Saving money for a down payment on a home takes time, effort and patience. Having a large down payment can save thousands of dollars over time because the home owner will carry a smaller mortgage. A down payment over 20 per cent will also prevent a mortgage company requiring that you pay mortgage insurance premiums - an added expense that often gets amortized into the cost of the mortgage.
Some methods of saving for a down payment are faster than others. Here are five tried and true ways to get into a house faster:
1. Home Buyers' Plan (HBP)
If you have money already saved in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), the Canada Revenue Agency allows you to borrow from those funds under certain conditions. You can borrow up to $25,000 from your RRSP if you are a first-time homebuyer, defined as someone who has not owned a home in four years. If you are purchasing the home with a spouse, he or she can also withdraw up to $25,000 from their own RRSPs.In the second year after the withdrawal, you begin paying the funds back into your RRSP for a period of 15 years. If, in any year, you do not make the required repayment, the amount is included in your taxable income. Some financial planners recommend borrowing money to make RRSP contributions, then withdrawing them under the HBP. There are risks and rules surrounding this strategy and it should be discussed with a tax accountant before attempting. (Increasing your savings will provide tax benefits - and peace of mind. Check out Maxing Out Your RRSP.)
The 5 fastest ways to save for a down payment
