fbpx

HOMEPORTAL

Menu

Blogs

What is mortgage affordability?

Blogs / / / , , , , , ,

What is mortgage affordability? After saving up for a sizable down payment, you should then determine how much of a mortgage you can afford, which is the amount you will pay back to the lender each month along with interest. Your mortgage will equal the purchase price of your property minus the amount you have already put down as a down payment. Lenders calculate a borrower’s maximum mortgage amount based on their gross debt service (GDS) ratio and total debt service (TDS) ratio when evaluating a mortgage application. The mortgage amount you are offered will be based on these figures, which are essentially a test of your income in relation to your debt and anticipated housing expenses. The distribution share (TDS) is the ratio of your gross annual family income to the total cost of owning and maintaining your home. This includes your mortgage, utilities, property taxes, and condo fees, if any. The debt service ratio (DCR) is calculated by adding all of your monthly debt payments (including mortgage, automobile, and revolving credit card payments) and then dividing that number by your monthly gross income. If your gross debt service (GDS) and total debt service (TDS) are less than 39% and 44% of your gross income, respectively, then a home is considered affordable by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Canada’s national housing agency. If your GDS or TDS is more than 32% or 40%, respectively, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada will require you to take corrective action. How to calculate mortgage affordability Let’s begin by discussing what it means to have an affordable mortgage. Although it is sometimes used to describe the ratio of a city’s cost of living to the average income of its residents, the term is better understood as the maximum loan amount from which you can expect to be approved by a financial institution, taking into account your income, debt, and living expenses. When determining whether or not you qualify for a mortgage, lenders look at: Your pretax yearly income Credit card, loan, and auto payments all add up to your monthly debt payments. Included in this are mortgage payments, utilities, and half of your condo or HOA fees (if applicable). Because condo fees might include expenses like property maintenance, insurance, and some utilities, which are not used in debt-service calculations for other types of properties, only half of the latter figure is used. A mortgage is considered affordable by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation if the borrower’s gross debt service (GDS) ratio, which includes housing costs, does not exceed 39%. Total debt service (TDS) ratios, which include mortgage payments and other debt payments, cannot exceed 44% to be considered affordable.

What is mortgage affordability? Read More »

Fixed mortgage rate vs. Variable mortgage rate: How do they work?

Blogs / / / , , , , ,

Fixed mortgage rate vs. Variable mortgage rate: How do they work? Canadian mortgage applicants can select either a fixed or variable interest rate. The overall interest cost of a mortgage will be affected by the interest rate structure chosen. Your interest rate will either be locked in (called “fixed”) for the duration of your mortgage or it will be variable (called “floating”). We can show you how the differences between fixed and adjustable mortgage rates over the course of five years stack up. Five-year fixed mortgage rates Five-year fixed mortgage rates guarantee that your interest rate and monthly payment won’t change for the length of your contract. Fixed rates are more stable than variable ones, but they also tend to be more expensive. Your mortgage contract will be in place for the whole five years, as suggested by the name, with a five-year fixed-rate mortgage. Mortgages in Canada typically run for five years, but can be taken out for as little as six months. Mortgage interest rates are fixed for the duration of a fixed-rate mortgage loan. This means that your mortgage payments will remain stable until your current mortgage contract expires and you need to negotiate a new one. This is why many people prefer fixed-rate mortgages over adjustable-rate mortgages for peace of mind. Mortgages with a variable interest rate have interest rates that may change periodically over the course of the loan’s duration. As the overnight rate set by the Bank of Canada fluctuates, so too do prime rates set by individual banks. Right now, the prime rate stands at 5.45%. Mortgages with a fixed interest rate can, at long last, be open or closed. When a mortgage is open, extra payments can be made on a regular basis or in a lump sum without incurring any fees or penalties. A general rule of thumb is that closed mortgage terms have lower interest rates than open mortgage terms since they limit the borrower’s options Five-year variable rate mortgage When market interest rates are low, as they have been for the last several years, five-year variable-rate mortgages in Canada are a great option. Variable-rate mortgages, which have historically been less common in Canada than fixed-rate mortgages, might save money for borrowers who are willing to deal with some interest rate volatility over the course of a five-year loan. A five-year variable-rate mortgage, as the name implies, is issued for a period of five years. You can get a mortgage for anything from six months to ten years in Canada, with the average being five years. Your interest rate on a variable-rate mortgage will change throughout the course of your loan’s term in response to fluctuations in the prime rate set by your lender. Contrast this with fixed-rate mortgages, which don’t fluctuate throughout the course of the loan’s initial five years. For instance, if you have a mortgage with a variable interest rate, you might see a phrase like “prime plus” or “prime minus” followed by a percentage. With a “prime plus 0.5%” mortgage, your interest rate will be 3% if the lender’s prime rate is 2.5%. Your interest rate is currently 3.5%, but it would be 3.75% if the prime rate were to climb to 3%. How this affects your mortgage payments is conditional on the specifics of your variable-rate mortgage. In the case of some mortgages with a variable interest rate, the monthly payment won’t vary even if the rate does. Instead, it calculates the interest and principal components of each payment. When the interest rate on a loan drops, more of each payment goes toward paying down the loan’s principal. As the percentage used to calculate interest on your balance changes, the impact of an increase in the variable rate grows. Even if your monthly payment remains the same, the length of time it takes to pay off your mortgage increases as interest rates raise. Other types of mortgages, known as variable rate mortgages, feature payment adjustments (these are sometimes called adjustable-rate mortgages). If you have a mortgage with a variable interest rate, your monthly payments will fluctuate as the interest rate does. The amount you owe is calculated by multiplying the lender’s prime rate by the margin you agreed to in your mortgage contract (often a percentage point or two)

