Learn more about Canadian mortgage rates, rules and the latest news – read on!
Latest News
Broker Lender Market Share – Q1 2018 Jun 11th
Credit unions saw their slice of the broker pie shrink in Q1. That comes despite OSFI’s January 1 stress test, which played right into their hands given they are provincially regulated. Broker market share for CUs fell 0.6% versus Q1 2017. Less competitive pricing was a key reason. In particul.... More »
Beware of “Friendly” Calls From Your Bank + MORE Jun 9th
For better or worse, Canadians have a lot of trust. In each other, in their government, in the places they eat, in the places they shop – and apparently in the places they bank. A 2020 survey found that seven out of 10 Canadians believe their banks have their best interest in mind when offerin.... More »
Pros and cons of the new federal secondary suite programs Oct 28th
Comparing two federal programs to help Canadians build rental suites: a $40,000 loan or a mortgage refinance option.... More »
Home Prices Heat Up Despite High Interest Rates + MORE May 1st
Some weird stuff is happening in the world of real estate. As you likely know, the Bank of Canada has steadily raised interest rates over the past year in hopes of cooling inflation. This was also supposed to cool the housing market. Conventional wisdom dictates that higher rates would result in mor.... More »
Tips for Paying Off Credit Card Debt Jun 17th
Credit card bills got you down?
That’s the trouble with paying with plastic. It is easy to spend, but not quite as easy to pay off the debt you accrue – especially if you are only paying the minimum each month. Carrying too much credit card debt can make it harder to get a loan for a house .... More »
5 things you should know about Mortgage Investment Corporations
– moneysense.ca
Historically low interest rates in recent years that has led Canadian investors to increasingly venture into the world of private mortgage investment corporations or MICs. These structures promise steady returns at much higher yields than traditional fixed income investments nowadays. But are they too good to be true?
Dustin Van Der Hout and James Price of Richardson GMP in Toronto think so. In a recent note to clients they argue that MICs are particularly risky vehicles at the present time. They suggest that the benefits of these investments are overstated and the current risks under appreciated.
Drawing on their piece, here are five things you need to know about mortgage investment corporations.
1. What are they?
As the authors explain, MICs are pools of capital which invest in private mortgages in Canada. They are a way for an individual investor to gain direct exposure to the mortgage market in Canada. MICs account for the bulk of private mortgage issuance in the country and are regulated by OFSI, the federal regulator of financial institutions…
Credit Scores Improving, Says CMHC
– canadianmortgagetrends.com
New data from CMHC shows average credit scores of mortgage holders across the country are continuing to rise. A full 80.7% of mortgages in Canada are held by borrowers with a “very good” (700-749) or “excellent” (750+) credit score, CMHC says. That’s up from 78.2% in 2012. Meanwhile, the percentage of mortgage holders with “fair” […]
