interest rates Archives

Interest-free loans for eco-friendly home upgrades

Blogs / Amy / 8 October 2022 / city of toronto, Eglinton Avenue East, IBI Group, interest rates, residential lobb, retail space, Scarborough, two-story townhomes

Interest-free loans for eco-friendly home upgrades The federal government has announced a new initiative that allows Canadians to apply for interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to make their homes more environmentally friendly. A total of 175,000 Canadians might benefit from the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, which will grant loans ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 for substantial green renovations in their homes. Originally only offering subsidies ranging from $125 to $5,000 to homes implementing environmentally friendly improvements, this is a brand-new component of the initiative, which was announced in May of 2021. It is open to Canadians who live in one of the following types of residences: single- or semi-detached house, row or town house, mixed-use building, mobile home on a permanent base, permanently moored floating home, or three-story residential building. Depending on the results of an energy advisor’s assessment, only certain types of retrofits are eligible for coverage under the program’s guidelines. A solar panel system is one example of a renewable energy source that can be used in conjunction with other energy-saving measures like better insulation, windows, doors, and thermostats. Air conditioners, skylights, tankless water heaters, and roofs are among the retrofits that aren’t covered by the programme. Anyone who doesn’t reside in a northern or off-grid community will also have to pay for their own furnaces and boilers. Landlords, tenants, and anybody else who has begun or finished a retrofit cannot apply for the grants or loans. In addition, newly constructed homes are disqualified. Homeowners who are applying for the first time or have an open application can take advantage of this initial phase of the Greener Homes loan programme. Homeowners who have already received a grant but still have suitable retrofits they’d like to complete will be able to apply for the second round of grants, which will begin in the fall. After announcing an additional $458.5 million investment in the Canada Greener Homes initiative as part of its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the federal government has now officially launched the programme. Grant and loan applications can be submitted online by Canadians. Natural Resource Canada then assesses and approves the applications that have been submitted to them. Greener Homes Initiative offers a $600 grant to cover the cost of a pre-retrofit evaluation, and applicants can choose which retrofits they want to do depending on the evaluation report. Afterward, a post-retrofit review is conducted. There is a 10-year repayment period for those who have borrowed money. Grants totaling $38 million have been awarded to 10,300 households as of June 8th under the Greener Homes project. According to a June 17 update on the programme, “it represents grants in the hands of three-quarters of all homeowners who have completed their retrofits to date.” After receiving the final invoices and documentation from the homeowner, our team has worked diligently to process payments within our typical service time of 40 business days. As of right moment, we are fulfilling this criterion 92% of the time, exceeding our goal of 90% and increasing our speed.” Related posts. Expert’s Reaction to the increasing rates by the Bank of Canada by admin123 Living in Main Floors- A Great matter of importance for Aging Canadians who want a Pleasant Life Ahead by admin123 National home prices historically higher, listings terribly low by admin123 Housing prices kicks off, stuck historically high, but trended lower in January by admin123 Soleil Condominiums by Mattamay to beam in Milton by admin123 As home prices rise, Ford wants to approve developments as soon as possible by admin123

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Inflation will slow Canada’s economy this summer.

Blogs / Amy / 8 October 2022 / Canada, canadian, Canadian economy, central bank, Consumer Price Index, economy, financial crisis, fixed interest rates, high inflation, inflation, interest rates, low-interest rates, overnight rate, terminal rate

