Back in April, Finance Minister Mark Carney remarked that “in exceptional circumstances, if there are issues that threaten financial stability, such as household debt… the bank could use monetary policy for that purpose.” Just three months later, those exceptional circumstances have become reality. On Wednesday, the Federal Government made their move to further tighten mortgage rules, addressing concerns over high Canadian household … Read More
Can the Canadian Housing Market Fix Itself?
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released its second quarter housing market outlook today, stating that housing starts will likely moderate by the end of the year. While the market has remained hot through the first half of 2012, the Housing Corp. believes that both new and existing home market activity will eventually slow and even out. Housing starts are … Read More
Fewer First Time Home Buyers Could Signal Trouble
A recent report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows that there are fewer first time home buyers entering the nation’s real estate market. The recently released Renovation and Home Purchase Report, which highlights the key trends, analyses and statistics from ten major Canadian cities, predicts that the housing market could be headed towards trouble thanks to a decreasing number … Read More
Rates on the Way Up
Canada’s major banks have begun to increase rates, putting an end to near-historical lows across the country. News broke on Monday that several banks would be increasing their rates by 6/10ths of a percentage point, signifying a shift in the real estate market. The largest increase was attached to the popular five-year fixed closed rate. The posted rates at Royal … Read More
How Do Consumers Feel About the Market?
Economists and mortgage experts are always quick to analyze the Canadian housing market. However, these industry leaders often forget to ask for consumer opinions and insights. Luckily, there’s the CMHC Annual Mortgage Consumer Survey to help fill this gap. Conducting in February and March of 2012, the CMHC Mortgage Consumer Report surveyed 3,502 recent mortgage consumers in order to better … Read More