Showing posts with label national-prices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label national-prices. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Bank of Canada announces no change in the interest rates today

Greeting from Fabulous Mississauga!

The Bank of Canada announced that they are not making a change to the interest rates today

They will be maintaining the overnight rate at the current level.  This is what the prime rate is based on.

This means that the prime rate remains 2.70%  This is the rate that lenders charge to their best customers.


This is what the Bank of Canada said today in their announcement.

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1/2 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 3/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 1/4 per cent.
Global economic growth is strengthening and becoming more broadly-based than the Bank had expected in its January Monetary Policy Report (MPR), although there is still considerable uncertainty about the outlook. In the United States, some temporary factors weighed on economic activity in the first quarter but the drivers of growth remain solid. The US is close to full employment, unlike many other advanced economies, including Canada, where material slack remains. Global financial conditions remain accommodative. The Bank expects global GDP growth to increase from 3 1/4 per cent this year to about 3 1/2 per cent in 2018 and 2019.
In Canada, recent data indicate that economic growth has been faster than was expected in the January MPR. Growth was temporarily boosted by a resumption of spending in the oil and gas sector and the effects of the Canada Child Benefit on consumer spending. Residential investment has also been stronger than expected. Employment data have been robust, although gains in hours worked are still soft. Meanwhile, export growth has been uneven in the face of ongoing competitiveness challenges. Further, despite a recent uptick in sentiment, business investment remains well below what could be expected at this stage in the recovery. Accordingly, while the recent rebound in GDP is encouraging, it is too early to conclude that the economy is on a sustainable growth path.
During the rest of this year and into 2018 and 2019, growth in Canada is expected to moderate but remain above potential. At the same time, its composition is expected to broaden as the pace of household spending, especially residential investment, slows while the contributions from exports and business investment increase. The Bank now projects real GDP growth of 2 1/2 per cent in 2017 and just below 2 per cent in 2018 and 2019. Meanwhile, the Bank has revised down its projection of potential growth, reflecting persistently weak investment. With this combination of a higher profile for economic activity and a lower profile for potential, the output gap is projected to close in the first half of 2018, a bit sooner than the Bank anticipated in January.  
CPI inflation is now at the 2 per cent target, largely because of the transitory effects of higher oil prices and carbon pricing measures in two provinces, as well as other temporary factors. The Bank’s three measures of core inflation, on the other hand, have been drifting down in recent quarters and wage growth remains subdued, consistent with material excess capacity in the economy. CPI inflation is expected to dip in the months ahead, as the temporary factors unwind, and then return to 2 per cent later in the projection horizon as the output gap closes.
The Bank’s Governing Council acknowledges the strength of recent data, some of which is temporary, and is mindful of the significant uncertainties weighing on the outlook. In this context, Governing Council judges that the current stance of monetary policy is still appropriate and maintains the target for the overnight rate at 1/2 per cent.
I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com


Thursday, June 11, 2015

Million dollar homes in Canada are not as common as you think

Hello from Beautiful Mississauga!

I just read this article in the Financial Post, the million dollar homes are not as common as you would think

Enjoy!
Mark


The Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals has analyzed data of some 1,400 home sales over the past 27 months and reports the following:
  • Only 1 percent of homes across the country — including condos, semis and detached homes — sell for $1 million or more.
  • Only 2 percent of detached homes across the country sell for $1 million or more — and the vast majority, 83 percent, sell for under $500,000.
  • Only 3 percent of homes in Ontario — the province with the largest share of million-dollar homes — sell for $1 million or more.

 This graph below shows average prices in GTA for single family homes:
 Read more about average prices in the GTA
Even in Metro Vancouver, a city where buying real estate has been compared to gold hoarding, nearly 70 percent of all sales clock in below $800,000.

That is: The average detached home may now run you $1.4 million, but most people are buying townhouses, which average between $300,000 and $800,000, or condos, which tend to fetch between $200,000 and $600,000.


Read the entire article at this page: million-dollar homes are not the new normal.

I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!
All the Best!
Mark
A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate

RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829  CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com

Mississauga4Sale.com


Thursday, February 09, 2012

Canada's Housing Market in 2012 - bubble or balloon?

A client of mine just sent me this Great article below about Canada's Housing Market


I've been worried about a bubble or a balloon in our local market since about 2003 when many of us thought "prices can't go higher" and sure enough they just kept marching upward.

Since I've been plugged into the real estate market and prices since the early 80's it's difficult for me to comprehend after a rise each year since 1995 of 6 to 10% that prices can continue to escalate. It is the opposite of the old school thinking of 7 year economic cycles that we used to experience and intuitively, we all know that prices cannot continue to rise indefinitely.