Inflation will slow Canada’s economy this summer. Canada’s hot economy necessitates pumping the brakes. According to RBC Economics’ recent study on inflation, that was the takeaway. Inflation is so high that the world’s central banks have no choice but to raise interest rates aggressively. The new strategy is to bring inflation (and the economy) down quickly by returning interest rates to more normal levels. Summer is expected to be the first sign of the slowdown, which will begin long before inflation has stabilized. Although the Canadian economy appears strong, a decline in demand is expected soon. Artificially low-interest rates have propelled the Canadian economy into overdrive. RBC expects Canada’s GDP will rise at a rate of 0.3 percent in April, which is higher than the initial 0.2 percent estimate from Statistics Canada. This year’s increase in Alberta’s oil production has resulted in an economic boon for the region (and budgets). With data going back to the 1970s, unemployment is at the lowest level ever recorded. All of these macroeconomic indicators are life-or-death for Canada. Even though it doesn’t feel like it, the economy is in fact flourishing While the present economic background appears to be extremely robust, rising interest rates are increasing the cost of debt servicing for Canadians. According to Nathan Janzen, associate chief economist at RBC, “this increase will eventually cause erosion of demand.” Let’s go back to the “artificially low rates” part. The recovery of the economy was aided by the utilization of massive sums of inexpensive capital. Canada, for example, recovered considerably more quickly than projected after the financial crisis. However, even after a full recovery, it didn’t slow down. In fact, low-interest rates are still providing demand stimulus. Low-interest rates raise a difficult question: What do they really represent? Many people think in terms of absolute numbers or comparisons to last year’s results. Some say it’s low by historical standards (it is very low compared this way). According to some, it’s high because it’s above the levels that were witnessed a few years ago. For the most part, analysts focus on the current interest rate with respect to the long-term interest rate target range. When the current interest rate is lower than the final interest rate, we say that we have a low-interest rate. It is predicted that the terminal rate is between 2 and 3 percent, where monetary policy is no longer stimulating. Inflation rises more quickly when the overnight rate is lower than the terminal rate. Helping demand and inflation, Canada’s overnight interest rate currently stands at 1.5 percent. It’s still true. As a result, inflation is on the rise, is it ever on the rise. For the first time since 1983, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) grew at a 7.7% annual rate in May. Historically, the general consensus was that we would never again see interest rates this high under the leadership of modern, technologically advanced central banks. Higher-than-expected inflation now threatens to stifle growth. We’d utilize artificially low-interest rates all the time if there were no consequences. The problem is, that’s not the case at all. When demand exceeds supply, inflation occurs, resulting in higher but unproductive prices. Households often cut back on discretionary expenditure in order to pay for the additional costs. A family’s ability to afford groceries may be improved if they eat out less. The restaurant will have to reduce expenses as a result of the income reduction. In order for the economy to slow down, it has to start with one person. Because of this, Janzen believes that Canada’s central bank will have to raise interest rates even more aggressively in the near future since the CPI rose to 7.7 percent in May. In the same way, boosting interest rates can be used to reduce demand and thereby reduce inflation. As a result, interest payments consume more of a borrower’s discretionary income. There are of course a lot fewer debtors than currency holders. The path of least resistance is to raise the interest rate. As a result, Janzen expects the Fed to use higher interest rates to curb inflation. Bank of Canada (BoC) and US Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate hikes are expected to pick up pace, according to RBC’s projection. According to these forecasts, the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates by 0.75 percentage points in July. This summer’s demise will be brought on by inflation or increased interest rates. An inflationary recession is less likely if the economy slows as a result of increasing interest rates. That’s a win in a sense. Related posts. Expert’s Reaction to the increasing rates by the Bank of Canada by admin123 Living in Main Floors- A Great matter of importance for Aging Canadians who want a Pleasant Life Ahead by admin123 National home prices historically higher, listings terribly low by admin123 Housing prices kicks off, stuck historically high, but trended lower in January by admin123 Soleil Condominiums by Mattamay to beam in Milton by admin123 As home prices rise, Ford wants to approve developments as soon as possible by admin123

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Advantages and disadvantages of Mortgage Broker

