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Posted 1 Comment on Bank of Canada Rate Cut July 2024: Impact on Mortgages and Economy Bank News

Bank of Canada Rate Cut July 2024: Impact on Mortgages and Economy

The Bank of Canada just cut the overnight rate by another 0.25%. For the second consecutive month, they’ve lowered the rate. In total, a 0.50% drop in two months. (not enough, but it’s a start) Great news for anyone in a Variable rate mortgage. It means you will be paying 0.50% less on your mortgage. We can expect further cuts this year and next. Read on for more details.

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Posted Consumer Debt

Why your groceries, homes and rents cost more. A Critical Analysis

The Bank of Canada put out a report entitled   What drives up the price of groceries?

They could have easily simplified the title to say “What Drives Up the Price of Everything”.  Their answer is the cost of ENERGY and the cost of labour. I’m going to remind you that this report is from the Bank of Canada.. “a Crown corporation that is separate from the political process” as their website says.   

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Posted Bank News

Why fixed rates haven’t dropped that much yet

Everything is playing out as expected.  Fixed rates have begun to fall, slowly.  But this isn’t unusual or unexpected.  If you’ve followed interest rate hikes and cuts, you’ll see a familiar pattern.  

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Posted Mortgage News

Finally!! The Bank of Canada cuts the rate. 

Today, the Bank of Canada cut the Prime rate by 0.25%.  Hooray!  This will directly affect Variable rate mortgages and indirectly affect Fixed rate mortgages. 

It has been 27 months since the Bank of Canada governor, Tiff Macklem, started hiking rates to combat inflation.  The last hike was in July 2023. Since then, it’s been a guessing game to see when Macklem would act.. Finally, he cut the rates which is much needed and welcome news to all.

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Posted Interest rates

Have Fixed mortgage rates hit the bottom?

record low ratesEarlier this year, Fixed rates hit new all-time lows.  This must sounds like a broken record, or for those in the modern error, sounds like a glitch or a skip (somehow, ‘broken record’ sounds better).

5 year fixed rates hit 2.59%.  This is the lowest we have ever seen. (before you start emailing me that you’ve seen lower rates, yes, I know.. I see them too and have access to them.. but those products are full of restrictions, limitations and inflated prepayment penalty calculations… for our purposes, I’m only discussing quality mortgage products with no gimmicks or strings attached).

Now, looking at the 5 yr govt of Cda bond yields (this is where fixed rates are closely priced from), we have seen this drop down to as low as 0.70%… it’s been holding steady in the 0.80% range since July.    Normally, the 5 fixed rate is priced 1.10% to 1.50% above the 5 yr bond yield..  but the spread has been at or over 1.79% for quite a while.   So, why haven’t the fixed rates gone down further? Continue reading “Have Fixed mortgage rates hit the bottom?”