Vancouver is an expensive city to live in for millennials. Not just that; it\u2019s practically unaffordable. And that\u2019s not just our opinion : According to a recent report, millennials living in Vancouver need approximately $2,795.64 per month to live (for rent, transport, entertainment, etc.).<\/p>\n
These are the costs before mortgage repayments are subbed in place of rent.<\/p>\n
Despite that massive barrier to entry and homeownership, Vancouver was still voted the third best city in the world to live in according to the 2017 edition of Ipsos Reid\u2019s Top Cities Index.<\/p>\n
So how can you reconcile wanting to stay in one of the hottest cities in the world with the fact that you feel you may never be able to afford a life here?<\/p>\n
The answer is simple: You get help. Specifically, you talk to a trusted mortgage broker. We talked to Rinat and Jacob Sneg of Sneg Mortgage Team, because they are all about offering real talk and honest advice about the financial barriers that millennials face. Here\u2019s what they had to say.<\/p>\n
Seriously consider a mortgage (and a broker along with it)<\/strong><\/p>\n Most prospective homeowners assume that they just need to save up enough to pay the minimum down payment on a home, and meet mortgage payments through their bank for as long as it takes to break even. That doesn\u2019t need to be the case.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main thing holding millennials back financially is that they\u2019re not aware of their options, and that they can own a home without emptying their wallet,\u201d says Jacob.<\/p>\n \u201cWe work with young, talented professionals that have lost hope of owning a home in Vancouver and help them turn that around. We see real estate as a vehicle to establish yourself financially, not just as a living solution. \u201d<\/p>\n This approach to viewing millennial homeowners as human beings with goals, interests, and dreams, rather than treating a mortgage strictly as a business transaction, is what Rinat and Jacob believe mortgage brokers can offer that banks cannot.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile any bank can offer the best they can in terms of rates, mortgage brokers like us look at the full picture,\u201d says Rinat.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, getting the right rate is important, but the fine print and details of some mortgage plans can end up costing the client more money in the end. We don\u2019t necessarily care which bank takes the mortgage; it\u2019s only one piece of the puzzle that we piece together to help our clients save money. We structure their mortgage as a financial tool that allows them to optimize leverage on borrowed funds, while they don\u2019t need to fork over more money.\u201d<\/p>\n Why is it so hard for millennials to afford a mortgage?<\/strong><\/p>\n This question seems to have been floating around for as long as millennials have, with people blaming everything from the gig economy to avocado toast. And while all of those factors may contribute to the problem as a whole (except the whole toast thing), it could primarily be a lack of guidance and good advice.<\/p>\n \u201cMost young professionals I meet make a good earning and still struggle with big city expenses,\u201d says Rinat. \u201cWhen we work with our clients, we look into their lifestyle and work to protect it as much as we can. We believe that your gym membership, entertainment, travel plans, and nights out are important parts of living a full life, and we incorporate it into our strategy for our young homebuyers.\u201d<\/p>\n In short : You can have a home of your own while still enjoying some avocado toast, with the proper help.<\/p>\n Both Jacob and Rinat have noted that millennials tend to be strong earners and good at making their payments on time; this isn\u2019t a case of our entire generation having one big attitude problem. Instead, the problems tend to be external.<\/p>\n \u201cMost our millennial clients start from strong earning positions but hardly have any money for a down payment,\u201d says Rinat. \u201cWith such high house prices, it takes them so much time to save up even 10%. We see their struggle to secure decent housing in the city where the rental rates are constantly going up.\u201d<\/p>\n Taking steps towards home ownership<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite all of those roadblocks and barriers, millennials living in the city are still overwhelmingly determined to make it happen, with 69% saying that they want to own a home within the next four years, according to a 2017 Royal LePage Peak Millennial Survey.<\/p>\n Rinat and Jacob don\u2019t want anyone to feel hopeless or lost if they look at the prices and feel they can\u2019t ever measure up. As always, they have words of encouragement and action for millennials.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t wait to accumulate your down payment -act now! Waiting to save the money needed will leave you chasing the market,\u201d says Rinat. \u201cWaiting is worthless while the market keeps stretching beyond your financial reach. There are strategic ways to get you where you want in a short time, and we can help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFocus on your dreams, think where you want to be long term, and leave it to professionals you trust to work out the details on how to make them a reality,\u201d says Jacob.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to feel like the life your parents had is going to be forever beyond your reach. With planning and knowledge on your side, you can purchase a home on your own terms. Jacob and Rinat work hard to dispel the myths and misconceptions (like the myth of the 10% downpayment; they have personally negotiated payments as low as 5 or 2% without issue) that keep so many millennials from even trying to enter the market.<\/p>\n