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First Bank of Canada raises rates; newspaper and counter sign announce a 0.25% increase.
Posted Bank News

First Bank of Canada rate hike in 3 years

The headlines are to get your attention. It’s incredible how many calls and emails our office received after the Bank of Canada governor, Tiff Macklem, raised the Bank Rate by 0.25% to 4.70% on October 28.  This is the 7th of 8 regularly scheduled rate announcement dates.  The next one is December 9.

The mainstream media is missing a few things or at least I am not seeing a lot of coverage about these things..

  • This is the first rate hike since July 2023.
  • This rate hike directly affects Variable rate mortgages.
  • Most variable rate borrowers have a rate of Prime less X.  This can vary but it’s anywhere from Prime less 0.25% to Prime less 1.10%.
  • Prime rate does not directly affect Fixed mortgage rates.
  • Historically, fixed rates already go up or down before the Prime rate.
Continue reading “First Bank of Canada rate hike in 3 years”
Posted Bank News

Ask the mortgage expert: What a U.S. Fed rate hike could imply for Canadian mortgage rates

When the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) raised rates on September 16, 2026, media headlines went into overdrive speculating whether the Bank of Canada (BoC) would follow suit. If you want to know what to expect for your monthly housing budget over the next 6 months to 5 years, look past dramatic breaking news, examine how Canada’s bond market reacted to the Fed hike, analyze domestic inflation metrics, and review multi-decade historical data.

Here is a breakdown for Canadian borrowers on how central bank hiking cycles work, what the data implies, and ways to help you navigate your mortgage strategy today. Continue Reading…

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.

Iran war inflation and market investment trends with charts and key sector highlights.
Posted Bank News

Mortgage expert alert: Will the Iran War and rising inflation offer a buying opportunity in 2026?

Escalating tensions in the Middle East have erupted into war between the US and Iran. Spiking oil prices from Strait of Hormuz blockages are already having an immediate, aggressive impact on your wallet, your household expenses, and crucially, your mortgage.

Historically, moments of extreme global panic can create generational buying opportunities in the Canadian real estate market.

Iran war’s instant tax on household expenses

When a major conflict breaks out in the Middle East disrupting 20% of the world’s oil consumption and LNG trade through the Strait of Hormuz, global energy markets panic.

Over the last month, global crude oil prices have surged significantly. As a result, gasoline has risen to a national average of $1.80 per liter according to CAA figures on April 6, just under year highs. This isn’t an isolated cost at the pump but an immediate, cascading tax on your entire household. Continue Reading …

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.

Posted Bank News

Stop Bleeding Cash: Why Your Mortgage is the Ultimate Financial Power Tool

Let’s have an honest conversation about the financial squeeze many Canadians are feeling right now.

Prices are up at the pump, at the grocery store, and certainly in utility bills. But for many homeowners, the real pressure isn’t just inflation; it’s the “silent killer” of accumulated consumer debt sitting on top of their mortgage.

I see it every day in my practice. Good people, with good incomes, who have managed to build significant equity in their homes, yet they are drowning in monthly payments because they are financing their lives using the wrong tools. They are using 19.99% credit cards and 11% lines of credit for expenses that should be financed at 4-5%.

It makes absolutely no financial sense.

Continue reading “Stop Bleeding Cash: Why Your Mortgage is the Ultimate Financial Power Tool”
Posted Bank News

Ask the mortgage expert: how Canada’s self-employed can unlock homeownership

For too long, Canada’s self-employed have faced a maddening paradox. The very financial strategies that prove your business savvy—like maximizing deductions to lower your taxable income—often become the biggest roadblocks to securing a mortgage.

As a mortgage broker, I see this scenario play out every week. I meet brilliant entrepreneurs, skilled contractors, and creative freelancers who have thriving businesses and excellent cash flow. Yet, they get turned away by traditional lenders fixated on a single line on a tax return. The story is always the same: “My business is having its best year ever, but the bank says I don’t make enough money.”

If this sounds familiar, take heart. The landscape has changed. Lenders and mortgage insurers now recognize the unique financial reality of the self-employed. A new generation of intelligent mortgage products has arrived, designed to look beyond your declared income and see the true financial strength of your business. The T4 slip is no longer the only golden ticket to homeownership. Continue Reading…

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.