So where is the peak? Nobody knows for sure, but I don't think we are there yet in the GTA

It's a little disconcerting to see prices so high. If interest rates begin to increase, as they are suggesting by the beginning of 2013 then it could start a slowdown.

In Toronto we lack listings. There has been a low amount of listings since January of 2009 and the demand just keeps on increasing, hence the multiple offers on properties that are priced well.

We are looking to purchase a bungalow in an average area of Oakville, one was listed on Monday this week for $579,900 and it sold firm by Wednesday for $620,000 I heard there were 11 offers, silly!

Any worry is as the article below states "Vancouver's ratio of home prices to incomes is the highest in the English-speaking world" and that is some cause for concern.

I was surprised to read that Toronto is building more than 75 skyscrapers compared to New York, they just don't seem to be able to build condos fast enough in Toronto for the past decade or so.

Time will tell what happens with the market. Personally, I don't see interest rates rising much more than .5% by the end of 2013 and I don't see a plethora of listings coming on the market either for the next 3 to 6 months, this only means that demand will eat up any new supply and prices will likely continue to increase for at least the next 3 to 6 months in the GTA.

All the best!
Mark











Canada's Housing Market









Look out below









After years of lecturing America about loose lending, Canada now must
confront a bubble of its own









Feb 4th 2012 TORONTO from the print edition








*


























IN FEW corners of the world would a car park squeezed between two arms of an
elevated highway be seen as prime real estate. In Toronto, however, a
75-storey condominium is planned for such an awkward site, near the
waterfront. The car park next door will become a pair of 70-storey towers
too. In total, 173 sky-scrapers are being built in Toronto, the most in
North America. New York is second with 96.








When the United States saw a vast housing bubble inflate and burst during
the 2000s, many Canadians felt smug about the purported prudence of their
financial and property markets. During the crash, Canadian house prices fell
by just 8%, compared with more than 30% in America. They hit new record
highs by 2010. "Canada was not a part of the problem," Stephen Harper, the
prime minister, boasted in 2010.








Today the consensus is growing on Bay Street, Toronto's answer to Wall
Street, that Mr Harper may have to eat his words. In response to America's
slow economic recovery and uncertainty in Europe, the Bank of Canada has
kept interest rates at record lows. Five-year fixed-rate mortgages now
charge interest of just 2.99%. In response, Canadians have sought
ever-bigger loans for ever-costlier homes. The country's house prices have
doubled since 2002.








Speculators are pouring into the property markets in Toronto and Vancouver.
"We have foreign investors who are purchasing two, three, four, five
properties," says Michael Thompson, who heads Toronto's economic-development
committee. Last month a modest Toronto home put on the market for C$380,000
($381,500) sold for C$570,000, following a bidding war among 31 prospective
buyers. According to Demographia, a consultancy, Vancouver's ratio of home
prices to incomes is the highest in the English-speaking world.

































Bankers are becoming alarmed. Mark Carney, the governor of the central bank,
has been warning for years that Canadians are consuming beyond their means.
The bosses of banks with big mortgage businesses, including CIBC, Royal Bank
of Canada and the Bank of Montreal, have all said the housing market is at
or near its peak. Canada's ratio of household debt to disposable income has
risen by 40% in the past decade, recently surpassing America's (see chart).
And its ratio of house prices to income is now 30% above its historical
average-less than, say, Ireland's excesses (which reached 70%), but high
enough to expect a drop. A recent report from Bank of America said Canada
was "showing many of the signs of a classic bubble".








The consequences of such a bubble bursting are hard to predict. On the one
hand, high demand for Canada's commodity exports could cushion the blow from
a housing bust. And since banks have recourse to all of a borrower's assets,
and Canadian lending standards are stricter than America's were, a decline
in house prices would probably not wreck the banks as it did in the United
States.








However, the Canadian economy is still dependent on the consumer. Fears
about the global economy have slowed business investment, and all levels of
government are bent on austerity. The Conservative government's next budget
is expected to put forward a plan to close the federal deficit, now 2% of
GDP, by 2015-modest austerity compared to Europe's, but still a drag on the
economy. Few new jobs are being created. Assuming there is no setback in
Europe's debt crunch, slowdown in America or drop in commodity prices, GDP
is forecast to grow by a meagre 2% this year. If consumers start feeling
less well off, Canada could slip back into recession.








The inevitable landing will probably be soft. Increases in house prices and
sales volumes are slowing, and the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto should
prop up builders. "The national housing market is more like a balloon than a
bubble," says a report by the Bank of Montreal. "While bubbles always burst,
a balloon often deflates slowly in the absence of a 'pin'."