Fixed mortgage rate vs. Variable mortgage rate: How do they work? Read More »

Essential facts about mortgage

Blogs / / / , , , , , , , , , ,

Essential facts about mortgage A mortgage, at its most basic, is a debt taken out to finance the purchase of real estate. A mortgage, like any other loan, has parameters such as an interest rate and an amortisation (payment) schedule. Mortgages are secured by the collateral of the home itself. This means that the mortgage lender has the right to take back the home if the mortgage holder defaults on payments. It is important to understand the following ideas before applying for a mortgage. That will help you receive the best mortgage possible: Term- During the term of your mortgage agreement, you are obligated to make monthly mortgage payments. Rental periods might be as short as six months or as long as five years. Rate of interest- the cost of carrying a mortgage. A portion of each monthly mortgage payment goes toward reducing the loan’s principle balance, while the rest covers interest accrued. Open or closed mortgage- How much leeway you have in determining when and how much of your mortgage payment you make each month determines whether your mortgage is open or closed. You’ll need an open mortgage if you ever want to modify the loan in any way, including renegotiation, refinancing, or repayment. A closed mortgage will limit your options. But the interest rate is usually lower on these types of loans. Mortgage amortization- It is the time it will take to pay off your loan in full. For mortgages, the standard amortisation time offered by the country’s major lenders in Canada is from five to twenty-five years, with a maximum of thirty years available with a twenty percent down payment. In most cases, borrowers will need to wait until the end of many mortgage periods before making the final payment. Fixed or variable mortgage- Mortgage interest can be either fixed (staying the same for the duration of the loan) or variable (changing periodically). Rates of interest on variable-rate loans can rise and fall in response to fluctuations in the market.is How long will it take to pay off your mortgage The length of your mortgage is different from the time it takes to pay it off. The length of time during which you make payments on your mortgage is known as its amortisation period. With a 20% down payment, the standard amortisation length offered by most Canadian lenders is 25 years; with a larger down payment, this number can rise to 30 years. In general, the lower the amortisation term, the lower your interest payments will be over the life of your loan, but the larger your regular mortgage payments will be. should I go for the highest possible amount? For first-time buyers, it’s also vital to consider how much of a mortgage they can comfortably make each month. There are practical matters to think about in your house search regardless of the size of the loan you can afford. First and foremost is the reality that variable interest rates will almost certainly increase in 2022 due to a likely rate hike by the Bank of Canada sometime in the first quarter, maybe in April. The uptrend in fixed rates is expected to continue. Not only should you be aware of the growing rates, but you should also be aware of the fact that many experts advocate setting aside at least 10% of your gross pay for retirement (and some even propose as much as 30%). When borrowing money, it’s best not to borrow more than you can comfortably repay in a single payment. Mortgage affordability calculators can be helpful if you’re not sure how much house you can afford. You should always double-check the results of these tools with a broker who is familiar with the nuances of your financial situation, as they are only meant to provide estimates. How can I determine whether I need adaptability or stability? The choice between a fixed or variable interest rate, a longer or shorter term, a shorter or longer amortisation period, and a larger or smaller mortgage balance all comes down to personal preference and tolerance for risk. If you want to stay within your financial means and at the same time feel at ease, you need to be practical. And fortunately, you can rely on others to help you get the best mortgage for first-time buyers. A mortgage broker can help a first-time buyer get the best mortgage rate and lender for their situation by comparing products from numerous sources.