Blogs / Amy / 4 August 2022 / interest rates, lenders, mortgage broker

Advantages and disadvantages of Mortgage Broker When you picture yourself getting a mortgage, you perhaps imagine heading to your local bank branch to deliberate down with a mortgage specialist to discuss your choices. This was once the standard process, but today it might be a mistake. Mortgage brokers are becoming very popular than ever, and are often a fine choice. Of course, whether you’re buying your first home or you’re a long-serving property owner, the emphasis on securing the lowest possible mortgage price can’t be overstated. But are mortgage brokers better? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about using a mortgage broker. Who is a mortgage broker? A mortgage broker is a one-stop for mortgages. Unlike your local bank, which can only offer you a mortgage and mortgage rate from their suite of products, Mortgage brokers have access to many lenders When you make an appointment with a mortgage broker, it’s just like you’re making an appointment with the major banks, except you only need to meet with one person. A mortgage broker has access to products from multiple lenders. Pros and cons of using a mortgage broker So, should you use a mortgage broker? While we think that working with a broker is generally a good option for most people, its better to weight the pros and cons yourself. Advantages A Broker May save You Legal work Mortgage brokers have contact with a variety of lenders, some of whom you may not even know about. They can also steer you away from certain lenders by finding out the inconvenient payment terms hidden in the contracts. For a better knowledge of the mortgage rates, it is better to do a good research online and use the mortgage calculator further. Such tools will enable you to make a comparison in the rates and will act as additional knowledge while assessing the credibility of a mortgage broker. Mortgage Brokers Have Better Access Brokers act as gatekeepers to bring in clients, thus when it comes to getting some good clients, several lenders team up with the brokers. Moreover, it is difficult to contact the lenders directly to get information about retail mortgages. Moreover, the mortgage brokers can also manage to get you the best and most suitable price from the lenders due to their reach and their credibility. Thus, you can sometimes expect to get good rates as compared to what you would have got without their assistance. Expert assistance Brokers are experts at what they do and are accustomed to working with borrowers who may have unique needs; they have the best deals suitable to you such as freelancers or those with poor credit ratings. As they offer impartial advice on a broad range of lenders, they will also advise you on the best. Working with the mortgage broker will save your time and energy. Disadvantages A Broker’s Interests May Not Align With Your Own Your goal in looking for a mortgage is to find one with an affordable interest rate and with affordable fees. A broker’s goal, therefore, is to get you into a mortgage that maximizes their compensation also. The 2008 market crash revealed that many brokers were getting their clients into mortgages that they could not afford over time. Broker May Owe a Fee Mortgage brokers are paid either by the lender or by you. If the mortgage lender covers the fee, then it might include the broker’s commission as well, which might be a good deal for the broker but a bad one for you. Moreover, if the mortgage broker has chosen a specific lender for you, then the mortgage rates might not be quite suitable as well. Often they put their needs above the needs of the clients. Lack of familiarity and experience If you’ve never used a broker before, you’ll need to establish a relationship with a new one. It may take a few tries before you find a good fit. A lot of mortgage offices hire inexperienced mortgage brokers who might lack the inside knowledge much needed for this profession. Thus, an inexperienced mortgage broker will not be able to get the best deal for you. More documents may be needed If you do not have a good relationship with the mortgage broker, it might cost you some extra efforts. Moreover, you will be required to provide an extra set of documentation, as there are a lot of lenders who avoid working with mortgage brokers. According to some lenders, the mortgage rates initiated by the broker can encourage problems when compared to those obtained from direct lending. Conclusion Working with the mortgage broker will save your time and efforts during the application phase. Potentially a lot of money over the life will be used. Every mortgage broker has a relationship with a different mortgage broker. Related posts. Advantages and disadvantages of Mortgage Broker by admin123 Federal Ontario gives an investment of $259M for each GM for Oshawa by admin123 A rise in the Canada home prices again, 20th month in a row by admin123 A collaboration on transit-oriented communities by admin123 Canada housing plans considered vague by BMO by admin123 High mortgage rates to overwhelm Canadian housing by admin123

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Central banks blamed for majority of global real estate price increase

Blogs / Amy / 2 August 2022 / Bank of International Settlements, Canada, Central banks, Cheap loans, global real estate, global real estate prices, Global synchronization, Housing demand, housing price, inflation, interest rates, Investors, policy, Real Estate Risks

