Nobody helps [borrowers] choose an efficient bid price for a house, nobody explains the downside risk of variable mortgages, nobody shows them historic rates or real prices.
Borrowers are adults. They are about to sign a pretty important document, so they should do a few hours of research. Maybe take a book out of the library. Perhaps look online.
Figuring out historic interest rates is not hard. StatsCan and a dozen other websites show rates going back to the 1950s.
Determining what you can pay is a matter of budgeting, or saying “I can afford my current rent, so the mortgage, maintenance, and taxes need to cost roughly the same”.
The level of effort is similar to doing taxes. Most people who should qualify for a mortgage can do the homework.
I agree in principal, that’s what I did, but that’s not the norm.
Most people just look at the monthly payments and ask for the lowest interest rate number which is usually variable, and they bid with very little strategy getting emotional and pay more than they have to.
Borrowers are adults. They are about to sign a pretty important document, so they should do a few hours of research. Maybe take a book out of the library. Perhaps look online.
Figuring out historic interest rates is not hard. StatsCan and a dozen other websites show rates going back to the 1950s.
Determining what you can pay is a matter of budgeting, or saying “I can afford my current rent, so the mortgage, maintenance, and taxes need to cost roughly the same”.
The level of effort is similar to doing taxes. Most people who should qualify for a mortgage can do the homework.
I agree in principal, that’s what I did, but that’s not the norm.
Most people just look at the monthly payments and ask for the lowest interest rate number which is usually variable, and they bid with very little strategy getting emotional and pay more than they have to.