The latest intel from Canada’s mortgage market… Tanker Attack Torpedoes Rates There were sparks this week in the powder keg that is the Middle East. Sea terrorism triggered fears of war and/or oil supply disruption. That led investors to pile back into “safe” Canadian government bonds. As is usual when the market goes into “risk-off” mode, bond prices rose and yields sank (the two...

Canada has a mortgage rate transparency problem. Too many lenders do not put their best cards on the table. To earn their best rate you have to dicker like you’re buying a rug at the bazaar. These rate games make borrowing cost comparisons needlessly more difficult and inefficient. And that’s exactly what some lenders are aiming for. Take this chart,...

Canada’s third-largest bank has an alluring new 4-year fixed rate. It’s the nation’s lowest 4-year fixed since December 2017. But that’s not the most interesting part. This marks the first time in our recollection that a major bank has widely advertised an online-only special and the industry’s best-discounted rate. It’s somewhat of a milestone in rate transparency, one inspired by consumers’...

Sub-2% rates are here again. This time from Toronto-based DUCA Financial Services Credit Union — for default-insured 2-year fixed mortgages. This brand new offer is easily the lowest 2-year fixed rate out there. In fact, it’s the lowest mortgage rate in Canada period, and 57 basis points below the country’s next best offer. “This product is designed to help out...

Banks seldom offer HELOCs for less than prime rate, unless it’s a short-term teaser rate. But suddenly we have two online banks selling HELOCs at discounts to prime. The latest is Tangerine. On Friday, Tangerine lopped 75 basis points off its HELOC rate — cutting it from prime + 0.65% (where it’s been for years) to prime – 0.10%, or 3.85%....

Quick takes from Mortgageland… Most 5-year Fixed Rates Now in the High 2’s If you’re out there mortgage shopping, you can thank Trump’s tariff madness for saving you some basis points. Trade uncertainty is pounding bond yields and fixed rates are slowly following (key word being “slowly”). Multiple big banks are now quoting sub-3% rates (non-publicly) for well-qualified borrowers. If yields...

Imagine spending hours of your life to: research the best mortgage negotiate for a better rate apply to refinance at a new lender answer all the new lender’s questions collect all your documents get an appraisal review all the paperwork submit all the documents find a lawyer to close the mortgage get ready to close …then be told just five...

Last meeting, the Bank of Canada finally shifted its rate outlook to neutral. After today’s meeting, the gear shifter is still firmly there. Here’s a quick glance at what the BoC did today: Rate Decision: No change Overnight rate: 1.75% Prime Rate: Prime rate remains at 3.95% Market Rate Forecast: Likely one rate cut by the end of 2020 BoC’s Headline Quote: “…the...

This week, the lowest 5-year fixed rates dropped back to 2017 levels. It only took a year and a half. Canada’s cheapest 5-year fixed mortgage is now 2.67% for default-insured applicants, the lowest since December 20, 2017. And fixed rates could keep dipping near-term. What’s Behind It With global growth worries weighing on the market, 5-year bond yields can’t get any...

Rarely have the heads of Canada’s housing agency and largest mortgage broker association been at such odds publicly. It feels like CMHC boss Evan Siddall and Mortgage Professionals Canada (MPC) chief Paul Taylor want to get in the ring and beat the stuffing out of each other. The former published his latest in a series of missives denouncing opponents of...