Creating A Pension Plan
Michael Hallett • April 30, 2016
What's a pension? I don't have one. In today's day in age there are not many people that will have one when they retire. So it's up to us, as individuals, to create our own - build your net worth from within. There are many ways to create a pension plan, acquiring rental properties is just one of them. Many of the wealthy people these days have utilized real estate to grow their empire, whether it's through buying and selling or buying and never selling. When acquiring a portfolio of properties one is able to plan for continual growth by utilizing the potential cash flow and accrued equity to purchase a second, third, forth...property.
First step is to determine your budget, which may ultimately be decided by how much of a down payment you have as well as to figure out what your monthly comfort level is for cash flow. For all intense purposes I will be using values and amounts from my local area on a relatively new 1 bedroom/1 bathroom condo. With newer units comes less risk of future assessments. Do your homework*.
Purchase Price: $225,000
Down Payment: $45,000 (20% minimum, lender may request more)
Mortgage Amount: $180,000
Mortgage Insurance: $0 (lender may require depending on how income is reported)
Total Loan: $180,000
Variable at 2.40% (P-0.30%) 5 year term CLOSED 30 year amortization
Monthly Mtg Payment: $700.79
Est. Monthly Strata: $200
Est. Monthly Property Tax: $100 ($1,200/year)
TOTAL Monthly Payment: $1,000.79
Property Transfer Tax:
$2,500 (paid at completion, cannot be rolled into the mortgaged. It is calculated based on 1% of the 1st $200,000 and 2% on the remaining balance.) To calculate Property Transfer Tax http://www.bcrealestatelawyers.com/ptt-calculator/
Appraisal:
$300 (required to validate the purchase price because there is no mortgage insurer involved; CMHC, Genworth or Canada Guaranty).
Home Inspection:
$400 (highly recommended)
Title Insurance:
$200 (In short, title insurance is an assurance as to the state of title of a given property. In practical terms, it protects lenders and purchasers against loss or damage suffered due to survey problems, defects in title and other matters relating to title as specified in the policy.
Approx lawyer fees:
$1,500
The cost to acquire the property was $4,900.
Well that was easy, you just purchased a rental property...NOPE, you are just getting started. The obvious goal is to pay off the mortgage with the rent ($1,200/month) coming in.
Yearly Cash Flow
= Rent - Mortgage Payment - Property Tax - Heat - Strata - Renters Insurance** - 3% Vacancy
= $14,400 - $8,409.48 - $1,200 - $1,200 - $2,400 - $500 - $432
= $258.52
Positive cash flow is ultimately what you are seeking with a rental property, however this is not always attainable from the start. Just because there is positive cash flow at the beginning DOESN'T mean that you should start paying yourself (a pension), and that amount of $258.52 is yearly. So more or less this property just breaks even.
Because the real estate market is cyclical we are going to estimate the increase in market value by a modest 3%, year over year, some years more than others. Along with calculating the year over year market value increase we will look at how the mortgage balance has decreased over time. Remember the purchase price was $225,000 and the starting mortgage amount was $180,000.
Market Value Mortgage Balance Potential Equity
End Of Year 1 $231,750 $175,844 $55,906
End of Year 2 $238,702 $171,588 $67,144
End of Year 3 $245,863 $167,227 $78,636
End of Year 4
$253,238 $162,764 $90,474
End of Year 5 $260,835 $158,191 $102,644
This was the part 1 in a series of multiple posts that walk through the acquisition of rental properties in order to create a sustainable pension plan. Next up, buying property number two.
Legend
*Read everything single piece of information provided by the seller and strata; AGMs, strata minutes, property disclosure statement, Form B as well as the depreciation and engineers report if available.
**Renters insurance (purchased by the property owner) has many variables to consider for the cost; detached home, condo, townhouse, location, value of personal contents, any betterment and improvements.
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One of the most common questions, “how long does it take to get pre-qualified?” My response, “how fast can you provide the information I need.”
Playing in the forest today. Always fun exploring. #mountainbikingmortgagebroker
Mortgage Brokering meets mountain biking and craft beer. A couple months ago I set for a bike ride with the intention of answering few mortgage related questions, mission accomplished. Any good bike ride pairs nicely with a tasty beer which we enjoyed @parksidebrewery. Hope you see the passion I have for brokering, biking and beer. @torcabikes #mountainbikingmortgagebroker
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Spotted a ski-bunny today @kirstinjhallett so I trapped ‘er. 📸 credit @troy.hartley
Aidan leading the pack up the Lemming Line in seek of fine fresh powder.
