I recently had a client ask me what difference I could provide given that his bank’s website was offering the same interest rate I had quoted him the day before. Before responding to him, I went on his bank’s website to check it out for myself.

There are times when a client needs the best rate and lowest possible monthly payments, and this was definitely the case for this client. He was lucky enough to be able to afford a 20% down payment if he needed to, making it a conventional mortgage. Seeing as the bank was offering the same rate, he asked why bother if he could get away with putting only 15% down?

After checking out the bank’s website, I called him back and gave him these reasons why the bank rate was in fact NOT the same as the one that I had quoted for him.

Although there were MANY reasons that I provided, I want to touch on the top 5 that were the most important given his individual circumstances. Scenario is based on a purchase price of $430,000.

1) The bank rate was for an insured mortgage (meaning less than 20% down) which would require he pay mortgage default insurance of $6,579.00. This would increase his mortgage amount and be to the benefit of the lender. Of course, he would also be paying more interest as his mortgage balance would be higher. The rate I quoted him was for a conventional mortgage, so no mortgage insurance and no mortgage insurance rules! Also as a Dominion Lending Centres mortgage broker, I could most likely offer him a lower interest rate for an insured mortgage if he chose to go that way providing him more savings.

2) Just as important for him, an insured mortgage can only be amortized up to 25 years, while a conventional mortgage can be amortized up to 30 years (and in some cases 35 years). So when calculating his monthly cost, he would in fact be paying over $300 more per month if he was to put only 15% down.

3) At the end of the 5 year term, he will have paid $2,467.48 more in interest and $18,562.28 more in monthly payments with the bank rate on his insured mortgage, even though the mortgage amount is less. For this particular client, keeping more money in his pocket each month is crucial. To further reduce his interest payments and amortization period, I would encourage a bi-weekly accelerated payment.

4) As is all too common, if he chose to break his mortgage, say after 3 years, his banks penalty would be somewhere around the $6,400 price tag, while with my chosen lender for him, he would only pay approximately $1,200.

5) Should the need arise, my client would have a likelier chance of being able to refinance his mortgage if he required the extra funds because you can only refinance up to 80% Loan To Value of the home.

Finally, and perhaps one of the most important benefits, is the expertise, advice and ongoing service to him that a broker such as myself can offer, potnetially saving him thousands over the life of his mortgage. His bank rate will not give him that!

So, for any client, I would suggest looking beyond rate and speaking to a DLC mortgage professional to get a clearer understanding of how your banks rate may not in fact be the same before jumping to any conclusions!