Essential facts about mortgage Read More »

First-time homebuyer Government incentives and tax credits

Blogs / / / , , , , , , , ,

First-time homebuyer Government incentives and tax credits First-time homebuyers can take advantage of a number of government programmes and tax credits. The Home Buyers’ Plan enables you to access up to $35,000 from your RRSPs ($70,000 for a couple) for a down payment on your first home. If you return the funds to your RRSP within 15 years, you won’t owe taxes or face a penalty. The First-Time Property Buyer Incentive provides a zero-interest loan of up to ten percent of the purchase price of a home to qualified first-time purchasers. After 25 years or upon the home’s sale—at the time’s fair market value—the government is entitled to repayment of its initial investment in the property. While the scheme has its advantages, mortgage broker Patton warns that it may restrict first-time buyers’ budgets. This is one of the main reasons why the federal government decided to prolong the programme through March 31, 2025, as part of the 2022 budget. Furthermore, the government has stated that “solutions are being explored to make the programme more flexible and sensitive to the needs of first-time home buyers, especially single-led households.” Canadians who have not been homeowners for four years or more are eligible for the Home Buyers’ Tax Credit. The maximum tax credit available to first-time homeowners is $5,000 (equivalent to a $750 refund). For properties purchased on or after January 1, 2022, the federal government proposed doubling the credit to $10,000 in its 2022 budget. Homebuyers could receive a refund of up to $1,500 as a result of the revised credit amount. FHSA, the pioneering first-time homebuyer savings account The federal government will introduce a new type of registered account in the 2022 budget to assist first-time homebuyers in saving for a down payment. Like a tax-free savings account (TFSA) or a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP), earnings on interest, dividends, and capital gains are not subject to taxation, and neither are contributions to or withdrawals from the account. No unused contribution space can be carried over from year to year, and first-time homebuyers are not eligible to use both the FHSA and the Home Buyers’ Plan. The maximum annual contribution for an individual is $8,000, with a lifetime maximum of $40,000. Any money left in an FHSA after 15 years must either be utilised to buy a home, moved to an RRSP or RRIF, or removed as taxable income. In 2023, FHSAs will become available thanks to the government’s collaboration with financial institutions. To qualified buyers, the governments of Ontario, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island all give tax refunds on land transfers, and the city of Toronto does as well. The eligibility requirements and potential payout amount are territory-specific.

First-time homebuyer Government incentives and tax credits Read More »

What is the real cost of homeownership?

Blogs / / / , , , , , , , , , ,

What is the real cost of homeownership? Many people who are buying their first house may need to take out a loan. There are costs associated with completing a purchase. These expenses can add up quickly, so it’s crucial to include them. It is not uncommon for there to be additional, unseen costs on top of all the regular ones. Following is a detailed explanation of everything. First Investment Costs The initial outlay of cash you’ll need to buy a home is called a “down payment,” and we’ll talk about that first. Your down payment must be cash that you now possess or have access to (for example, savings, a gift, or RESP withdrawal) (RRSP). The minimum down payment required by the Canadian government varies with the home’s buying price. First-time buyers, according to Patton, typically have a lesser down payment than repeat buyers because they don’t have any accumulated equity in a previous house. If you’re a homeowner and your home appreciates in value, you can put that money toward a bigger deposit on another property. Mortgage loan insurance, also known as mortgage default insurance, is an extra expense that must be accounted for by buyers who put less than a 20% down payment on a home. hidden expenses of buying a house Look into some of the hidden expenses of buying a house. Transaction Fees There are a few last expenses that must be covered before you can take legal ownership of your new house and turn in the keys. Money paid out for legal services, property insurance, interest adjustment, and title insurance are all examples. Although there is no universally accepted benchmark, these expenses usually amount to between three and five per cent of the home’s purchase price. Land Taxes The assessed value is used to calculate your property tax. There is an annual deadline for these, but if you add the amount to your mortgage payment each month, the lender can handle the payment on your behalf. Prices associated with the upkeep Maintaining a home is an ongoing responsibility. It takes time and money to complete any project, no matter how large or small. Even if significant maintenance tasks like re-roofing or replacing windows and doors aren’t required very often, it’s still crucial to keep track of them so you’re not caught off guard by an unexpectedly high bill when they do come up. The Price of an Emerging Situation Having some savings set aside in case of an emergency is a prudent move. Keep this in mind while you look for a property, as older homes may require more maintenance than a recent one. Some of the emergency repairs you should be ready for include: roof repairs, tree removal, bathroom sink/toilet repairs, appliance replacement, and HVAC system repairs.