Central banks blamed for majority of global real estate price increase What factors are contributing to the rise in global property prices? Well, it’s all about the money. This is a condensed version of the findings from the study conducted by the Bank of International Settlements (BIS). The Bank for International Settlements (BIS), which is known as the central bank for central banks, recently issued a warning the risks to global home prices are being formed. According to the findings of their researchers, the majority of the progress made since 2020 can be attributed to monetary policy. A synchronization risk was created as a result of countries adopting policies that were similar to one another. These risks have the potential to become a significant threat to the economy if higher interest rates and less leverage are not implemented. Gains in Global Real Estate Price are Unusual It appears that the majority of people are under the impression that real estate prices go up when interest rates go down. When the first signs of a recession appeared, it was obvious that this was an excellent time to purchase a house. Before the most recent economic downturn, this was never the situation at all. In the past forty years, when the economy has entered a recession, home prices have followed suit and fallen. The researchers discovered that this decrease, which follows an economic shock, typically lasts for four quarters. Home prices shot up during the pandemic and completely disregarded the slump that was occurring at the same time. The researchers wrote that there was not even a temporary drop, and the tone of their writing almost sounds shocked. In addition, a phenomenon known as credit contraction took place during this most recent economic downturn. Or, more specifically, an insufficient amount of credit contraction. In times of economic hardship, individuals typically cut back on the amount of debt they are carrying. However, rather than taking a step back, central banks poured massive amounts of liquidity into the market. They flooded the market with cheap credit, which led to an increase in the number of liabilities being carried. It’s possible that this was the only recession in history from which households emerged even more financially stretched than before. It would be understating the extent of how unusual this path was for home prices during a recession. Global Home Prices Surged As Easy Money and Investors Flooded The Market According to the study, global real estate prices increased for several reasons. After the caused recession, economies recovered far faster than projected. There were few opportunities to spend your spare money, therefore household savings surged. The financial aid was helpful, but its overuse may have produced a moral hazard. Supply chain constraints are real, and they might contribute to inflation. Even so, none of these factors had much of an impact on housing values when compared to… anyone? Bueller? Bueller? That’s correct, it’s easy money. The idea essentially consisted of flooding the financial sector with cheap and easy debt. Some people made educated guesses at first and didn’t make any modifications until two years afterward. To call it imprecise would be an understatement. Housing demand soared in most Western economies as a result of the cheap money. “Above all, exceptionally easy financing conditions have boosted demand for housing further amid the strong liquid asset positions of households and support from other factors,” the researchers wrote. “Households looking to be owner-occupiers can borrow at historically low nominal and real interest rates. In addition, gross rental yields are well above bond market returns in AEs, turning dwellings into attractive assets, including in the buy-to-let segment,” explains the researchers Cheap loans didn’t merely stimulate owner-occupied home sales, as per the narration. Investors recognized an arbitrage opportunity to take a loan at low rates and transform it into rental yield. It’s an element of yield hunting, a practice that skyrocketed in growth during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) (GFC). Due to low market bond rates, investors were obliged to convert Millennial rent payments into regular payments. Following the 2020 Rate Cut Extravaganza, the investor tendency accelerated. Investors now account for more than a quarter of house sales in countries like Canada. A quick search on TikTok reveals a plethora of popular accounts detailing how to make real estate investments. How could they leave this chance? “The inflation-hedging features of housing may also have had a role,” the BIS says. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, this was a popular housing strategy. Some people were fortunate in escaping rising inflation and interest rates. Normalization of inflation quickly turned the bubble into a disaster. Let us now turn our attention to dangers. Synchronization of global real estate prices is usually bad news. Global synchronization of property prices was detected by BIS analysts, which is never a good omen. We’ve discussed synchronization previously, but the point is that it occurs when assets begin to behave similarly. It’s characterized by a non-productive economy with plenty of cash but inadequate parking spaces. Everything inflates when there is so much money that can’t be navigated properly. In this situation, it makes no difference if the home is in a suburb or a city, Vancouver or Poughkeepsie, because values are growing. When it comes to financing, synchronization nearly always equals increased risk. When assets share the same driver, they tend to behave similarly. It’s the polar opposite of diversification, which spreads risk and reduces damage. Synchronization converts an asset group into a cascade of dominoes, each one waiting for the next to fall. “… the international synchronization of house prices has strengthened. More than 60% of house price movements can now be explained by a common global factor. One reason for this much higher synchronization is that the pandemic has been truly global, thus inducing similar policy reactions and flattening yield curves worldwide,” wrote the researchers. In other words, property values in these areas were driven by monetary policy. It wasn’t local characteristics that created

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A hint on change in Canada’s ‘stress test’ rules before year’s end

Blogs / Amy / 2 August 2022 / bank of canada, banking regulator, Canada, Canadian banking, Canadian housing, Canadian housing market, Canadian lending industry, home prices, Homebuyers, housing season, interest rates, Mortgage brokers, mortgage insurance, mortgage practices, mortgages, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board