Moreover, the government is trying to cool the market. The banking regulator
is increasing its scrutiny of housing in response to concerns about
speculators. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a government
mortgage-insurance agency, says it will have to start reducing its new
coverage because of legal limits. And the finance ministry has cut the
maximum term of publicly insured mortgages from 35 years to 30. Some bank
managers are calling for it to be reduced to 25, the historical norm.
Canada's reputation for financial sobriety is not entirely unwarranted.








However, the state has refused to use its most powerful tool. To protect
business investment, the central bank has made clear that it plans to keep
interest rates low. As long as money stays cheap, the balloon could get
bigger-perhaps big enough to become a fully fledged bubble after all.








from the print edition The Americas

Thursday, February 17, 2011

By 2020 Average GTA house prices could be $638,000!


This graph shows the actual increase in residential sale prices in the GTA and the estimated prices based upon a 4% annual increase.

Current Average price for a single family home in the GTA is $427,000

Estimated average price by year 2015 is $525,000!

By 2020 average price estimate is $638,000!

Of course these are only estimates, but it shows that if the current trend continues prices will be well over $600,000 by 2020

Read more about this

Enjoy,
Mark

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Real estate prices in Canada versus other major cities

Real estate in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal is relatively
inexpensive compared to other major cities in the world.

We just returned from Paris and London. I browsed through some real estate
magazines while we were in Paris, average prices for a one bedroom flat of
about 75square meters (about 800 square feet) were about 450 to 600 thousand
Euros! In London, in a nice area of town, about 700 thousand pounds! The
same condo in Mississauga would be about $190,000

The most expensive house on the market in London's exclusive area of
Belgravia is currently for sale at 100 million pounds, but for that you get
6 floors, including basement, about 20,000 square feet and 2 parking spots.
It's an attached home, not detached, almost zero land to speak of and you
have to pay a land lease to the owner of the land, the Duke of
Westminster... think of the cash he rakes in a year! The same 20,000 square
foot house in Mississauga would be about $10 to $20 million and that would
get you huge piece of land and plenty of parking!

So don't worry, our real estate in Canada is cheap compared to other major
cities, just keep buying more and you can't go wrong in the long run.

All the best!
Mark

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Economy poised for recovery this year

The Bank of Canada announced Another 50 bps trimmed off the policy rate and talk about adding quantitative easing to the mix.

The economy sagged in the fourth quarter and first-quarter reports point to a larger contraction in early 2009.

I tend to agree with the expert financial institutions that current interest rates are low and fiscal stimulus is in the pipeline, setting up for a recovery later this year.

Read more about:Homes for Sale

Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to contact me,

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.

Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

( BUS 905-828-3434
mark@mississauga4sale.com
8 Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

Homes for Sale

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Other banks around the world are following the Bank of Canada

this is an interesting report from RBC about the Bank of England reducing their prime rate by .5%
thanks
Mark

Highlights

Canada's economy crumbled in

late 2008, with real GDP contracting

at the fastest pace in 17 years.

The slumping labour market and

housing slowdown point to the

economy continuing to contract in

the first half of 2009.

The Bank cut the policy rate

again in early March and said it is

considering implementing quantitative

or credit easing to ensure

that monetary policy stimulus is

adequate.

The Bank of England (BoE) and

ECB also trimmed their policy rates

and the BoE launched a quantitative

easing program.

BoE cuts rates; announces quantitative easing plan

The BoE cut the policy rate by 50 basis points in early March to 0.5% and announced that it would purchase financial assets financed by the issuance of reserves. The details of the plan showed the BoE intends to buy both corporate debt and government bonds, with the majority of assets purchased being medium and long-term Treasury debt.

Recessionary conditions, globally and in the U.K., were deemed to threaten an undershooting of the 2% medium-term inflation target necessitating the aggressive policy actions.

In the Eurozone, the ECB cut its policy rate by 50 basis points to 1.5%, the lowest in its 10- year history. While there was no overt talk of quantitative easing, ECB President Trichet did not rule out using new "non-standard measures" as forecasts for growth and inflation were cut back.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

REMAX reports that threat of world wide recession will put downward pressure on Canadian home sales

This is a report just issued by REMAX Ontario Atlantic regarding our marketplace and the future of real estate in the year 2009.

They feel the the economic environment for 2009 will be challenging for sellers. We are already seeing this in the Mississauga and GTA

All the best!
Mark


Threat of global recession to hinder home sales in major Canadian housing markets in 2008 and 2009, says RE/MAX
Recovery linked to economic stability next year


Mississauga, ON (December 3, 2008) Global economic uncertainty weighed heavily on residential real estate activity in most major Canadian centres during the latter half of 2008.
Although the forecast for 2009 promises more of the same, most markets are expected to weather the storm, says RE/MAX.


