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A Financial Crisis Or Is It?

2025 will go down in history as one of those years filled with volatility and turmoil. There’s a quote from a book I read that seems appropriate today. “People want certainty versus accuracy.”  I hope to give you certainty by sharing my 36 year experience in financial services and having lived through 5 financial crises and living through a 6th crisis today.  

I’m going to take a risk and speak very bluntly.  This may anger or upset some of you. I apologize, I have to say some things. I have to point out the obvious.   

FIRST THE BAD NEWS…

I’m a math guy. Work with numbers every day. The stats don’t lie. Our economy, GDP, cost of living, housing costs, have all gone into the toilet.  You don’t need to look very far to believe this. Many of you have contacted me about job losses, or potential job losses.  Those secure in their jobs call me because they have increased their debt levels and this can be for many reasons.  The point is, many are having a hard time paying their debts.  

Continue reading “A Financial Crisis Or Is It?”
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Ask the Expert: Steve Garganis – With the capital gains tax hike on its way out, is this your chance to buy an investment property?

With the capital gains tax increase looking less and less likely, how should Canadians be thinking about investment properties? Is now the time to buy?

Earlier this year, the federal government announced that it will be deferring the effective date for the proposed capital gains inclusion rate increase to 66.67% from 50% to January 1, 2026.

The proposal to increase to the capital gains tax was first introduced last April applicable to gains above $250,000. (For gains below $250,000, the same 50% capital gains tax would apply.) However, the government didn’t have the opportunity to table the legislation before parliament was prorogued.

However, this capital gains tax increase would have left some people in a tough position.

Related: How capital gains taxes work in Canada

Some that entered into new construction agreements in 2022 were the most vulnerable, as they would have purchased when real estate values were inflated during the lower COVID-era mortgage rates. (However, this may not be the case for all, as property values in general, are down across Canada compared with 2022, with condos taking the biggest hit in Toronto and Vancouver.)

Family cottage owners and long-time property owners with larger capital gains would also be affected. Read More – Interview with Steve Garganis

I hope you will enjoy this article and if you have any questions or would like to discuss I am always available.

Your best interest is my only interest. I reply to all questions and I welcome your comments. Like this article? Share with a friend.

Steve Garganis: 416-224-0114; steve@canadamortgagenews.

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Tariffs Up but Mortgage Rates Down

 A quick note… we’ve all heard about the Trump Tariffs. It will make everything more expensive. Canada and also in the USA. It will put people’s jobs at risk, we are likely to see layoffs, and economists are forecasting for a recession. This is if the tariffs do go through and continue for over a month.

Now that I’ve cheered you up, here’s the good news. And there is some.  Mortgage rates are headed lower. Fixed rates and variable rates. The old rule of bad economic news brings lower interest rates is true. A few things to point out about How interest rates are calculated.

Continue reading “Tariffs Up but Mortgage Rates Down”
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Ask the Expert: Steve Garganis – How Trump’s tariffs will affect your Canadian mortgage

I will start with a quote from Trump’s book, The Art of the Deal

“I aim very high and then I just keep pushing and pushing and pushing to get what I’m after. Sometimes I settle for less than I thought but I still end up with what I want.“

In the summer of 2016, ahead of the U.S. election, I was sitting at a business dinner. In attendance was one guest who was from the U.S., who had a distinct southern drawl which drew attention from us Canadians.

At the time, presidential hopeful Donald Trump was being mocked and ridiculed by the media as joke. Nobody thought he would be voted in. Then this southern gentleman made this statement: I think Trump will win. We all laughed, but he said the people were tired of the status quo. They didn’t like where the country was going. They were not happy.

And that’s really what it came down to for him: When the masses are not happy in a democratic country, eventually there will be change.

The change happened quickly, and not just for Americans:  Read more – Interview with Steve.

 I hope you will enjoy this article and if you have any questions or would like to discuss I am always available.

Your best interest is my only interest. I reply to all questions and I welcome your comments. Like this article? Share with a friend.

Steve Garganis: 416-224-0114; steve@canadamortgagenews.

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Ask the Expert: Steve Garganis on how the US impacts Canadian mortgage rates

We all know that whatever happens in US it will affect Canada. Here is my next interview with RatesDotCa for their Ask The Expert edition – Steve Garganis on how the US impacts Canadian mortgage rates.

With President Trump making his return to the White House, financial markets are scrambling to make sense of what’s to come. And whatever our neighbours to the south do, Canada tends to follow. Here’s how this might shape your fixed mortgage rate in the near future. Read more – Interview with Steve

 I hope you will enjoy this article and if you have any questions or would like to discuss I am always available.

Your best interest is my only interest. I reply to all questions and I welcome your comments. Like this article? Share with a friend.

Steve Garganis: 416-224-0114; steve@canadamortgagenews.