A hint on change in Canada’s ‘stress test’ rules before year’s end Mortgage brokers argue that given the slowdown in the housing market, the Canadian banking regulator should relax its “stress test” qualifying rate for mortgages and make it easier to qualify for a mortgage. This week, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions issued a statement in which it alluded to the possibility that it might make “adjustments” to its qualifying rate before the end of the year. A review of the qualifying rate is performed by the regulator and then communicated to the general public every December, in advance of the hectic spring housing season that follows the following year. This week, however, the office, which is an independent federal agency that is responsible for supervising hundreds of financial institutions and over a thousand pension plans in Canada, suggested that an announcement may be forthcoming before the end of this year. According to a statement released by the regulatory body on Thursday,“Throughout the rest of the year, OSFI continually monitors the Canadian housing market and mortgage practices, and may make adjustments at any point if necessary for the health of the Canadian lending industry.” Some people working in the real estate industry see this as a sign that the office ought to take action and, in all likelihood, will do so given the rise in interest rates that has occurred this year and the resulting decrease in home sales. The most recent statistics released by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board indicate that the housing market in the region reached its highest point in the month of February when houses and condos sold for an average of $1.33 million. The average price in the region dropped to $1.25 million as a result of a number of factors, including the Bank of Canada’s decision to raise interest rates in April and the expectation that they will do so again soon. Despite this, prices are still 15% higher than they were at this time last year. “The market is softening, prices are coming down. They (OSFI) did the stress test to cool the market. They don’t need any cooling of the market anymore. It’s already there now,” said mortgage broker Kim Gibbons. In order to avoid having to pay for mortgage insurance, homebuyers are required by the rules to demonstrate that they are able to afford mortgage payments at an interest rate of 5.25 percent or their mortgage contract rate plus two percent, whichever is higher. Homebuyers who have made a minimum down payment of 20 percent are exempt from this requirement. They were implemented in 2016 and 2017 with the goal of reducing overall market activity and preventing buyers from feeling overly pressured by rising interest rates. According to comments made by mortgage brokers in Thursday’s edition of the Star, the current average interest rate for mortgages with fixed terms of five years ranges from 4.19 to 4.25 percent. A borrower would need to demonstrate that they are capable of paying an interest rate that is as high as 6.25 percent in order to qualify for a loan with the requirement of a two percent plus contract. Gibbons believes that this is unreasonable and that it “doesn’t make sense” given the current state of affairs. “As things stand now they have got to do something,” Gibbons added. “Clients are going to alternative sources of lenders, credit unions where you don’t have to do two percent above the contract rate to qualify. People can qualify with credit unions much easier,” she said. “The stress test takes away about 20 percent of your purchasing power. Not always, but that’s kind of the rule.”Mortgage broker True North Mortgage, headquartered in Toronto, and its chief executive officer Dan Eisner are both of the opinions that the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions will step in before the end of the year. According to Eisner if the “If the current housing market continues on a downward trend in home prices, that will give a lot of headroom to OSFI to reduce the stress test rate and requirements for the contract rate plus two percent before the end of the year.” ”I wouldn’t be surprised if they just eliminate the contract rate plus a two percent portion of the stress test; it’s a bit too aggressive. It doesn’t make sense when the fixed rates are in the four percent levels,” Eisner said. Related posts. Expert’s Reaction to the increasing rates by the Bank of Canada by admin123 Living in Main Floors- A Great matter of importance for Aging Canadians who want a Pleasant Life Ahead by admin123 National home prices historically higher, listings terribly low by admin123 Housing prices kicks off, stuck historically high, but trended lower in January by admin123 Soleil Condominiums by Mattamay to beam in Milton by admin123 As home prices rise, Ford wants to approve developments as soon as possible by admin123

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April witnessed a fall in home sales as mortgage rates increase

Blogs / Amy / 2 August 2022 / bank of canada, benchmark price, Canadian housing, Canadian Real Estate Association, fixed rates, Greater Toronto, home price, home price index, home sales, Homebuyers, housing market, interest rates, mortgage rates, mortgage stress test, single-detached homes, townhomes, Vancouver

