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Posted 1 Comment on Housing market is active but will slow in summer as it ALWAYS does.. Mortgage News

Housing market is active but will slow in summer as it ALWAYS does..

Much has been written about the Canadian housing market.  Even more about greater Toronto and Vancouver.  The pessimists are waiting for a collapse.  The optimists are hoping the prices keep going up.  Then there’s the realists.  They would like to see the market slow and maybe even for prices to go down, so that we don’t have a housing bubble. Which one are you?

When it comes to the housing market, I’m a realist.

Every Spring, for the last 10+ years, the real estate market in Canada heats up.  Prices increase, they sell faster, and supply can’t keep up with demand. It’s become the norm.  In June, July and August, the market gets very quiet and prices go down.  That’s right, they actually go down.

This year was no different except for 2 things..  Supply was very low in January, February and March, causing selling prices to jump as much as 20% over last year in some markets.   Now, let’s look more closely.. Continue reading “Housing market is active but will slow in summer as it ALWAYS does..”

Posted 1 Comment on Toronto 15% Foreign tax, new Rent controls… it changes nothing! Mortgage News

Toronto 15% Foreign tax, new Rent controls… it changes nothing!

15% Foreign home buyers tax, not a big deal

Last year, Vancouver introduced a 15% foreign homebuyers tax.  I predicted it would come to Toronto after 6 months.

Today, Ontario’s govt has copied Vancouver by introducing a 15% foreign homebuyers tax.   The hope is this will discourage foreign investors from buying and speculating on the Toronto housing market (by the way, there is no data to prove that foreign investors are a factor or contributing to the red hot housing market).

Vancouver tried this last year. But what happened?  The amount of sales slowed, but just temporarily. And house prices didn’t really drop.  This year, Vancouver house values are up over 3% and climbing.   Continue reading “Toronto 15% Foreign tax, new Rent controls… it changes nothing!”

Posted 2 Comments on Housing bubble is coming… again? Mortgage News

Housing bubble is coming… again?

You’ve seen them before.. but they went silent for a few years.  I’m talking about the housing bears.  The pessimists that say house prices are too high and will crash.  A housing bubble.

Are they right?  Maybe.  But here’s the thing.  We’ve been hearing that house prices are too high for over a decade.  One of the more vocal pessimists is David Madani, Economist for Capital Economics.

HOUSING BUBBLE?

Madani was on BNN this past week saying we are in a ‘Full blown housing bubble’.   Hmmm, that sounds familiar.  Let me think… when did I hear that before?  Oh, that’s right, 2011.   He said, we could see house prices drop by 25% in 2011.  And he was completely wrong. (hope you didn’t listen to him). Continue reading “Housing bubble is coming… again?”

Posted Mortgage News

Finally, a tax break on Land transfer tax.

ontario-govt

Did you get a larger Land Transfer Tax rebate?

If you bought a home this year, and you’re a first time home buyer, then you’ll pay less tax..   The Ontario provincial govt has doubled the rebate from $2,000 to $4,000.   The rebate is for qualified first time home buyers only.

They also eliminated Land Transfer tax on the first $368,000 of the purchase price for first time home buyers.    Hey, this is good news.  And I applaud the govt for giving for giving first time buyers a break.

They also increased the Land Transfer Tax for homes over $2million.  Here’s the old and new tax tables.

“Old” Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rates
Home Purchase Price             Tax Rate
Up to $55,000                                 0.5%
$55,000 to $250,000                    1.0%
$250,000 to $400,000                 1.5%
Above $400,000                             2.0%

And here’s the new formula…

“New” Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rates
Home Purchase Price             Tax Rate
Up to $55,000                                 0.5%
$55,000 to $250,000                    1.0%
$250,000 to $400,000                 1.5%
$400,000 to $2-million                2.0%
$2-million and over                       2.5%

Enjoy the savings..

Kinda strange..  Remember when the Kathleen Wynne govt was considering allowing other municipalities, other than Toronto, to introduce a new land transfer tax?   NO?  Well, I do.. and you shouldn’t forget it either.. click here to remember..  Keep this in the back of your mind .. Let’s hope this isn’t some sort of strategy to catch us with our guard down..

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@mortgagenow.ca

Posted Mortgage News

Coming soon…Higher CMHC premiums March 17, 2017

CMHCThis is not a recording.  CMHC is increasing their premiums for the 3rd time in 4 years.  Here’s what it will look like.

Loan-to-Value Ratio Standard Premium (Current) Standard Premium (Effective March 17, 2017)
Up to and including 65% 0.60% 0.60%
Up to and including 75% 0.75% 1.70%
Up to and including 80% 1.25% 2.40%
Up to and including 85% 1.80% 2.80%
Up to and including 90% 2.40% 3.10%
Up to and including 95% 3.60% 4.00%
90.01% to 95% – Non-Traditional Down Payment 3.85% 4.50%

 

Wondering why they need to increase the premiums?  It’s not about trying to discourage homebuyers.  It’s to “preserve the returns on capital”, according to Steven Mennill, SVP CMHC.  Yup, the Crown corporation wants to focus on profit.  (show me the money).  At least they’re being honest about it. The overall amount of mortgages insured by CMHC has dropped in the past 4 years.  Down from $576billion to around $512billion.   So, it’s about maintaining profits while their book of business is shrinking.

Having said that, CMHC has lowered, increased and lowered their insurance premiums before.  We can expect them to change and adjust again.

In case you are wondering why the overall volume is going down when house prices are going up, it’s because the Fed govt has changed the mortgage rules so that it becomes more difficult to qualify for a mortgage.  Therefore, the amount of mortgages CMHC can insure is going down.

Now for some good news..

The overall cost to your mortgage is minimal.  Oh yeah, one more thing…without CMHC, we would all be digging deeper into our pockets to come up with 20% or 25% down, like the old days.   And while some may think that is how it should be, those days are long gone.  First time homebuyers don’t have $100k, or $200k sitting around to buy a home.   They need help.. And what’s wrong with helping our youth that are ambitious enough to want to own a home?

CMHC is a necessary evil.

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@mortgagenow.ca