Variable-rate mortgages are finally back to prime and it’s been a year in the making.
Not coincidentally, we’ve been coming across more people who are thinking about riding out a variable for the next five years. It’s a gutsy call given future rate hike expectations, but some people are willing to take the risk. For those people, it’s worth considering a 1-year mortgage as well.
The key with a 1-year is that you’re not locked into a variable rate for 4-5 years. Instead, you get a similar rate now, while retaining the option to switch into a variable rate next year at (potentially) below prime.
A 1-year fixed also protects you against rates rising in the next year, should the Bank of Canada hike its overnight target before September 2010.
The risk with a 1-year is that variable rate premiums and fixed rates rise before your renewal. In 8-12 months you could theoretically face prime + 1/4% or more. Few expect this, but anything’s possible.
Despite the risk, and given the apparent probabilities, a 1-year near prime frequently makes sense over a variable.
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More About 1-years: 1-year and variable-rate mortgages are both funded in the short-term money market. Therefore, they tend to move together over time. This graph below shows prime rate compared to 1-year fixed rates over the last 10 years. (The 1-year rates are discounted 1/2% from posted).
If you’re thinking of taking a variable with plans of locking in when rates rise (not recommended, for reasons we’ve discussed here before), then a 1-year convertible offers similar benefits and more.