April witnessed a fall in home sales as mortgage rates increase The Canadian Real Estate Association reported on Monday that rising mortgage rates caused a slowdown in the pace of home sales in April compared to the frenetic pace they started the year at. According to the findings of the association, the number of homes sold in May 2022 fell to 54,894 from 73,907 in April 2021, which was the month that the nation set a record for the number of sales in the month. Compared month-over-month, sales in April were down 12.6% when compared with sales in March; however, April still ranked as the third-highest sales figure ever recorded for the month of April, just behind 2021 and 2016. “The demand fever in Canadian housing has broken and, who would have thought, all it took was a nudge in interest rates by the Bank of Canada to change sentiment,” said BMO Capital Markets senior analyst Robert Kavcic, in a note to investors. According to CREA, a significant portion of the slowdown can be attributed to rising fixed mortgage rates, which have been on the rise since 2021 but have had a more significant impact in the most recent months. Over the course of one month, the association noted that the typical discounted five-year fixed rates increased by approximately three to four percent from their previous levels. The rate also has an impact on how well buyers perform on the mortgage stress test. This test used to require buyers with uninsured mortgages — borrowers who had made a down payment of at least 20 percent — to carry a mortgage rate that was either two percentage points above the contract rate or 5.25 percent, whichever was greater. The rate currently has an impact on how well buyers perform on this test. According to CREA, the stress test for fixed borrowers has recently moved from 5.25 percent to the low 6 percent range, which represents another increase of approximately one percent in just one month. “People are nervous. They are thinking, ‘if I take on this mortgage when mortgage rates are going up and the price to (live) is more, what is going to happen?” said Anita Springate-Renaud, a Toronto broker with Engel & Völkers. She observed that many homes were still receiving multiple offers during the previous month, but the typical number of offers was now between two and three rather than twenty. “For buyers, this slowdown could mean more time to consider options in the market,” said Jill Oudil, CREA’s chair, in a news release. It is possible that for sellers, this will necessitate a return to marketing strategies that are more traditional. This shift in sentiment was reflected in the number of newly listed homes, which fell by 2.2 percent to 70,957 last month from 72,557 in March. On a seasonally adjusted basis, this decrease was due to a decrease in the number of newly listed homes. The number of newly listed properties fell to 91,559 in the most recent month, which is a decrease of 10.5% compared to April 2022’s total of 102,294 listings. Despite the fact that the CREA reported a slowdown in sales and a reduction in the number of listings, Canadians spent even more money on homes than they did in 2021. In April, the average price of a home across the nation was just over $746,000. This represents a 7.4 percent increase from the average price of about $695,000 in April of the previous year. The Greater Toronto and Vancouver areas were not included in this calculation, which resulted in a $138,000 decrease in the national average price, according to CREA. On the other hand, when taking into account seasonal factors, the national average home price dropped by 3.8 percent from $771,125 in March to $741,517 in the most recent month. In the most recent month, the home price index benchmark price reached $866,700. This represents a decrease of 0.6% from the previous month, but an increase of 23.76% from one year ago and 63.96% from five years ago. The benchmark price was the least expensive in Saskatchewan, where it amounted to $271,100, and it was the most expensive in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, where it was greater than $1.3 million. The housing markets in Ontario’s suburbs are the “shakiest” because of the way prices have dropped since their peaks in February, but he said that single-detached homes and townhomes appear to be cooling off the quickest. Related posts. Expert’s Reaction to the increasing rates by the Bank of Canada by admin123 Living in Main Floors- A Great matter of importance for Aging Canadians who want a Pleasant Life Ahead by admin123 National home prices historically higher, listings terribly low by admin123 Housing prices kicks off, stuck historically high, but trended lower in January by admin123 Soleil Condominiums by Mattamay to beam in Milton by admin123 As home prices rise, Ford wants to approve developments as soon as possible by admin123

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An increase in fixed rates by lenders, brings them closer to 4.5%

Blogs / Amy / 2 August 2022 / 5-year fixed rates, borrowers, borrowing costs, Canadian household, fixed interest rates, fixed mortgages, Government of Canada, Greater Toronto Area, home sales, Homebuyers, house prices, household debt, households, interest rates, mortgage, mortgage rates

