Self Employed Mortgages
Our guide to home ownership when being self employed
Own a business in B.C.?
Own a business in B.C.?
At Silverman Mortgage Group, we help contractors, gig workers and entrepreneurs secure self-employed mortgages.
Being your own boss is hard work — securing a self-employed mortgage shouldn't be.
Whether you're a full or part-time entrepreneur, contractor or gig economy worker, investing in a home can be a great way to secure your financial future.
Unfortunately, scoring a great rate on a self-employed mortgage can be an uphill battle. Big banks have always given preferential treatment to borrowers who are employed in a 'regular' job, but the reality is there's more entrepreneurs than ever before, and many are exceptionally successful.
We get that.
At the Silverman Mortgage Group, we're up-to-date on the latest rules and requirements for B.C. home buyers who are self-employed. We work hard to help business owners and freelancers become homeowners with customized financing options.
Multiple jobs? Have hourly and self-employment income? No problem.
Multiple jobs? Have hourly and self-employment income? No problem.
If you're like a lot of folks, you earn income from more than one source. Maybe you work 30 hours a week at a desk job, and moonlight as a server. Or you're running a successful business, but you also pick up a few shifts to help out your old boss.
No matter how you earn your money, our mortgage planners are here to make financing your home purchase simple and stress-free.
While the big banks haven't quite embraced self-employed borrowers, at the Silverman Mortgage Group, we do. We'll work with you to remove traditional barriers to buying a home, including the narrow lending criteria used by many financial institutions.
Click here, when you're ready to get started on your self-employed mortgage application. Or take a look at our guide below for more information.
Overcoming the challenges of being self-employed.
Jordan de Brouwer
"I had a great experience with them. I was a first time home buyer and didn't know much about the mortgage application experience. They made the whole process very easy and stress free and explained each step in detail. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a mortgage, especially first time home buyers."
Leah Allen
"We purchased a second property and Silverman Mortgage Group made the process so easy and quick. I especially liked the personalized video presentation which made it possible for us to clearly understand the process. At a very busy time in our lives almost everything was completed in the comfort of our home."
Reid Arkinstall
"My wife and I had a great experience working with the Silverman Mortgage Group. It took us a while to find the right home but Zach and his team worked with us throughout the entire process, ensuring we always had the most up-to-date mortgage information. We look forward to working with SMG in the future."
Ready to Get Started?
Our team of all licensed experts is available to help you move forward.
Resources to help business owners with mortgage financing
Alternative Lending Provides You With Options
If you’re a business owner, you most likely have write-offs that make sense for tax planning reasons but don’t do much for your verifiable income. Learn more about how alternative lenders can offer competitive mortgage products for you.
An Overview of the Home Buying Process
If you’re planning to buy either your first home or your next home, let’s assess your creditworthiness, take a look at your income, plan for a down payment, and nail down exactly how much you can afford to borrow.
GDS/TDS Ratios Explained
One of the major qualifiers lenders look at when considering your application for mortgage financing is your debt service ratios. Learn more about how your gross debt service ratios (GDS) and total debt service ratios (TDS) impact your mortgage qualification.
Fixed-Rate or Variable-Rate Mortgage
If you’re weighing the options between a fixed and variable rate mortgage, consider the penalty incurred should you need to break the mortgage. Learn more here.
Learn more about how credit impacts a home purchase
Credit and Mortgage Financing
Credit is the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that you will make payments in the future. When you borrow money to buy a property, you’ll be required to prove that you have a good history of managing your credit.
How to Handle Missed Payments
If you’ve missed a payment on your credit card or line of credit and you’re wondering how to handle things and if this will impact your creditworthiness down the road, here’s the plan for you to follow.
