CategoryMortgage Trends

Posted April 21, 20151 Comment Bank News

CMHC increased insurance premiums… again.. but still cheaper than 10 yrs ago.

Last May, CMHC increased all their insurance premiums. The move wasn’t really a surprise to industry insiders. CMHC’s product line has been reduced. No more rental property mortgages. No more refinancing mortgages. No more secured lines of credit mortgages.

That’s a big chunk of business gone. And when revenues go down for this crown corporation, what do they do? They do what every reputable govt corp does. They raise fees and make the consumer pay more! (check out my charts below) Continue reading “CMHC increased insurance premiums… again.. but still cheaper than 10 yrs ago.”

Posted February 28, 2015 Mortgage News

Mortgage Rates hit Record lows again!

This isn’t 2010, 11, 12, 13 or even 2014… It’s 2015, and once again, we are making this announcement. 5 year Fixed Mortgage rates are an new all-time lows! Today, you can get a 5 yr fixed rate for 2.79%, even 2.74%, with some conditions. (and by the way, yes, I am seeing slightly lower rates advertised, and I have access to these, but I won’t recommend these to my clients as they contain inferior terms, limited privileges, product restrictions and inflated prepayment penalty calculations… I won’t promote these.)

Just 2 years ago, the Federal Minister of Finance’s office picked up the phone, and called a Bank because they were advertising a 5 yr fixed rate at 2.99%. The federal govt was concerned that the record low rate, at the time, would promote more consumer spending and make the already hot real estate market, even hotter. Continue reading “Mortgage Rates hit Record lows again!”

Posted February 24, 2015 Interest rates

Will Variable rates increase as Bank Prime drops?

Here’s a warning to all…. Watch out for the BANKS to increase their Variable rate mortgage pricing. History tells us that when the Bank of Canada lowers their Target Rate, and the Bank Prime falls, Variable rate mortgage pricing increases.

If you have a mortgage coming due in the next 4 months, speak with a mortgage broker to get you a rate hold immediately!

Today, you can get Prime less 0.65% on a Variable rate mortgage. That’s 2.85% – 0.60% = 2.20%. THIS PRICE COULD DISAPPEAR! 2.20% is a great rate! No one would argue that. The BANKS are counting on you to be content with that 2.20% rate. On March 4th, the Bank of Canada meets again to set the Target Rate. And all indications point to another 0.25% reduction. Continue reading “Will Variable rates increase as Bank Prime drops?”

Posted February 3, 2015 Mortgage News

Record low Bond yields means even lower fixed mortgage rates

Fixed mortgage rates are tied into Govt of Cda bond yields. As the yields go done, so does the fixed mortgage rates.. well, usually.. more on that later..These bond yields have hit all-time lows in the past week… Yesterday, they were as low as 0.55%... To put that into perspective, the 5 yr bond yield is lower than the Bank or Canada overnight rate, which now stands at 0.75%. Another historical event. That almost never happens.

Check out these 2 historical charts to compare the Bank of Canada rate from 1935 to Dec 2014 and 5 year Govt of Cda bond yield from 1980 to Dec 2014….

If you’re wondering what this means for you, a Canadian consumer, it means mortgage rates should go even lower. Institutional investors are pricing in a further Bank of Canada rate cut at their next schedule meeting on March 4th, 2015. Continue reading “Record low Bond yields means even lower fixed mortgage rates”

Posted January 29, 20153 Comments Bank News

BIG SIX BANKS finally cut Prime rate.. Well, sort of…!

Last week, the Bank of Canada (BoC) cut their overnight rate by 0.25%. The move surprised all the so-called ‘Financial Experts’… (well, not me… As I had suggested rates were likely to drop in the previous week’s article and also in the previous month).

Our BIG SIX BANKS had their own surprise for us. Instead of passing along the usual rate cut to consumers, they sat on their hands and did nothing. In fact, TD Bank felt good about it and made public statements about how their Bank Prime rate wasn’t fully influenced by the BOC rate. (That’s such a load of bull, you can almost smell it coming out of your screens!)

And also last week, the Banks immediately cut the rate they pay you on your savings by that same 0.25%. Continue reading “BIG SIX BANKS finally cut Prime rate.. Well, sort of…!”