Blog Article

Monday, 23 September 2024

By George Roter

Leah Zlatkin quoted in the Toronto Star: ‘Roughly half of mortgage holders have yet to face higher rates. How to start preparing now (and the one thing you should never do)’

https://www.thestar.com/business/personal-finance/roughly-half-of-mortgage-holders-have-yet-to-face-higher-rates-how-to-start-preparing/article_79267fb4-6ad5-11ef-a295-7f5abde11338.html

Leah Zlatkin, licensed mortgage broker at Toronto-based Mortgage Outlet, says adapting to a jump in housing costs may take some mental reframing. Previously, many personal finance experts recommended spending no more than a third of your income on housing, she says. “That’s not realistic at this point in time.”
Zlatkin also recommends prepaying a portion of your mortgage, but to always check beforehand if you’re allowed to prepay without facing a penalty. Often, people will use extra cash to buy holiday gifts or go on a vacation. If they make lump-sum payments on their mortgage instead, they’d lower their principal balance and decrease future payments, she says.