An increase in fixed rates by lenders, brings them closer to 4.5% The previous week saw a rise in bond yields, which led to an increase in the variable and fixed mortgage rates offered by lenders across the country. Rates on 5-year fixed mortgages have been increased by 20 to 25 basis points at major financial institutions such as RBC, TD, and BMO, which all currently offer uninsured rates of 4.39 percent. This change comes after a nearly 10-bps increase in the yield on the Government of Canada’s 5-year bond, which is the benchmark for 5-year fixed rates. On Friday, the yield on a 5-year bond reached a new 11-year high when it closed at 2.88 percent. Bond yields have increased by more than 165 basis points since the beginning of the year. According to the data tracked by Rob McLister, rate analyst and editor of Mortgage Logic, the average uninsured 5-year fixed-rate among national lenders is now 4.37 percent. This represents an increase from the rate of 3.92 percent a month ago. The rate on an insured, fixed-rate mortgage for five years with a down payment of less than twenty percent has increased to 4.14 percent, from 3.78 percent one month ago. This represents an increase from the previous rate. That means that fixed interest rates have increased by approximately 40 basis points in the space of just one month. To put this into perspective, an increase in the rate of 50 basis points results in a roughly $25 higher monthly payment for every $100,000 of debt when amortised over a period of 25 years. New borrowers and those renewing a mortgage are facing significantly higher rates compared to just a few months ago and potentially double for those renewing a mortgage. While this does not affect the majority of borrowers with fixed rates, it does impact new borrowers and those renewing a mortgage. Following the Bank of Canada’s next rate decision meeting on June 1, at which it is anticipated that it will raise interest rates by another 50 basis points (bps), variable interest rates are likely to surge once more in the wake of this development. This may cause the prime rate, which is the rate used to price variable-rate mortgages and lines of credit, to rise to 3.70 percent. Impact of rising rates on mortgage borrowers “As interest rates march higher—we expect the overnight rate to hit 2% by October, a projection that increasingly looks conservative—borrowing costs for Canadians will also rise, leaving the average Canadian household to spend almost $2,000 more in debt payments in 2023,” say economists from RBC Economics. “This will erode spending power, especially for the lowest-earning fifth of households which spend 22% of their after-tax income on debt servicing (including mortgage principal and interest payments),” they add. On the other hand, RBC reports that the pandemic contributed to an increase in the amount of savings made by households in Canada. According to what the RBC economists wrote, the pandemic may have increased debt, but it also left Canadian households with an estimated savings balance of $300 billion. That is an enormous safety net, sufficient to cover approximately one and a half years’ worth of payments on the total Canadian household debt. Impact of rising rates on home prices The most recent housing data showed a significant decrease in home sales during the month of April; however, house prices have remained stable across the majority of the country, with the exception of Ontario. In the Greater Toronto Area, home prices have decreased by approximately 6 percent on average, but they have decreased by as much as 22 percent depending on the type of property and the particular region. Since benchmark prices are frequently a lagging indicator, it is likely that there will be additional price decreases in the months to come. In a recent post on move smartly, real estate analyst John Pasalis, president of Realosophy Realty, wrote that”…tomorrow’s homebuyers are going to have a much harder time paying today’s prices if they were paying 5% on their mortgage compared to the low 2% range just a few months ago, and the high 1% range a year ago.” Pasalis pointed out that some people have argued that this isn’t a concern because many borrowers have been qualifying at a stress test rate of at least 5.25 percent, but he suggests that this is an oversimplification of the situation. The mortgage stress test is currently used to qualify borrowers at a rate that is either the buyer’s actual mortgage rate plus 2 percentage points or the benchmark rate, which is currently 5.25 percentage points.According to what Pasalis has written, as these are dynamic measures that will change as rates do, the stress test will also increase, which will result in a reduction in the amount of debt a buyer can take on. He goes on to say that the contract rate influences how much mortgage debt the borrower is willing to take on. “A buyer who qualifies for a $1M mortgage may be willing to take on that much debt when interest rates are 1.75%, but less so when rates are 4% because under the higher rate their actual mortgage payment would be roughly $1,100 per month higher,” he wrote. As a result, if interest rates continue to trend higher, Pasalis says he “would not be surprised if we see some downward pressure on home prices over the next 9 to 18 months due to homebuyers being unwilling or unable to pay today’s prices at tomorrow’s higher interest rates.” Although, he adds that any price decline would “likely be a temporary one due to long-term fundamental factors that have been contributing to rising home prices in the Toronto area.” Related posts. Expert’s Reaction to the increasing rates by the Bank of Canada by admin123 Living in Main Floors- A Great matter of importance for Aging Canadians who want a Pleasant Life Ahead by admin123 National home prices historically higher, listings terribly low

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BMO concerned about the collapes in Canadian real estate

Blogs / Amy / 1 August 2022 / Alberta, bank of canada, BMO, BMO Capital Markets, borrowing rates, Canada, Canadian real estate, homeprice, Housing, housing bubbles, housing prices, interest rates, mortgage transactions, mortgages, Real Estate

