Three in five Canadians say they do “a lot” of research before choosing their mortgage, according to a recent Ipsos poll. But when it comes to mortgage renewals, too many put in too little effort. Only 42% of renewal customers claim to do a...
Private (non-prime) lenders are getting tapped out across the country. Fisgard Asset Management Corporation, one of Canada’s largest mortgage investment corporations (MICs), is no exception. “It’s a dynamic time right now,” says Hali Noble, SVP at Fisgard. She explains that Home Capitals’ near-failure,...
Mortgage Finance Companies (MFCs) pitch themselves as a better alternative to the banks. But that’s definitely not true in all cases. Here’s one example. At the moment, certain MFCs are refusing to offer blends and increases and/or refinances to existing...
Lenders want to make sure you can afford higher mortgage payments if interest rates soar. So does the government. That’s why regulators created the mortgage qualifying rate (MQR) — a.k.a., “benchmark qualifying rate” or “benchmark interest rate.” The MQR is the interest...
When it comes to rate predictions, the bond market outwits us all. It incorporates every known economic variable to arrive at today’s level of interest rates and estimate future rates. Right now, the bond market is flashing two vivid signals: Rates are...
In just the latest reminder that banks value profit above PR, each of the Big 5 have hiked prime rate by a full 1/4 point. That means the rate variable mortgages are based on rises to 2.95% on Thursday, at most big lenders. Some had speculated (hoped) that...
The kingpin of Canadian interest rates has officially made it more expensive to borrow — for the first time since 2010. By boosting its overnight rate target 1/4%-point this morning, the Bank of Canada is jacking up interest costs roughly...
Canada’s banking overlord, OSFI, is proposing a new 2-percentage-point (200-bps) “stress test” for people getting uninsured mortgages. Unlike the current stress test, which is based on one rate (the Bank of Canada posted 5-year, currently 4.64%), this new one is a frequently...
OK, how do I put this in a way that doesn’t sound over the top or like fear mongering? There was this mortgage rule proposal today, and it was a Whopper. No. Actually, it was larger than that. More like a BK...
“It does look as though [rate] cuts have done their job.” That was Bank of Canada chief Stephen Poloz in a CNBC interview today. It was the second time he’s provided this “forward guidance,” and it’s about the closest thing you’ll hear...
