A friend of mine shared with me a conversation she had with a group of friends a few weeks back. She explained all of them are working professionals, married with at least one young child, living in the North Shore. “We were having brunch and everyone in the table said they were looking to move to other cities (either in B.C. or Canada) because they can’t get into the real estate market,” my friend said.
Unfortunately, I hear the frustration from buyers all the time. It isn’t a secret that the lack of affordability is keeping a lot of people from getting into the real estate market, especially in our region. But sometimes there is something else going on that keeps people from even considering getting into the market because they assume they can’t.
Today I want to talk about the people that dismiss the dream of homeownership because they believe their debt (many times credit card debt or student loans) won’t allow them to do so. According to a report published end of 2016 by TransUnion, the credit monitoring agency, the typical Canadian now owes $21,686 – a figure that doesn’t include mortgages. In British Columbia, the average is a little higher: $23,363. It isn’t strange people write off their dream of homeownership because they don’t think there is a pathway for them. So how do you regain control of your financial life and with that, the possibility of becoming a homeowner?
- Make your budget and keep track of your expenses. It all starts with spending less than you make. Around 60% of adults don't have a budget or keep close track of spending. Then there are those who think they know what they’re spending, but underestimate their expenditure. Nowadays it is so easy to make a budget. There are websites, apps, computer programs… you name it.
- Getting your debt under control. This might seem obvious, but if you believe your debt is too high and out of control, you should consider talking to a debt consultant. “Most people don’t know there are options out there to tackle out-of-control debt,” says Pablo Leites, Debt and Credit Consultant from Vital Financial. “People that are overwhelmed by their finances –especially debt– tend to focus on the immediate future and they forgo their long-term plans and dreams, in this case becoming homeowners.” It is like going to the dentist: nobody likes to go, but if you ignore a painful tooth, it is just going to fester. Not dealing with your debt won’t make it go away, it will only keep building up and then you won’t be able to get into the real estate market.
- Rebuild your credit. Pablo explains how we’ve been conditioned by financial institutions to always have a good credit score. “Many people put their credit score before their needs. I have many clients that are so worried about their credit score, when in fact credit score can always be rebuilt, no matter how difficult the situation might seem.” Pablo explains that there are several options and techniques to rebuilding credit to perfection. It takes time, but it will put you back in the pathway to becoming a homeowner.
Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in North America and it is easy to believe the lack of affordability might keep you from becoming a homeowner. It might not be easy to get into the market, but it can be done if you put all your ducks in a row and plan for it. If you want to talk about other strategies to become a homeowner, contact me. I will be happy to go over your options.