The RE/MAX Housing Market Outlook for 2009 examined residential real estate trends in 22 markets across the country and found that average price held up remarkably well in 2008, despite 13 centres reporting double digit declines in home sales. Solid gains earlier in the year likely served to prop up housing values at year end. The prognosis for housing activity in the first six to nine months of 2009 is somewhat static, given continued volatility in financial markets and the threat of recession, but as stability returns to the financial sector, housing markets are expected to recover.

Nationally, 440,000 homes are expected to change hands in 2008, down 15 per cent from record 2007 levels. Canadian housing values are expected to hover at $300,000, a nominal three per cent decline from last year’s historic peak. By year end 2009, unit sales should match 2008 levels, while average price is forecast to fall another two per cent to $293,000.
“Housing market performance will clearly be contingent on economic performance at a local, provincial, and national level in 2009,” says Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President and Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario Atlantic Canada. “Issues affecting the overall economy are impacting housing markets across the country and the situation is not expected to be remedied until consumer confidence is restored. That said, we could see a bounce back as early as spring


– if inventory levels remain stable, pent up demand kicks into gear, and lower interest rates stimulate home buying activity.”


Major markets are evenly split in terms of housing performance in 2009, with 11 centres forecast to match or exceed 2008 home sales and 11 expected to slide from 2008 levels. The highest percentage increase in unit sales is anticipated in Saskatoon, where the number of homes sold is forecast to climb three per cent in 2009. Housing values are expected to hold the line in 2009, with St. John’s, Montreal, Kingston, London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Regina posting modest gains in average price in 2009.

“Canada’s real estate environment is considerably more complex than it has been in recent years,” says Elton Ash, Regional Executive Vice President, RE/MAX of Western Canada. “The landscape is definitely changing with most markets shifting into either balanced or buyer’s territory. The shut out is over. Sellers no longer rule the roost. Opportunities exist for purchasers like never before, including lower interest rates, greater inventory levels, the luxury of time to make decisions, and the upper hand at the negotiating table. Motivated vendors will need to take note of the new mindset and set their prices accordingly.”

Canadian sellers are slowly adjusting to new realities. For most markets, 2008 started in balanced territory and moved into buyer’s market conditions during the latter half of 2008. The year ahead will prove challenging, especially for vendors.

“While the economy will dictate real estate performance next year, it’s important to remember that demand still exists in the marketplace,” says Sylvain Dansereau, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX Quebec. “In the midst of stock market turmoil, sold signs continue to appear on lawns across the country. With affordable lending rates and increased selection, first time and move up buyers with good credit may choose to play their investment strategy safe and purchase a home.

The comfort of a tangible investment like real estate goes a long way in tough times.” RE/MAX is Canada's leading real estate organization with over 18,000 sales associates situated throughout its more than 670 independently owned and operated offices across the country.

Read more about:Homes for Sale

Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to contact me,

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.

Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

( BUS 905-828-3434
mark@mississauga4sale.com
8 Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

Homes for Sale

Monday, October 27, 2008

fourth set of blogger labels

Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) Average Prices and Graph

For more information please contact A. Mark Argentino

A. Mark Argentino, Broker, P.Eng.,
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
2691 Credit Valley Road, Suite 101, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 7A1

BUS. 905-828-3434
FAX. 905-828-2829
E-MAIL: mark@mississauga4sale.com
Website: Mississauga4Sale.com

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Canada Optimistic Housing Market Conditions

This is what RE/MAX is saying about our current marketplace in Canada
Nice to see some positive and optimistic news on the housing front here in Canada!
Enjoy!
Mark



