There are a wide range of mortgages available to borrowers these days. Below is a list of the most common types of mortgages as well as other financing information that may be beneficial to you as a buyer.
Pre-approved mortgages are a great option for many home owners, especially first time buyers. Pre-approved mortgages allow buyers to look for properties that they know will fall within their allowable mortgage budget which is based on their income, existing debts and current credit rating. If you think a pre-approved mortgage is a right fit for you, I am able to assist you with the process by putting you in contact with a lender that will best suit your specific needs and budget.
Any loan that is less than 80% of the purchase price is considered a conventional mortgage. A conventional mortgage does not require insurance as it is not considered a high risk mortgage.
Any loan that is more than 80% and up to 100% of the purchase price is considered a high ratio mortgage and is required to be insured. High ratio mortgages are typically insured by CMHC (Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation). However, high ratio mortgages are sometimes insured by GE Capital, private insurers or Federal Government Corporations. The premium can either be added to the mortgage or can be paid in full on closing.
An open mortgage allows you to pay off your mortgage at any time without incurring any penalty. However, the terms for open mortgages are shorter than other options and are typically for only 6 months or 1 year. In addition, interest rates are often 1% higher on open mortgages than on closed mortgages.
Closed mortgages provide security and peace of mind in knowing that you have a fixed payment. Closed mortgages provide lower interest rates than open mortgages and typically have terms from as low as 6 months to as long as 10 years. Although borrowers enjoy piece of mind from knowing exactly how much their payment will be, the down side of a closed mortgage is that if you should ever decide to pay your mortgage off early, you will be required to pay a penalty fee. The penalty is typically 3 months of interest.
Fixed-term mortgages are a good option for individuals who want comfort in knowing that a particular interest rate (usually a low one) is locked in for a specific period of time. The interest rate for a fixed-term mortgage is set for the entire term of the mortgage which ensures that the monthly payment of interest and principal remain the same throughout the entire term. This is a great option to make use of when rates are already low as it will help protect you should rates suddenly increase. The opposite also applies: if rates are on the higher end, a fixed-term mortgage may not be your best option.
Contact me today to learn how I can assist you with obtaining the right mortgage for you and to learn how I can assist you with your real estate needs.
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We have worked with other realtors in the past, but our experience with Braden set a new standard of excellence in both customer service and professionalism in the industry. His commitment to help you find the perfect home was clearly demonstrated through making himself available to answer all our questions, providing us with the latest information on available properties and opportunities, and showing us the properties that met our needs. He provided excellent advice on both the purchase and selling processes. Braden was also hired to sell our home and he threw everything behind getting the job done (amazing marketing materials, videos and outreach through social media and the broad connections provided through the Christie’s International affiliates). He helped with preparing the home and providing solid advice on the sale approach. Overall, an amazing experience. I definitely would recommend him to represent any buyer/seller as he goes above and beyond to get the job done and done well.
Murray L
Braden worked tirelessly to get us into our first condo. He was always available to take us to showings and in the end we purchased a condo that was on the market for only 7 hours thanks to Braden’s quick work. He’s also personable, professional and calm. We felt that he provided us with sound, reasonable advice and his knowledge of the market is extensive. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Braden.
David A
I recently used Braden to sell my property. Braden was extremely professional and reliable. He was always available to answer questions when needed. I was especially impressed with the way Braden marketed my property by creating one of the best custom promotional videos I have seen for my property. Braden’s passion for real estate, his first class customer service and his unique marketing approach helped me sell my property for what I believe was a record breaking number at that time. I highly recommend using Braden for all of your real estate needs.
Jake M
I definitely recommend Braden. He helped us sell our condo in five days, for over our asking price. Prior to that, he spent almost every evening with us over the course of three weeks to help us find a new home. His knowledge of the contracting industry enabled us to gauge what kind of work might be needed to fix a place up, and how that might affect our offer. Braden was incredibly dedicated and is someone I would certainly use again.
Eliot C
Braden is a model real estate agent. His professionalism and diligence is unparalleled. I have had the pleasure of working with Braden for the past two years and have been more than happy with the properties he has helped me find. I would highly recommend him to friends or anyone else looking for a real estate agent here in Toronto.