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If you have a variable rate mortgage and recent economic news has you thinking about locking into a fixed rate, here’s what you can expect will happen. You can expect to pay a higher interest rate over the remainder of your term, while you could end up paying a significantly higher mortgage penalty should you need to break your mortgage before the end of your term. Now, each lender has a slightly different way that they handle the process of switching from a variable rate to a fixed rate. Still, it’s safe to say that regardless of which lender you’re with, you’ll end up paying more money in interest and potentially way more money down the line in mortgage penalties should you have to break your mortgage. Interest rates on fixed rate mortgages Fixed rate mortgages come with a higher interest rate than variable rate mortgages. If you’re a variable rate mortgage holder, this is one of the reasons you went variable in the first place; to secure the lower rate. The perception is that fixed rates are somewhat “safe” while variable rates are “uncertain.” And while it’s true that because the variable rate is tied to prime, it can increase (or decrease) within your term, there are controls in place to ensure that rates don’t take a roller coaster ride. The Bank of Canada has eight prescheduled rate announcements per year, where they rarely move more than 0.25% per announcement, making it impossible for your variable rate to double overnight. Penalties on fixed rate mortgages Each lender has a different way of calculating the cost to break a mortgage. However, generally speaking, breaking a variable rate mortgage will cost roughly three months of interest or approximately 0.5% of the total mortgage balance. While breaking a fixed rate mortgage could cost upwards of 4% of the total mortgage balance should you need to break it early and you’re required to pay an interest rate differential penalty. For example, on a $500k mortgage balance, the cost to break your variable rate would be roughly $2500, while the cost to break your fixed rate mortgage could be as high as $20,000, eight times more depending on the lender and how they calculate their interest rate differential penalty. The flexibility of a variable rate mortgage vs the cost of breaking a fixed rate mortgage is likely another reason you went with a variable rate in the first place. Breaking your mortgage contract Did you know that almost 60% of Canadians will break their current mortgage at an average of 38 months? And while you might have the best intention of staying with your existing mortgage for the remainder of your term, sometimes life happens, you need to make a change. Here’s is a list of potential reasons you might need to break your mortgage before the end of the term. Certainly worth reviewing before committing to a fixed rate mortgage. Sale of your property because of a job relocation. Purchase of a new home. Access equity from your home. Refinance your home to pay off consumer debt. Refinance your home to fund a new business. Because you got married, you combine assets and want to live together in a new property. Because you got divorced, you need to split up your assets and access the equity in your property Because you or someone close to you got sick Because you lost your job or because you got a new one You want to remove someone from the title. You want to pay off your mortgage before the maturity date. Essentially, locking your variable rate mortgage into a fixed rate is choosing to voluntarily pay more interest to the lender while giving up some of the flexibility should you need to break your mortgage. If you’d like to discuss this in greater detail, please connect anytime. It would be a pleasure to walk you through all your mortgage options and provide you with professional mortgage advice.
In recent years, housing affordability has become a significant concern for many Canadians, particularly for first-time homebuyers facing soaring prices and strict mortgage qualification criteria. To address these challenges, the Canadian government has introduced several housing affordability measures. In this blog post, we'll examine these measures and their potential implications for homebuyers. Increased Home Buyer's Plan (HBP) Withdrawal Limit Effective April 16, the Home Buyer's Plan (HBP) withdrawal limit will be raised from $35,000 to $60,000. The HBP allows first-time homebuyers to withdraw funds from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to use towards a down payment on a home. By increasing the withdrawal limit, the government aims to provide young Canadians with more flexibility in saving for their down payments, recognizing the growing challenges of entering the housing market. Extended Repayment Period for HBP Withdrawals In addition to increasing the withdrawal limit, the government has extended the repayment period for HBP withdrawals. Individuals who made withdrawals between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2025, will now have five years instead of two to begin repayment. This extension provides borrowers with more time to manage their finances and repay the withdrawn amounts, alleviating some of the immediate financial pressures associated with using RRSP funds for a down payment. 30-Year Mortgage Amortizations for Newly Built Homes Starting August 1, 2024, first-time homebuyers purchasing newly built homes will be eligible for 30-year mortgage amortizations. This change extends the maximum mortgage repayment period from 25 years to 30 years, resulting in lower monthly mortgage payments. By offering longer amortization periods, the government aims to increase affordability and assist homebuyers in managing their housing expenses more effectively. Changes to the Canadian Mortgage Charter The government has also introduced changes to the Canadian Mortgage Charter to provide relief to homeowners facing financial challenges. These changes include early mortgage renewal notifications and permanent amortization relief for eligible homeowners. By implementing these measures, the government seeks to support homeowners in maintaining affordable mortgage payments and mitigating the risk of default during times of financial hardship. The recent housing affordability measures announced by the Canadian government are aimed at addressing the challenges faced by homebuyers in today's market. These measures include increasing withdrawal limits, extending repayment periods, and offering longer mortgage amortizations. The goal is to make homeownership more accessible and affordable for Canadians across the country. As these measures come into effect, it's crucial for homebuyers to stay informed about the changes and their implications. Consulting with a mortgage professional can help individuals explore their options and make informed decisions about their housing finances. If you're interested in learning more about these changes and how they may affect you, please don't hesitate to connect with us. We're here to walk you through the process and help you consider all your options and find the one that makes the most sense for you.