Mortgage Purchase Plus Improvements - December 2021

Kelly Hudson • December 9, 2021

Purchase Plus Improvements Mortgage

 

Not every home is move-in ready. Have you found your dream home, only to find out that it needs TLC and you need to do some renovations? The costs of renovations can really add up, and you might not be able to afford them. Luckily, there is a program that will allow you to purchase a property, that also covers the costs of renovations—a purchase plus improvements mortgage.

 

With one manageable mortgage, you can have your home — plus add in the costs of renovations — sometimes with as little as 5% down.

 

What is purchase plus improvements mortgage?

 

This program allows you to borrow the cost of renovations (up to a certain percentage) and add it to the home price, rolling it all into one easy-to-manage mortgage payment.

 

Once you take possession of your new home, you can start the upgrades immediately. This type of mortgage comes with a few extra requirements before signing, such as providing quotes for the work that needs to be completed.

 

There is a stipulation, however, that requires improvements to be permanent in nature, including items such as paint, cupboards, flooring, roofing, furnace, etc. As such, appliances and other non-permanent fixtures are not covered within a Purchase Plus Improvements mortgage. 

 

7 Steps: How the Purchase Plus Improvements Mortgage Works


  1.  You can get a mortgage approved with as little as a 5% down payment and include some home improvement costs into the mortgage amount.

  • The renovations must increase the property value. 

 

  2.  When applying for a purchase plus improvements mortgage, the contractor’s quote for the work to be completed, MUST be provided upfront to the lender, along with your offer to purchase the home. 

  • In other words, when you submit your mortgage application, lenders need to have the contractor quote(s) outlining the work to be done and what the cost will be.
  • In most cases, the improvements work will need to be done by a licensed contractor
  • Renovation Time Limits: typically, the improvements need to be completed within 90 days, (some exceptions can be made).
  • The Purchase Plus Improvements program is NOT available after the mortgage has been funded.

 

  3. The contractor(s) quote needs to outline the work to be done and the cost for said improvement. 

 

  4. Once your home purchase has completed, the homeowner must come up with the funds to complete the home improvements. Funds could come from a line of credit, credit card, store credit card (i.e. Home Depot), gifted money or credit from the contractors you will be using. The bottom line is that you need to figure out how to pay for the improvements upfront. 

  • You will not receive any funds for the renovations until after the work is completed and reviewed by the bank representative.


  5. Once the renovations/improvements have been completed, an inspection report from an appraiser is required so the lender can confirm that the improvements were completed and are good quality. 

  • Once you prove the improvements requested are finished, the lender will allow your lawyer/notary to release to you the purchase plus improvement funds


  6. Once the improvement funds are released, you use the money to pay off your improvements.


  7. With the upgrades done, and all the mortgage details taken care of, you can fully enjoy your new home-sweet-home.


 

The Purchase Plus Improvement program is available with the best mortgage rates, including fixed and variable. 

 

Purchase Plus Improvements is a great program, which may make it easier for you to decide which home is best fit for your situation.

 

Would you like more information regarding Purchase Plus Improvement mortgages? Give me a call and let’s have a chat.

 

Kelly Hudson
Mortgage Expert
Mortgage Architects
604-312-5009
Kelly@KellyHudsonMortgages.com
 
www.KellyHudsonMortgages.com

Kelly Hudson
MORTGAGE ARCHITECTS
RECENT POSTS 

By Kelly Hudson February 14, 2025
Separation and divorce are major life events that significantly impact finances—including homeownership. In Canada, approximately 40% of marriages end in divorce , making it a common challenge for homeowners. As a mortgage broker, I work with many clients who are navigating the challenges of keeping or selling their home, refinancing, or qualifying for a new mortgage post-separation. Lenders assess these applications differently than standard ones, particularly when it comes to income, debts, and liabilities . Whether you want to stay in your current home or move on to a new one, understanding your mortgage options is essential. How Separation & Divorce Impact Your Mortgage When separating from a spouse, one of the biggest financial decisions is what to do with the family home. Here are some common scenarios: 1. Keeping the Home If one spouse wants to stay in the home, they must refinance the mortgage to remove the other person’s name from title and buy out their ex’s share of the equity. 2. Selling the Home In some cases, selling the home and splitting the proceeds is the best financial option. This provides a clean break but requires both parties to qualify for new mortgages if they wish to buy separate homes. 3. Co-Owning After Separation Some ex-partners choose to co-own the home for a period, often for the sake of stability for children. While this may work temporarily, it will complicate future borrowing power . 4. Existing Mortgage Responsibilities Even if a separation agreement states that one party is responsible for the mortgage, lenders will still consider both parties liable unless the mortgage is refinanced and the ex’s name is removed from the title & the mortgage. Important : If both names remain on the mortgage and your ex stops making payments, your credit score and future borrowing ability will be affected .
By Kelly Hudson January 21, 2025
What is BC Assessment? It’s January and in BC homeowners are receiving their property assessments. BC Assessment is a provincial Crown corporation that values all real estate property in British Columbia. Every year, BC Assessment sends property owners a Property Assessment Notice telling them the fair market value of their property as of July 1 the prior year . To see the most recent assessment for a property, click on BC Assessment and type in the property address. The real estate market is the single biggest influence on market values. Market forces vary from year to year and from property to property. The market value on an assessment notice may differ from that shown on a bank mortgage appraisal or a real estate appraisal because BC Assessment’s appraisal reflects the value as of July 1 of 2024 , while a private appraisal can be done at any time. The assessed values are based on limited information and are a result of algorithms and mass appraisal techniques which have their limitations. BC in general A new report forecasts the average price of B.C. home in 2025 at just over $1 million — the highest in Canada, some $280,000 above the national average. These figures appear in the latest forecast from the Canadian Real Estate Association released Jan. 15, 2025. Factors The increase in home prices was driven by a decrease in fixed mortgage rates and expectations for future Bank of Canada rate cuts. Use your BC Assessment as a starting point for the value of the property you’re planning to purchase… Do not rely on BC assessment for the exact value of the property you’re considering purchasing. Markets in BC change quickly both increasing and decreasing in value depending on the area and the economy.
Share by: