Pros and Cons Of Joint Mortgages

Purchasing a house in Canada, whether you live in a big city or a smaller town has increasingly become more and more expensive. As homeownership is no longer a reality for many younger Canadians, it’s unsurprising the joint mortgage has gained popularity.

What Is A Joint Mortgage?

As you might guess, a joint mortgage is a mortgage that you take out with another person (or multiple individuals). In this scenario, you would apply for a home loan together and assume all responsibilities of the mortgage contract. The most common situation that involves a joint mortgage is when spouses or partners buy a house together. But friends or investment partners may also get into this type of agreement. In this case, both or all names of the parties involved are on title.

Joint mortgages are typically entered into in an effort to increase the odds of mortgage qualification. Considering how high home prices are these days, some people may not necessarily be able to get approved for a mortgage alone, and instead may need another person’s income to help secure the home loan. Not only that, but homebuyers also use joint mortgages to get lower interest rates and better terms on a home loan contract as a result of a higher combined income, or to take advantage of one borrower’s better credit score and financial health.

Certainly, joint mortgages can be very helpful for many borrowers. But there are also some potential drawbacks that all borrowers should know about before entering a joint mortgage with another person.

Find The Best Mortgage For Your Needs

	Amount	Rate	Availability	Products
Loans Canada	Varies	Varies	All of Canada	- First mortgage - Refinancing - Renewal - Lender switch - Home equity loans
Alpine Credits	$10,000+	Based on equity	All of Canada except Quebec	- Home equity loans
Mortgage Maestro	$10,000+	5.19%+	All of Canada except Quebec	- First mortgage - Refinancing - Renewal - Line of credit (HELOC) - Reverse mortgage
Neo Mortage™	Varies	5.54%+	All of Canada except Quebec	- First mortgage - Refinancing - Renewal
nesto	$100,000+	5.34%+	All of Canada	- First mortgage - Refinancing - Renewal
Homewise	Varies	Varies	BC, AB, MB ON	- First mortgage - Refinancing - Renewal - Lender switch
Fairstone	$5,000 $50,000*	19.99% to 24.49%	All of Canada	- Home equity loans

Pros Of Joint Mortgages

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of joint mortgages that may prompt you to consider one.

Increased odds of mortgage approval. As already mentioned, a combined income between two or three people can make it easier for mortgage approval. Of course, income is a key factor in a person’s ability to get approved for a mortgage, and if one person’s income isn’t adequate enough to afford a certain home, combining the income with another individual can help boost the odds of approval.

Higher loan amounts approved for. Not only can you increase your odds of mortgage approval, but you may also be able to afford a higher home price and therefore secure a higher loan amount to finance the purchase. Entering into a joint mortgage can increase your buying power and give you more freedom when it comes to the price range you can look at. 

Smaller down payment. A down payment is required to secure a mortgage, and the lowest down payment amount that is typically required is 5% of the purchase price of a home. But while you may be eligible for a down payment that small, you would be better off putting down a much higher percentage of the purchase price. This will help you minimize your loan-to-value ratio (LTV) and therefore reduce the amount you owe your lender. 

Not only that, but a larger down payment can also help you secure a lower interest rate thanks to the lower risk for the lender. Finally, putting down at least 20%, if possible, will allow you to avoid having to pay mortgage default insurance, which will require you to pay more for your mortgage overall.

Shared maintenance. Taking care of a home takes a lot of time, effort, and money. If you can share these responsibilities, then you won’t have to shoulder the burden entirely on your own. All the maintenance and repairs that are required can be shared, as can all the utility bills. This will give you some peace of mind knowing that you’re not on your own with these responsibilities. 

Cons Of Joint Mortgages

Along with the advantages of joint mortgages, there are also some drawbacks that you should consider.

A falling out may occur between joint partners. Whether you’re married to the person you’re in a joint mortgage with or are just friends looking to take advantage of the benefits that this type of arrangement can afford, it’s always possible for you both to cut ties with each other for whatever reason. It could be a divorce, a break-up, or just an end to a friendship. Whatever the reason may be for your falling out, such a situation could make it difficult, if not impossible, to remain in this situation. If the home needs to be sold as a result, you could find yourself dealing with a sticky situation.

One person wants out. If one partner in a joint mortgage no longer wants any part of the home while the other one still does, this could pose a problem. Either the interested party must come up with the difference in equity to maintain the home on their own, or the home must be sold in order to give the uninterested party their share of the equity. 

Learn more about the spousal buyout of a mortgage. 

One person loses their job. The original arrangement is dependent on both parties maintaining an adequate income to be able to afford the combined mortgage. But if one person loses their job, this could be a major issue when it comes to continuing to pay the mortgage on time. If the other person who is still employed cannot afford to cover the other person’s portion of the mortgage, the house may need to be sold in order to avoid mortgage default.

Is A Joint Mortgage The Right Option For You?

Joint Mortgage Alternatives

Wait And Save Up A Larger Down Payment

If you’re concerned that a joint mortgage might be the right option for you but you can’t afford to become a homeowner on your own, there a few additional options you may want to consider.

While this may delay your purchase of a house by several years, if you can’t afford a mortgage payment on your own, you should think about saving up a larger down payment. A large down payment will not only make your mortgage payments more affordable but a down payment of 20% or more will guarantee that you won’t have to pay default mortgage insurance. 

Look Into The First-Time Home Buyer Incentive

The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) allows Canadian consumers, who are purchasing or building their first home, to withdraw up to $35,000 from their RRSPs to put toward the cost of the home. Participants must be first-time home buyers and repay the money within 15 years.

Consider Getting A Cosigner

If you want to purchase a house on your own and be the only official owner, you can consider asking a family member or friend to cosign your mortgage. It will increase your borrowing power while still allowing you to be the only owner. Just keep in mind that a cosigner will be required to make a payment if you do not, this is why choosing someone close to you is important.

What About An Income Property?

While this is not allowed in all cities, purchasing a house with the option to rent out part of it to create an income can help certain borrowers afford more expensive homes. Some lenders will approved mortgage applications based on the borrower’s ability to earn an income with the property. 

Joint Mortgage FAQs

Final Thoughts

If you’re interested in applying for a joint mortgage or any other type of mortgage or loan product, Loans Canada can help. We’ll connect you with a mortgage lender who can offer you the type of loan product you need and can qualify for. 

Note: Loans Canada does not arrange, underwrite or broker mortgages. We are a simple referral service.