Steven A
If you like your phone calls and texts returned within 30 minutes, having all of your questions answered clearly and professionally combined with a personal and calm approach then I would recommend giving a call to Braden White ….It was a very positive experience.
Sylvie M
I had the most positive experience with Braden as my real estate agent. I felt relaxed throughout the entire process because he was on my side of the ring. With Braden, I found a great rental in the very first day of our search. Bigger than expected within my price range, in the neighbourhood I wanted, with a beautiful view of the city and amazing amenities. We saw the place and closed it with a couple days. It’s only because Braden was so energetic and committed to me as a client that we were able to get the unit. I couldn’t be happier, and I’m so thankful for all the time that Braden put into my deal. He’s not just an efficient agent, but a thoughtful negotiator. A process that could have dragged on for weeks, happened in the blink of an eye. Thank you Braden!
Ariel S
I usually don’t write online reviews, but given Braden’s unsurpassed professionalism, sound advise and market experience I felt compelled to post.
Braden sold my downtown Toronto condo well above my initial estimate and in record time. He was able to achieve this because of the number of tools and resources available to him, from his team who sent emails informing me of visits from potential buyers and their agents, to the amazing photographer who made my unit sparkle and shine.
Then, he found my dream home! He knew I wanted it the minute I walked through the door. But before we bid he did his due diligence: he looked at upcoming construction projects, local amenities and complied a list of comparables so that the amount I bid put me ahead of the others, which it did, and now I’m home.
Jamie B
Braden is incredibly knowledgeable, approachable, and professional. If you called or emailed him he would respond promptly. He’s a wizard with the paperwork and made the whole process of finding a condo easy and stress free. 10/10 would use him again.
Luke R
Braden is extremely professional, accommodating and easy to work with – would 100% recommend!
My husband and I needed to find a new rental property as our property owner’s son had decided to move into the unit she owned. This happened 3 months before our wedding, and as you can imagine, we were a little stressed. Braden eased our concerns, patiently showed us numerous places in Toronto, within our price range, and desired neighbourhoods. He was responsive, understanding quick and personable.
Within two weeks we found the perfect spot and we couldn’t be any happier. His guidance throughout the whole process was so appreciated and we are so thankful to have worked with him. Again, would 100% recommend without a doubt.
Candice B
Braden helped my wife and I sell a couple of condo units. Both were the highest sold units in the building. We needed a bigger space for our growing family and Braden got us an awesome spot!
Bola D
I had an amazing experience with Braden as my realtor. As someone who has never bought property and was a little nervous about the transaction he made the whole process seamless. He had my best intentions in mind and was professional, responsive and knowledgeable. Helped me with my first transaction and certainly will help with my next.
Dylan R
We have worked with Braden several times selling and buying properties. Braden was always there to respond to our messages/calls/questions ASAP (which is what you need when you are making such an important financial decision). He was very quick, thorough, and helpful in every step of the process. He is extremely professional and someone you want on your side when dealing with other agents, sellers, or buyers.
Sepi F
We had an amazing experience working with Braden for both the purchase of our new house and sale of our condo. Braden is an excellent realtor. He is professional, knowledgable and most importantly an honest person who deeply cares about his clients. We worked with him in a very unstable market and his strategic planning helped us achieve all our objectives safely. He went over and beyond in helping us by working on weekends and accomplished the tasks in a short timeframe. He is super friendly and very responsive to communications. He is trustworthy and not pushy (like some other realtors), and this made us feel very comfortable in working with him. Wish him all the best and of course highly recommend him.
Mandana N
Braden was an absolutely terrific agent. He was incredibly proactive, consistently sharing new listings with me that were exactly what I was looking for and proposing additional suggestions based on his knowledge of popular areas, amenities etc. His experience was also evidence and key as he knew niche information about certain buildings that I would not have been able to know otherwise and were very influential to my decisioning on where to live. He was also very thorough and provided invaluable input regarding what was normal and out of the ordinary with regards to lease clauses, did a terrific job negotiating the terms of the lease and was kind enough to even support me with some post lease sign action items (e.g. utility forms). In addition, he was very accommodating with my schedule, which was very much appreciated as I saw multiple showings in a short time period outside of traditional business hours. An amazing agent that I would highly recommend to anyone!
