on a borrower’s ability to pay back a loan, not just on credit history. Every client is evaluated on an individual basis taking into account the points mentioned above.

• Buying
• Renewing
• Refinancing
• Special Mortgages

• Condos
• More Topics

• Bad Credit
• New to Canada
• Investment Properties
• Second Mortgages
• Private Mortgages
• Self-Employed Mortgages
• Bridge Financing
• Construction Mortgages
• Reverse Mortgages

• Glossary

1,200,000
Canadians a month

save money and make better financial decisions using Ratehub.ca

Join our weekly newsletter for tips, news and deals!

Top of Form

submit

Bottom of Form

By submitting your email address, you acknowledge and agree to teamcheema.ca Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Contact us for more information. You can unsubscribe at any time.