What is the real cost of homeownership? Read More »

Is it ok to invest in a home?

Blogs / / / , , , , , , , , , ,

Is it ok to invest in a home? As a homeowner, you have control over your living situation and financial future, rather than being at the whim of a landlord who can unilaterally decide to stop renting out the property at any time. Canadian real estate is a safe bet because of its historical trend of rising prices. According to Josh Davie, a financial advisor at Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc., while owning a home is a desirable objective for many people, it is not the best choice for everyone. He states that it is dependent on the individual’s particular circumstances. If, for example, the future of your career is unknown and/or you anticipate moving in the near future, renting may be a better financial alternative for you because it allows more flexibility than buying a home. People who do not want to deal with the obligations that come along with house ownership, such as taking care of repairs and paying property taxes, may find that renting is a more suitable option for them. You shouldn’t feel pressured to purchase into real estate, as Davie suggests, especially if you believe you aren’t financially stable enough or don’t have the abilities necessary for effective financial management to handle the responsibilities of homeownership. Sharon Patton, a mortgage broker who operates in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), is of the same opinion. “People who prefer more hands-off living are frequently better suited to renting since the landlord will maintain the property,” she explains. “People who want more hands-on living are often better suited to owning their own home.” If you don’t want to be responsible for paying for incidentals like property taxes, utilities, house maintenance, or unforeseen repairs, renting is the best option for you.

Is it ok to invest in a home? Read More »

After Variable Shock, Canadian Homebuyers Choose Fixed Terms

Blogs / / / , , , , , , , ,

After Variable Shock, Canadian Homebuyers Choose Fixed Terms Overstimulated Homebuyers in Canada are avoiding adjustable-rate mortgages. Mortgage borrowers in Canada favoured fixed interest rates over variable ones in October, according to data from the Bank of Canada (BoC). At the beginning of the year, a majority of new borrowers selected adjustable-rate mortgages. As rates return to normal and fixed rates become more affordable, this pattern is quickly changing. Mortgage borrowers in Canada are becoming more comfortable with adjustable-rate loans As interest rates climb, fewer Canadian families are selecting variable rate mortgages. Of all the new uninsured mortgage loans extended in October, only 29.7 percent of it came with adjustable rates. That’s a big drop from the 40.1% recorded a month ago, and even bigger drop from the 60.1% recorded in January 2022, when rates peaked. Uninsured debt was more likely to use variable rates, while insured debt also saw growth during this period. Percentage of Canada’s Mortgage Credit Extended at Variable Rates The market share of variable rates for insured mortgage finance had a similar boom and bust. A little over a quarter, or 24.1%, of October’s new insured mortgage debt was for variable expenses. This is down from the previous month’s 34.1% and the all-time high of 39.3% in January 2022. That’s a dramatic change in terms of time spent and money spent. In Canada, interest rates on adjustable-rate mortgages have been creeping higher The rising cost of borrowing has caused a shift in priorities among Canadian mortgage borrowers. In October, the average interest rate for an unsecured loan with variable terms was 5.53%. The interest rate was significantly higher than the national average of 5.18% seen across all loan types. That is to say, fixed-rate mortgages were mostly responsible for the overall decline in the national average. No Longer A Discount For Canadian Mortgages With A Variable Rate When the market share peaked in January, this wasn’t the case. When compared to the overall average of 1.89% in the same month, the average rate for uninsured variable rate mortgages was only 1.45%. If your mortgage’s variable interest rate doesn’t unexpectedly increase, you could save quite a bit of money. Changes were also seen with loans that had to be insured. In October, the average interest rate on all mortgages was 5.18%, while the average interest rate on variable loans was 5.53%. In January, variable-rate loans averaged 1.51 percent, roughly 50 basis points (bps) below the overall average. It would appear that borrowers are just choosing the lowest interest rate loan available. When you consider that a sizable portion of the market consisted of short-term investors, you can see the logic behind this. Traditional repayment plans with set terms are preferred by the majority of Canadian households. They may be more expensive, but they offer security and piece of mind. It’s surprisingly mature, but it hasn’t happened in the past two years. The Bank of Canada’s low rate stimulus resulted in a significant discount for variable rate loans As central banks lagged behind the market, the chasm widened. Inflation, rising bond yields, and low unemployment were all completely disregarded. Too good to pass up, this steep bargain turned out to be a trap. Especially considering the exceptional action taken by the central bank in offering low rates to households till next year.