BMO concerned about the collapes in Canadian real estate Everyone is interested in determining how low real estate prices can go in Canada now that the real estate bubble there has finally started to deflate. Over the course of the weekend, BMO Capital Markets provided clients with an analysis of the topic, including models and historical context. Increasing interest rates will undoubtedly bring about a correction because they will eliminate excessive leverage. Simply to account for the higher borrowing rates, prices will need to fall by a large amount. Concerning how long it will take for the market to recover, the only prior housing bubble in Canada that was nearly this magnitude took 15 years for the market to recover from. Historically, Canadian real estate prices have always adjusted to fundamentals Since the 1980s, BMO Research discovered that the cost of housing in Canada has climbed by approximately 3% annually. This is roughly a reflection of inflation, growth in real wages, and lowering interest rates. Remember that low-interest rates handled the majority of the heavy work, so don’t be surprised if it seems like a sharp slope for salaries. Housing often trades at a price that is in line with its liquidity, with the exception of when it’s in the midst of a bubble. People will only pay for something that makes sense to them, to put it in more eloquent terms. This has a direct bearing on the use of leverage in mortgage transactions. The conventional wisdom holds that a reduction in interest rates will make housing more affordable. On the surface, it makes perfect sense: paying less interest means more money can go toward paying down the debt. In point of fact, a decrease in interest rates results in an increase in the amount of leverage available to a buyer. The ability of purchasers to more readily tolerate price increases results in prices rising even more quickly. This is a point that has been emphasised in recent times by the Bank of Canada (BoC), but it appears that many people have ignored it. This will require a more in-depth discussion at another time, but it is essential to comprehend pricing adjustments. The rate of inflation is currently at an all-time high, while mortgage rates have recently fallen to an all-time low. Both of these factors contribute to a faster increase in leverage, which ultimately drives up housing prices. However, according to BMO, a third of today’s housing prices are the result of price fluctuations that have occurred during the past two years alone. That is far higher than low rates, and it is approximately ten times the historic average rate of growth. “We’ve long maintained that demographic and supply-side fundamentals have driven price gains, even in the early stages of COVID-19 alongside some economic adjustments. But, as we warned early last year, more recent price behavior has been driven by excess demand, market psychology and froth,” explained Robert Kavcic, a senior economist at BMO. Increasing interest rates will reduce some of that excess, which is already dampening the enthusiasm of speculators. “So, when we speak of a housing correction, it’s not a question of if, but where, how much, and for how long?” he said. Canadian Real Estate Is 38 Percent Overpriced And Requires A Substantial Decline Just To Accommodate Interest Rates How much will the market for Canadian real estate eventually correct? Home prices are approximately 38 percent overvalued, according to BMO’s estimations; the bank does not have a crystal ball. That does not necessarily mean that a correction of 38 percent is on the horizon. However, the level of overvaluation is so high that prices need to reduce in order to maintain the same level of affordability. Raised interest rates are nearly invariably the method that is used to eliminate excess price gains in housing bubbles. “After leaving policy too loose for too long, psychology and affordability have already been tested by just 75 bps of Bank of Canada tightening, and we expect another 125 bps by year-end,” warns BMO. In addition to putting a stop to speculative thinking, a rise in interest rates alters the perspective of buyers and investors. According to BMO, housing prices for purchasers go from being priced with mortgages at 1.5 percent to being priced with mortgages between 3.75 percent and 5.4 percent. In the event that housing prices remain flat and incomes continue to rise, prices will need to fall by between 10 and 20 percent for affordability to remain at its current level. That level may not have been able to be maintained over the long term, which would have meant that prices would have to go further lower. Investors face an additional challenge in the form of a reduction in attractiveness when there are higher financing expenses. According to projections provided by BMO, cap rates, often known as the rent collected from being a landlord, would need to increase to between 4 and 5 percent. That is a situation that investors encounter more frequently than not. At the moment, a significant number of investor landlords are not even receiving sufficient income to meet their expenses. They wind up increasing their rents out of their own pocket in exchange for the rise in the value of their home. Up until this point, it has been successful since prices have gone up, but if interest rates were to go down, this wouldn’t be the case. A twenty percent drop in price is necessary in order to bring cap rates back to reasonable levels if there are no gains. At the national level, a market breakdown, of course, varies greatly from place to place. Comparatively speaking, markets such as Alberta have values that aren’t as stretched as those in Ontario. Real Estate Corrections In Canada Took Up To 15 Years To Recover The length of time that a decline in housing prices lasted was extremely variable due to the absence of any predetermined guidelines regarding the matter. In order to

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