Tag Archives: Fixed Mortgage

Deciding on Debt: How the New Rules Will Impact Your Mortgage Hunt

Two things are clear about the current Canadian housing market. First, interest rates are going to go up. The Bank of Canada governor, Mark Carney, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, and pretty much anyone involved in the banking industry has been warning of a hike, if not several, potentially before the end of the year. Second, the nation’s major banks have been offering absolutely amazing deals on long term fixed rate mortgages.

Which leads us to the million dollar question – is now the time to lock in a fixed rate or is a variable rate the way to go? Continue reading →

How Much Would an Interest Rate Increase Hurt Your Budget?

According to a recent study by the Bank of Montreal, four in ten Canadians would feel the pinch if best rate mortgages saw a two percent interest rate increase. The study, which was compiled by Leger Marketing, found that 43 percent of Canadian homeowners believe an interest rate increase would either hamper their ability to pay their mortgage or leave them on rocky financial footing.

The study also found that one out of every five Canadians surveyed felt that a two percent increase would hurt their ability to make their mortgage, while 23 percent were unsure how a hike would affect them. Just over half, 57 percent of respondents felt that they could still afford their home if interest rates were to increase (the survey was completed online with a national sample of 150 Canadians over the age of 18). Continue reading →

“Price War” Prompts TD and RBC to Up Rates

Canadian mortgage rates are on the rise again, reportedly thanks to “price-cutting” by some of the nation’s top banks. After briefly offering record-low rates of 2.99% on a 4-year fixed mortgage, both RBC and TD have raised rates by 40 basis points. The move comes rather unexpectedly; when the Royal Bank of Canada announced it was dropping their rates on January 13, the bank stated that they intended to keep the rates locked in the market until February 29. Continue reading →

Why Now is a Good Time to Buy

Thinking about buying a home? Well, stop thinking and start looking. The stars have aligned in the Canadian real estate market, creating what many in the industry are calling “the perfect storm” of market potential. From condos to single-family homes, now’s the time to lock in a mortgage rate and enter the world of real estate investing. Continue reading →

A Review of 2011 Mortgage Trends

The Canadian mortgage market experienced a number of changes this past year. There were some ups and there were certainly some downs. The following are some of the biggest trends from the past year, and how we expect the market to unfold in 2012. Continue reading →