After Variable Shock, Canadian Homebuyers Choose Fixed Terms Read More »

Questions asked by every CONDOMINIUM PURCHASER

Blogs / / / , , , , , ,

Questions asked by every CONDOMINIUM PURCHASER Buying a brand-new condominium is a thrilling experience, and that’s putting it mildly. However, when you begin to feel more at home in your new surroundings, you may have some questions. Some of the more frequent examples are listed below. How might my situation be affected by interim occupancy? Before the entire development is registered with the local municipality, you may move in, but you won’t be the legal owner of the unit. The time between when you receive the keys to your new condo and when you assume title to the apartment is known as “interim occupation” (when you own your home) There will be a monthly charge paid to the builder during this time that will cover the interest accrued on the remaining debt, the estimated municipal taxes on the unit, and the estimated costs of maintaining the property. When the developer finishes the condo and the condo association is officially registered with the land registry, the interim possession period ends. During this time, you and the builder will decide upon a closing date, which is the day you will officially become the owner of the property. Who can file a claim for a warranty? Within the first 30 days of moving in, you are eligible to submit your first warranty claim for the one-, two-, or seven-year unit warranty that kicks in when you take possession. Everything from the unit’s walls and flooring to its cabinets and counters is covered by the guarantee, as long as it’s located inside the unit’s boundaries. You, the unit’s owner, must file all warranty claims with the building’s developer and Tarion. If you are a homeowner, you can fill out the warranty documents for your home and submit them to your builder and Tarion all at once using our online service, MyHome. We urge all new condo owners to sign up for MyHome as soon as they move in. When do I get to see the limits of my unit? A “unit” in a condominium complex is what a buyer acquires upon making such a purchase. Your builder should have issued you with a copy of the condominium project’s Declaration and Description, which will outline the boundaries of your unit. This will serve to define your group’s confines and its shared resources. When problems arise, whose responsibility is it to file a warranty claim, and what common components are involved? In a condominium complex, the unit owners collectively share the common elements. In most cases, the units themselves are not included but everything else on the property is. The recreation room, lobby, elevators, and parking garage are all staples. You may also have access to ‘exclusive common components,’ depending on the condo unit type you purchase. Things like a balcony that you use exclusively would fall under the purview of the common elements warranty but are not shared with other tenants. Since the condo corp is technically the “owner” of the project’s shared spaces, it is the only entity authorised to submit and manage warranty claims for these areas to the developer and warranty administrator, Tarion. When the condominium development is first recorded with the city, the warranty on the shared parts goes into effect

Questions asked by every CONDOMINIUM PURCHASER Read More »

