Where did all the first-time buyers go? New data from CMHC suggests there are noticeably fewer of them out there (stats below). Maybe they’re hibernating until they can save up a bigger down payment, amid home prices that (in many regions) remain near record highs. Or, perhaps fewer of them are able to pass the mortgage stress test given today’s...

More people are researching mortgages online before they confront a lender or broker. That’s the good news. The bad news is that less than 1 in 3 are using sites like this to research mortgage rates, if CMHC’s latest data is accurate. The percentage that do use rate sites is up materially from last year’s 22%, but still too many...

People are constantly hoping to time the rate market, despite how ineffective it may be. For the brave souls who try, here’s some interesting research from the U.S. Federal Reserve. One of its economists, Claudia Sahm, has documented a pattern in unemployment data. In her Fed report, she writes, “…Comparing the three-month average [U.S.] unemployment rate to its low over the prior...

If you knew where inflation was headed, you’d have a great chance of knowing where mortgage rates were headed. The latter rises and falls with the former. That’s why so many people try to predict inflation. Among the many who think they know where it’s going: The 100 senior Canadian businesspeople surveyed by the Bank of Canada every quarter 2...

When Scotiabank launched its eHOME Mortgage in March, it promised a faster, easier way to get a big-bank mortgage, with compelling rates to boot. Since then, industry-types have watched and wondered if eHOME would get much traction. It has. “When we built Scotiabank eHOME, we set out to create a unique mortgage experience for our customers, focused on simplicity, security, transparency...

Special to RateSpy, By John Bordignon, Capital Markets Consultant Earlier this year, while calling for innovation in the mortgage industry, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz discussed the need for mortgages longer than five years. Longer-term mortgages, he explained, would benefit both consumers and the Canadian financial system. Based on volumes to date, Poloz’s comments moved the needle only slightly...

The Bank of Canada said today that it’ll keep coasting on rates. But the market isn’t so sure. Investors think our central bank may have to cut sooner than some expect. Here’s a summary of this morning’s decision: Rate Announcement: No change Overnight rate: Remains at 1.75% Prime Rate: Remains at 3.95% Market Rate Forecast: One rate cut in 2020 BoC’s Headline Quote:...

The U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of Canada seldom make rate announcements on the same day, but tomorrow will be an interesting exception. No one expects any fireworks, but if you believe market expectations, the Fed will cut its key rate 1/4 point while the BoC does a whole lot of nothing. If it all plays out accordingly, it’ll be...

It seems you can’t read a story about reverse mortgages these days without some financial expert complaining about their interest rates. Case in point: Financial planner Rob Montague, who tells the Globe‘s Rob Carrick, “My beef with the reverse mortgage is the rate. I believe it is predatory.” Mr. Montague doesn’t share any math to justify his position, but that’s typical. With...

A new 5-year fixed will cost you more today than it did last month, but not as much as normal. Canada’s biggest banks have been boosting their advertised mortgage rates following a 1/4-point pop in their funding costs over the last two weeks. Let’s go to the charts… The following graph shows what’s been happening. It’s a picture of Canada’s...