Condo living has become a very popular option over the last decades. The relatively carefree lifestyle appeals to many North Americans. Condos offer buyers more accessible housing with minimal maintenance required. Social, entertainment and recreational activities are also available in many condo complexes, particularly with condos for sale in Toronto. However, before you buy a condominium, you should make sure that this is the appropriate choice for you.
A condo is not so much a style of construction but more of a type of ownership. This type of ownership can pertain to houses, low-rise residential complexes and townhouses although it is usually affiliated with high rise constructions. Condominiums are composed of two elements, the unit and the common areas. The units are recorded in the owner’s name and are individually owned . The unit proprietors own in common the common areas such as recreational facilities, hallways, elevators, gardens, etc.
Buying a condominium means that you hold your specific unit but also that you become part proprietor of the common property elements of your complex. Some of these common property elements may be for the restricted use of certain unit proprietors. For example, parking spaces, lockers, balconies are unshared use of common property elements. Be sure to enquire about these before you buy as they may still carry restrictions even though they are restricted use common elements.
There are specific rules, bylaws and regulations affiliated with each condo complex. Based on the condo corporation, these can either be relaxed or very strict. Toronto condos often have rules that impose restrictions on pets, noise, parking, alterations to the unit space or appearance, etc.
Condos vary from conversions, resale and new constructions and are available in all shapes and sizes. New constructions will attract some buyers as they will offer greater choices in terms of unit location, finishing options, new home warranty protection and sometimes a lower purchase price. Beware though that there may be modifications to the unit in the construction period and that the unit you bought in pre-construction may not be the exact same one you get.
Conversion condos are very similar to new condominiums in the early stages. The exterior of the building being already in place is the main distinction between the two. Conversions and new condos share many of the same advantages. Unique constructions such as lofts may be available in some projects. Home warranty programs may not pertain to conversion condos so it is important to check this with your provincial program. Major repairs may be needed sooner rather than later as some of the internal components will already by old despite the new units.
Buying a resale condo can be advantageous for those who prefer to see the units and the grounds before they make a final decision. You can talk with the existing owners, ask questions to the property manager and board of directors. This can provide you with beneficial information. The lack of unit options and the possible need to upgrade or renovate them can be a disadvantage of resale units.
Be sure to speak to professionals who specialize in condominiums before you complete your decision. An experienced real estate professional can help you save time and energy. A real estate lawyer with understanding of condominiums will help protect your legal interests. Hire a home inspector to find out about potential defects or repairs needed to the unit and the building. To ensure that you can afford the monthly payments including mortgage, condo fees and property taxes, be sure to talk to a financial advisor. Visit as many condominiums as possible and take your time. The right condo is out there, as unique as you are.
A guide to commercial mortgages
What is a commercial mortgage?
A commercial mortgage is similar in principle to a residential mortgage except it is used to purchase a property or to raise capital for commercial purposes rather than domestic purposes. As with residential mortgages, the lender retains rights to the property until the loan is repaid in full.
What would you use a commercial mortgage for?
The types of property that people might purchase using a commercial mortgage could be anything from hotels, restaurants, shops and takeaways to office buildings, factories, warehouses and farms. Sometimes people might buy the business and property at the same time if the two are intrinsically linked, such as a hotel or restaurant. When properties are purchased to be used as business premises, the mortgage is known as a commercial owner-occupier mortgage.
Alternatively, a commercial mortgage could be used for refinancing. People might want to unlock capital from their existing business property to expand or improve their premises or facilities, or to raise cash for any other business purpose.
There are many other uses for a commercial mortgage, such as buy-to-let mortgages, where people purchase a property (perhaps residential) as an investment and let it out, or commercial development mortgages, where people purchase a property to develop it and sell it on for a profit.
Why purchase premises rather than rent?
Taking on a commercial mortgage is a major leap for your business and must be carefully considered before entering into the commitment. However, it can be an excellent investment and owning the business premises that you occupy can bring many advantages to your business:
In most circumstances the proceeds of the loan are not considered to be taxable income and the interest payments are tax deductible.
You’ll have a clear repayment plan, with terms and rates tailored to suit your needs. (See below for more details on this.) This means that you can manage your cash flow more easily.
Mortgage repayments can be cheaper than rent.
Any property purchase is an investment. Your asset could appreciate a great deal in value, thereby increasing your capital.
You have the potential to make money by subletting. For example, you might have space in your property that you don’t currently need, and could make money on it by letting it out to another business until you need it to expand your own business.
Why use a commercial mortgage to raise capital?
If you already own business property and need cash for your business for any reason, unlocking the capital in your property by refinancing or remortgaging is an effective solution. Think of it as a loan that could be used for any business purpose – not just expanding or improving your premises. There are many benefits in doing this:
Commercial mortgages can be easier to obtain than business loans, especially for small businesses, as the property provides security to the lender.
Unlike many business loans, which tend to have a short repayment term, commercial mortgages cover a long period – anything from 15 to 25 years, depending on the lender and the financial circumstances of your business.
