The federal government introduced the mortgage stress to make it harder to qualify for mortgage financing and ultimately reduce maximum mortgage limit by approximately 30 percent. The stress test also protects federally regulated financial institutions from "payment shock," a situation wherein borrowers are at an increased risk of default due to rising interest rates.
Besides making it harder to qualify, the stress test also gives investors or those with a larger downpayment an unfair advantage in the market. For example, a borrower with a down payment of 20 percent or more will find it easier to qualify for mortgage financing than someone with a smaller down payment since they can extend their amortization period to 30 years and lower their monthly payment. Furthermore, they can also qualify with credit unions that use the "contract rate" or apply with alternative lenders, also called "B" lenders. Thus, conventional borrowers have more financing options and, as a result, they continue to dominate the market, as is evidenced by the fact that purchases made by first-time buyers are decreasing while those made by investors (those who already own their principal residence) are exploding year after year. Regrettably, government policies meant to help the overall market by "cooling" it are driving more inflation and pushing a smaller segment of buyers out of the market altogether. Add to this: because having a smaller down payment makes mortgage lending riskier for banks, rules like the "stress test" will remain in place for the foreseeable future, likely continuing a cycle of unfairness between investors who get to own more property and first-time home buyers, who find it challenging or impossible. If you're a first-time homebuyer with a down payment that is less than 20 percent of the purchase price, you may wonder what you can do to "get in" to the market. Here are two suggestions:
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By: Sarah ColucciSenior Mortgage Agent, Lic. M14000929 Archives
January 2023
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