BoC Index: Canadian Housing Affordability Unsustainable

Blogs / / / , , , , , , ,

BoC Index: Canadian Housing Affordability Unsustainable Even while Canadian real estate has never been cheap, it has rarely been this costly in recent history. For the third quarter of 2022, the Housing Affordability Index (HAI) published by the Bank of Canada (BoC) reached a new record high not seen since 1983. What this means is that it is extremely difficult for the typical American family to purchase a home anywhere in the country. Housing prices have reached an unsustainable high that has never been maintained for long. Mortgage Credit Availability Measure of Canada The Bank of Canada Affordability Index measures how much of one’s income would have to go toward housing costs. The real cost is likely more than what is reflected because only principal and interest payments and utilities are considered. The median annual take-home pay is utilized. The median list price for a home is calculated using data from the past six months. The mortgage interest rate is a composite of the discounted variable rate and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year fixed rates. Water, gas, and electricity are all examples of utilities that can be used as currency. It’s conceptually comparable to the RBC and NBF affordability indices. If the ratio is large, then purchasing and maintaining the home will be difficult financially. The BoC utilizes average income, which is typically higher than the median for households, in contrast to RBC and NBF. In addition, several indices employ the median rather than the average because the average fails to take into consideration quality and size. Many people rely on a benchmark pricing that already accounts for these factors. We do not think the Bank of Canada index accurately reflects the true costs of housing. Nonetheless, it’s helpful for validating trends and resting assured that the problem is being tracked. The fact that they actually care about the information it contains is another story. The Canadian Housing Market Is Becoming Less Affordable. The index shows that the cost of purchasing a home in Canada increased significantly during the past three months. In Q3 2022, according to the HAI, a typical family will need to spend 48.8% of its income on housing costs. Increases of 0.4 points from the previous quarter and 11.1 points from the previous year. Home price decreases capped the month-over-month gain. When it comes to the deterioration of affordability, however, an annual rise of more than 11 percentage points is still an outrageous move. It’s impossible for Canadian home prices to remain at this level for long The housing affordability index has never been this low. Only two quarters in the 1990s surpassed this level of income proportionality. Only eight quarters in the preceding half-century have been less cheap than the current one. Having a bubble that is comparable to two of Canada’s largest is, to put it mildly, undesirable. The indicator has hit an alarming level, as confirmed by a number of financial institutions. NBF issued a dire affordability warning earlier this month, saying it was the worst it has been since the 1980s. According to RBC’s estimates, our current level of affordability is worse than anything seen since the 1980s. There is no positive information to be found among any of these numbers. The upshot is the same: the cost of housing in Canada has risen to unaffordable levels. A number of businesses anticipate near-term deterioration but acknowledge there is always the possibility of things becoming better. This problem, however, has never lasted for very long. Countries where the typical family cannot afford a safe place to live typically offer a subpar value proposition.

BoC Index: Canadian Housing Affordability Unsustainable Read More »

Fitch Ratings: Canadian Real Estate Prices to Drop Double-Digit, Delinquencies Rise

Blogs / / / , , , , , , , ,

Fitch Ratings: Canadian Real Estate Prices to Drop Double-Digit, Delinquencies Rise According to a major credit rating agency, the decline in the value of Canadian real estate will continue into next year. The 2023 projection that was provided by Fitch Ratings predicts significantly lower property prices for the following year. After three decades of steady price growth with no signs of abating, the affordability of housing is at an all-time low. When high rates are included in the equation, a decrease in demand is likely to occur in the near future as housing prices adjust. It is also anticipated that the cooling market will create a significant increase in the number of delinquencies. It is anticipated that prices of Canadian real estate will drop next year The recent prediction of declining real estate values across Canada was made by Fitch Ratings, the most recent company to make such a prediction. It is anticipated that prices will drop by between 5% and 7% in the year 2023, representing a nominal decrease of 15% from the peak to the trough. When inflation is at such a high level, it is essential to emphasise the importance of nominal terms. It is anticipated that prices would resume their upward trend in 2024, albeit at a slower pace than usual. The Rate of Canadian Mortgage Defaults Is Expected to Sharply Increase The percentage of Canadians who are behind on their mortgage payments is expected to climb dramatically during the next few months. The Fitch Ratings prognosis for the delinquency rate in 2023 is 0.25%, which is an increase of 11 basis points (bps) from this year’s projection. The increase is quite dramatic when one considers that it indicates more than a 75 percent increase in mortgage delinquencies. The rate is still quite low, and it is mostly compensating for the historically low rates that are typical of bubbles. Indeed, there is a low rate of delinquency in bubbles. According to the company, there is no justification for going into default if the residence is sold in a matter of days or less. If the market is doing well, a borrower who is having trouble can sell their home and avoid going into default on their mortgage. Fewer people are willing to acquire that property at this price since it is not affordable for them, and demand is not particularly strong. In most cases, this is what causes an increase in criminal behaviour. Homeowners in Canada are sitting on a mountain of equity, which will help keep interest rates from becoming unreasonably high. They have the ability to draw on or borrow against, that equity if they find themselves in a difficult situation regarding the cost of living. It also means that they will have a lower risk of entering a scenario in which they have negative equity and the lender forces them to sell the property. According to the projection made by the company, lenders have also been collaborating with borrowers. Numerous current borrowers have been receiving amortisation extension offers from financial institutions. It will set you back more money, but the higher interest rates will make it less likely that you will default on your payments. The latest company to make these predictions is Fitch Ratings, which sees a decline in housing prices and an increase in defaults. Companies such as BMO, Oxford Economics, and RBC have all predicted more significant price declines in the future. This is most likely attributable to the more pessimistic outlooks that those companies have in contrast. If the economic contraction is more severe than expected, Fitch anticipates a further fall in prices.

Fitch Ratings: Canadian Real Estate Prices to Drop Double-Digit, Delinquencies Rise Read More »