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Extreme tubing, watch until the end. Aidan manages to hold on.
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He was OK, thumbs up. The roll cage and 5-point seat belt did its job.
My sons intro to operating a side-by-side on his own. Watch to the end.
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This would have been a fun stunt once upon a time!
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My ski buddy getting untracked turns. It was knee to thigh deep all day for him, only shin to knee for me.
We went for a snowshoe this afternoon, but we probably should have considered taking our flippers instead. Our timing was off by one day.
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This is a great start to the day!
No better way to share the great outdoors than with friends. @troy.hartley @mike_ilic711 @j_penner70
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The crew shredding some turns , it was a 23,000 vertical foot kind of day.
Happy belated Hanukah, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. Be sure to enjoy the festivities.
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A tasty beverage while on the water yesterday from @backcountrybrewr and @backcountrybrewing
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Whistler slick rock is my favourite.
Wood to wood gap in Whistler.
Passing underneath the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge on the return journey of dinner-by-boat. No filter.
And now the training starts for Paris 2024 summer olympics.
Archery target: before, during and finished.
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Pre-dinner antics...it’s totally safe!
Aidan is captaining the watercraft, mom in just the passenger. Kalamaka Lake.
#Drewmboat camo @parksidebrewery
Safety first when roasting marshmallows.
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Raw kale. Just not the same as a kale caesar salad.
Saratoga Beach fire.
Canadian tuxedo.
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Going vertical. #slickrock
I have a ski buddy, now it’s time to train a biking buddy.
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Zoa Peak, Coquihalla summit 1,500 vertical metres of skiing.
Distancing myself from the real world!
The dry land version of the @andrei_svechnikov37 lacrosse-style goal executed Aidan.
Skis or bike? Bike. The snow won’t stop me.
Does anybody need or want any firewood? It’s free...you come pick it up.
I needed to buck up the trees they fell in the last wind storm. Task complete.
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The Bank of Canada announced today that it is holding its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. This decision comes against a backdrop of significant global uncertainty — and for Canadian homeowners, buyers, and anyone with a mortgage coming up for renewal, here's what it means.
Why Work With an Independent Mortgage Professional? If you’re in the market for a mortgage, here’s the most important thing to know: Working with an independent mortgage professional can save you money and provide better options than dealing directly with a single bank. If that’s all you read—great! But if you’d like to understand why that statement is true, keep reading. The Best Mortgage Isn’t Just About the Lowest Rate It’s easy to fall for slick marketing that promotes ultra-low mortgage rates. But the lowest rate doesn’t always mean the lowest cost . The best mortgage is the one that costs you the least amount of money over time —not just the one with the flashiest headline rate. Things like: Prepayment penalties Portability Flexibility to refinance Amortization structure Fixed vs. variable terms …can all affect the true cost of your mortgage. An independent mortgage professional looks beyond the rate. They’ll help you find a product that fits your unique financial situation , long-term goals, and lifestyle—so you’re not hit with expensive surprises down the road. Save Time (and Your Sanity) Applying for a mortgage can be complicated. Every lender has different rules, documents, and policies—and trying to navigate them all on your own can be time-consuming and frustrating. When you work with an independent mortgage professional: You fill out one application They shop that application across multiple lenders You get expert advice tailored to your needs This means less paperwork , less stress , and more confidence in your options. Get Unbiased Advice That Puts You First Bank specialists work for the bank. Their job is to sell you that bank’s mortgage products—whether or not it’s the best deal for you. Independent mortgage professionals work for you. They’re provincially licensed, and their job is to help you: Compare multiple lenders Understand the fine print Make informed, long-term financial decisions And the best part? Their services are typically free to you . Mortgage professionals are paid a standardized fee by the lender when a mortgage is placed—so you get expert guidance without any out-of-pocket cost. Access More Mortgage Options When you go to your bank, you’re limited to that bank’s mortgage products. When you go to an independent mortgage professional, you get access to: Major banks Credit unions Monoline lenders (who only offer mortgages) Alternative and private lenders (if needed) That’s far more choice , and a much better chance of finding a mortgage that truly fits your needs and goals. The Bottom Line If you want to: Save money over the life of your mortgage Save time by avoiding unnecessary back-and-forth Access more lenders and products Get honest, client-first advice …then working with an independent mortgage professional is one of the smartest decisions you can make. Let’s Make a Plan That Works for You If you're ready to talk about mortgage financing—or just want to explore your options—I'm here to help. Let's connect and put together a strategy that makes sense for your goals and your future. Reach out anytime. I’d be happy to help.
