Canadian housing mortgage rates are all over the map. Don’t get trapped in an unnecessarily costly mortgage agreement.
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5 smart strategies for renewing your mortgage + MORE Mar 25th
Owning a home has plenty of benefits, but it’s not without challenges. Over one million mortgages in Canada are set to renew in the next few years, and many home owners will be faced with higher interest rates. If you’re in this situation, you may feel squeezed in two ways: a higher interest rat.... More »
Where to Buy Real Estate in Canada 2025: Edmonton + MORE May 3rd
With 17 hours of daylight in the summer and aurora-lit skies in the winter, Alberta’s capital is quite literally a bright spot for Canadian home buyers. But while Edmonton has long been recognized as one of Canada’s most affordable major cities, the real estate market is quickly evolving. A .... More »
New mortgage changes for 2024: Wider access to 30-year mortgages and more + MORE Sep 19th
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced changes to mortgage rules she says are aimed at helping more Canadians to purchase their first home.
“It is going to put the dream of home ownership in reach for more young Canadians,” Freeland told reporters Monday, announcing changes she sai.... More »
The Latest in Mortgage News: CMHC to Review Investment Property Down Payments + MORE Jan 13th
It's no secret that the federal government is eyeing reforms to investment properties in an effort to help reel in runaway house prices..... More »
Toronto housing bubble: Is it ready to pop? + MORE Nov 25th
The Toronto real estate market has experienced remarkable growth over the past two decades. The average home price in Toronto surged by a staggering 489% from 2000 to 2022, according to the Toronto Real Estate Board (TRREB). This rapid price growth has raised concerns about the future of affordable .... More »
Canadians Ill-Prepared for a Rate Hike; Unprecedented Debt Imminent
– ratesupermarket.ca
A new report finds Canadians are facing a future where an unprecedented amount of household income will go towards debt servicing.
The Household Indebtedness and Financial Vulnerability report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer is raising concerns on the level of household debt amongst Canadians. The report suggests that debt is increasing at such a sharp pace, many Canadians will be ill prepared for even a slight hike in interest rates.
In just the first quarter of 2017, household debt reached a record level of a 174 per cent of disposable income – meaning, on average, we owe $1.74 of every $1 we make.
Since interest rates have been at record lows for so long, the PBO warns that if rates were to soon rise, “The financial vulnerability of the average household would rise to levels beyond historical experience.”
The Debt Servicing Ratio (DSR) has remained stable at 14 per cent since 2009. This means that Canadians on average use 14 per cent of their after-tax income to make mortgage payments, and pay off credit card and line of credit debt…
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said Thursday it will pay a $4-billion special dividend to the federal government in instalments within the next two years.
Warren Buffett Acquires $400 Million of Home Capital Shares
– ratesupermarket.ca
Warren Buffett, famed American investor and business guru, is coming to the rescue of Home Capital Group Inc., the Canadian alternative mortgage lender that has been in the news for months. Berkshire Hathaway, a subsidiary of Buffett’s company, has indicated it will buy $400 million worth of common shares in Home Capital.
The news is restoring some confidence in the company, which is Canada’s largest alternative mortgage lender for those who can’t or don’t want to get a mortgage through one of the big banks. Share prices in the company had previously tumbled below $10 per share after it came to light in April that former Home Capital employees were accused of breaking the law in their handling of mortgage applications. However, now that Buffett is throwing his support behind it, share prices are back up to $19 per share.
Resolving Home Capital’s legal issues and cash crunch
On April 19, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) claimed that brokers falsified information on mortgage applications submitted to Home Capital, and the company, its CEO, and its CFO misled shareholders…