In most circumstances the proceeds of the loan are not considered to be taxable income and the interest payments are tax deductible.
There are two ways in which you might use a commercial mortgage to raise capital for your business:
1. Refinance your current commercial mortgage to include the loan amount that you wish to borrow.
2. Release the equity that has accumulated in your current property, i.e. the current value of the property minus any outstanding mortgages or debts tied to it.
What are the costs and repayment options for commercial mortgages?
Repayment plans tend to be similar to residential mortgages. The main options are either fixed rate or variable rate repayment mortgages or interest only/endowment mortgages.
Unlike residential mortgages, however, the interest rates for commercial mortgages tend to be higher as business lending is perceived as more of a risk. The rates will vary depending on the circumstances of your business, but generally speaking, the higher the risk, the higher the interest rate. For the same reason repayment terms also tend to be shorter than residential mortgages – typically 15-20 years.
It’s likely that you’ll also need to raise a deposit, as most lenders won’t provide 100% loan-to-value mortgages – i.e. they won’t provide a mortgage for the full purchase amount and will expect a down payment from you as a form of security (typically 20-30% of the purchase price, although some lenders accept as little as 5%, but with a higher interest rate for repayment).
Other expenses to consider are the setup costs involved in arranging a commercial mortgage, such as legal charges, surveys and broker fees.
In terms of responsibility for repaying the mortgage, this depends on the type of business. If you’re a sole trader the responsibility will lie with you and you may also be personally liable should you default on the repayments – meaning that you could lose personal assets as well as the commercial property that is mortgaged. If you’re in a partnership, the responsibility and liability apply to all partners. If it’s a limited company, the responsibility and liability belong to the business, although personal security may be required to approve the mortgage depending on the profitability of the business.
How do you obtain a commercial mortgage?
When applying for a commercial mortgage, you’ll need to do your homework and build a strong business case to demonstrate your company’s ability to repay the mortgage. Be prepared to undergo a thorough examination of your finances, including:
business history of your company: financial statements, profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, past and current cash flow, all certified by an accountant.
future projections for your company: long-term business plan, intended use of the property, earnings potential, projected cash flow.
personal finances: the financial histories of yourself and all other key stakeholders in the business, such as credit worthiness and past earnings.
All of these factors will determine the lender’s perceived degree of risk in lending you the money, which will in turn determine the term and interest rate of the loan that they are willing to give you.
The obvious first step to many people applying for a commercial mortgage is to approach their bank or business lender, with whom they already have an established relationship. However, for this very reason it’s unlikely that you’ll receive a competitive deal.
The best way to get a commercial mortgage is to use the services of a specialist independent mortgage broker, who can help you get a good package to suit your needs whatever your circumstances. Even if your credit isn’t great, it doesn’t mean that you won’t qualify for a commercial mortgage. Having a broker to represent you will really strengthen your case. They have access to a wide range of lenders and understand their criteria for lending, as well as your specific needs. They can therefore undertake a targeted search, increasing your chances of finding a suitable loan. In fact, the broker may even be able to obtain several different options from various interested lenders, which provides the scope to negotiate a fantastic deal for you.
Money isn’t all that you’ll save. Imagine if you tried to apply to several lenders yourself – think of the time taken to complete all the applications, and the time wasted in applying to unsuitable lenders. The independent advice and specialist knowledge that a broker provides are invaluable.
There are so many steps to be analyzed before buying your beloved home. The first thing you need to do would be having a real estate agent in place to analyze the home buying process. There are just too many tasks to keep straight without your Realtor taking care of most of them. For the ones that remain, your Realtor can facilitate you make a list and work through them
1. Get pre-qualified for you loan and control your credit rating. Your real estate agent must help you in the process of taking loan for good credit. The reason this is first is you want to know two things. How much you be eligible for and what your payment will be. You may qualify for a higher payment than you want to have, but your lender and Realtor can help you verify the price range for you
2. Find the area you want to live in. Analze the traffic by driving through the area in both week days and week ends. It is painless to tell those areas that are a little run-down from the areas where the home-owners keep their homes up|.
3. After thorough analysis, you can proceed for further steps. Ask your real estate agent to show the obtainable houses in the area that suits your taste. This will make the search a lot easier. You can just opt for the best home from a mixture of homes short listed by your realtor. Finding your new home can be a pretty quick process if done properly.
4. Once you done with picking your dream home, just drive through that area one more time. Understand their life style and know how they keep surroundings in the area. If everything still seems right, work with your Realtor on getting an offer in.
5. Ensure the house is inspected before closing the deal. This is done after you have an agreement in place, but is a very important step. Ask your real estate agent to find the finest inspector to look after the inspection. You can pull a true assumption if the house is inspected by a third party.
Hopefully, these are the basic steps which can help you out in finding the best home. Never leave your realtor to take care of all these steps alone, be with him and get the right home.