Miggs V
Nothing but good things to say about our experience with Braden to help us purchase our first home. He was very knowledgeable and helped us through the difficult process of buying a home in the current market. Braden clearly explained the pros and cons of every home we viewed and was integral to helping us price our offers properly when the list price was way off market.
Alan L
My experience with Braden was excellent. He is knowledgeable, professional and very responsive. Would highly recommend!
Mikolaj N
I worked with Braden to buy my new place and rent my existing property. Braden knows the Toronto market very well and assisted me in assessing different properties and recommend what would be the best deal. His prompt responses really differentiates him as this industry depends on how fast you react to the offers. All in all a great man and knows his business inside out.
Fadi Y
Very pleased with every aspect of our interaction. Braden and his team were professional, motivated and transparent from start to finish. Each step of the listing and sale was clearly planned, well-explained, and executed promptly.
Hugh C
Braden’s input and council was great as I navigated the process of being a first-time home buyer. He listened and worked diligently to make sure that my first big purchase was a success!
Chris R
Braden was referred to me by close friends who were also clients of his. Braden was extremely professional, responsive and friendly. Throughout the entire process, I could always count on him to be efficient, accessible, and understanding. A quick text or phone call away, he was there! With his expertise, I was able to get my condominium rented quickly, despite our entire interaction being remote. His kind demeanor and knowledgeable insights made the process so much more enjoyable (and smooth) than I could’ve expected. I’d highly recommend Braden and will continue to use his realty services in the future.
Casandra S
If you are looking for a real estate agent who sincerely cares about finding the best property at the best value for you and your family, who goes above and beyond to make your real estate experience smooth, and who holds a high standard of professionalism in tandem with kindness, look no further than Braden White. Braden has a fine-tuned knowledge of the real estate market and a commitment to customer service that is unparalleled. If you are considering purchasing or selling property in Toronto, I highly recommend Braden White as your top real estate agent.
Michele W
Braden provided excellent services and was extremely professional. He cares about making sure you get the best value possible by always going the extra mile. His professional photographer took amazing photos of my apartment which was rented out in no time. His expert advise and experience was highly regarded. I recommend Braden for your Real Estate Services.
Ahmed S
I have worked with Braden multiple times, and he has been nothing but great. He is very attentive, responsive, and did a great job of taking the time to answer all my questions. I would definitely recommend working with Braden.
Jon M
It is always a pleasure working with Braden! Easy to work with and always has a great pulse on the real-estate market in the GTA.
Mike S
We have used Braden White for 2 condo purchases in the Downtown Toronto core in the past 3 years. I have been nothing but impressed with Braden’s depth of knowledge of the Toronto real estate market (both high and low rise), 100% commitment to client service, ability to provide practical and unbiased advice and his highly effective negotiating skills. When you ask Braden a question, he always gives you an honest, direct response, even when it might not be what you are hoping to hear.
We secured both condo’s in competitive processes. Braden remained calm, professional and upbeat throughout. In our most recent purchase, I noticed a listing at 7:30 am on a Saturday morning, contacted Braden, who then had an offer ready before noon and we secured the property later that same day. Braden’s commitment to incredibly high standards of client service and unquestionable ethics, sets him apart from many in the industry. If you are going to purchase real estate in Toronto, you want Braden in your corner.
Michael W
Braden is amazing! He’s professional, caring, easy to work with, and he always goes above and beyond (exactly what you need in an agent). I would definitely recommend him for new renters or buyers AND experienced sellers/investors. We’ve worked with him multiple times and have been super happy each time.
Helen F
Braden White truly embodies professionalism. We had the pleasure of working with him on the purchase of an investment property in the east end of the city, and his expertise in construction proved invaluable in assessing the properties’ true value. Braden’s exceptional communication skills and unmatched level of initiative were truly commendable. We wholeheartedly recommend him for anyone seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable professional.
Roger T
Braden was an example of what every real estate agent should be. Informative, helpful, professional … the list goes on and on. My aunt had to move to a retirement residence and the sale of her condo near Yonge and Davenport was going to assure she could be there for years to come. Braden and his various cleaners, painters, and stagers made the condo look amazing, so it was sold quickly and above asking price in so so market conditions. We highly recommend Braden to anyone looking to sell in Toronto … and I am confident he would be just as amazing at helping you buy your next home or condo!
Blair M