There’s been a lot of talk about real estate in the news in recent months. We’ve heard about declining housing starts, falling existing home sales, double-digit price depreciation, subprime fallout and foreclosures – in the United States. Fortunately, we live in Canada. And Canadian real estate markets are far-better positioned than their American counterparts for a good number of reasons.
  1. Subprime mortgages represent less than five per cent of our market nationally.
  2. Foreclosures occur in about one quarter of one per cent of mortgage transactions in this country.
  3. Canadians have more equity in their homes.
  4. We have less debt than our neighbours south of the border.
  5. Speculation has played little or no role in existing home sales in Ontario.
  6. The fundamentals of our economy are relatively solid. Of the G8 countries, only Canada is expected to show growth in 2008 and 2009.
  7. The Canadian banking system is one of the best in the world, relying more on old-fashioned lending than innovative financial products geared toward profit.
  8. The Canadian job market is stronger than the US, adding more than 200,000 jobs so far this year.
  9. Interest rates remain favourable.
  10. Housing values in Ontario major centres did not experience serious, double-digit price appreciation year-after-year for an extended period. Our markets were characterized by stable, healthy growth.
  11. Immigration continues to play a key role in housing markets. Between 2001 and 2006, more than 1.1 million immigrants came to this country, with about half settling in the province of Ontario. Immigrants tend to purchase a home within the first five years of living in Canada.
Real estate is cyclical. There will be peaks and valleys. The more restrained the peak, the more modest the valley.
There is no question that market conditions have moderated from 2007’s record pace. More listings, softer housing values, longer days on market – but most centres are relatively solid. While some buyers and sellers will adopt a wait-and-see attitude, there are those that will continue to venture forward.
They’ll need the services of a knowledgeable, experienced real estate professional to navigate the storm. They will look to you for information in today’s complex real estate environment. Understanding market conditions will be of paramount importance to today’s buyers and sellers, especially as conditions change in markets across the country.
That said, sellers will need to be realistic in setting a selling price. Listing a property at fair-market value will ensure that it will sell in a reasonable amount of time. This is not the time to test the market. Those that are truly interested in selling their properties know that over-priced homes risk stagnation. Buyers in today’s market will need to be careful not to overextend themselves. They should know exactly what they can afford. Pre-approval for a mortgage loan is ideal because it lets buyers know exactly how much they can spend on their new home.
Once educated, your clients will come to rely on your expertise. Make sure your follow-up skills are honed and your customer service is par excellence.
Looking forward, we anticipate a continuation of stable market activity, minus the urgency present in past. Gone are the multiple offers that left both buyers and sellers dissatisfied. The increase in the number of homes listed for sale are a definite advantage for purchasers who now have the luxury of time in making one of the most important decisions of a lifetime. For sellers, the time to trade-up has never been better.
Canadians are great believers in homeownership – a fact underscored by the close to 70 per cent who own homes in this country. History has proven time and time again that real estate is a solid, long-term investment that appreciates at a rate of about five per cent annually. You can’t live in your mutual fund, and after the last month in the financial markets, quite frankly, we’re not sure you’d want to.
New market realities may impact your business in the months ahead. That’s when the RE/MAX Brand and toolbox come into play. There are a wide variety of products and services that will give you an edge in today’s marketplace and a definite advantage when it comes to the competition. Ensuring you incorporate both a buyers and sellers presentation into your marketing materials is a great first step. Rather than focus on what you see or hear in the news, consider opportunities as they present themselves. You are, after all, in control of your destiny.
Sincerely,

Michael Polzler
Executive Vice President and Regional Director
RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada Inc.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Shorter Amortization on Canadian mortgages is better in the long run

You may have heard that CMHC has lowered their maximum amortization on a mortgage to 35 years from 40 years. As well, there is no longer a no-money down-payment option, you must have minimum 5% cash to buy a property.

I like these changes, for one, it reduces the possibility of a real estate meltdown as is currently happening in the US.

Government changes mortgage rules for CMHC

The federal government here in Canada is attempting to avoid the kind of sub-prime mortgage meltdown plaguing the United States. Effective October 15, 2008, the 40-year mortgages with no money down will no longer be covered through the federal government insurance program administered by Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC). Instead of this option, the longest period of amortization for a Canadian mortgage insured by CMHC will be 35 years.

As well, a buyer insured by CMHC will have to make a minimum down payment of five per cent of the home's value. This will be grandfathered, as Canadians already holding 40-year no-money-down mortgages won't be affected by the changes.

The regulations will apply to such federal agencies as CMHC, (the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp)., which has an estimated 60 per cent share of the mortgage insurance market. However, private-sector mortgage insurance rivals such as Genworth Financial, PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. Canada and AIG United Guaranty are free to offer the product.

One difference is that the federal government will no longer provide insurance that protects lenders in the event of a default by the insurers.

Existing 40-year mortgages will be grandfathered, a Finance Department spokesman said. In 2006, the maximum amortization period was extended to 40 years from 25, and longer-term mortgage products have become increasingly popular with buyers looking for lower monthly payments as the price of Canadian homes soared.

Today's announcement marks a responsible and measured approach by the government to ensure Canada's housing market remains strong, and to reduce the risk of a U.S.-style housing bubble developing in Canada," the Finance Department said in a statement.

In 2007, 37 per cent of new mortgages were for terms of longer than 25 years, according to the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP). But while longer amortizations stretch out monthly payments, they also greatly increase the cost of a mortgage over its lifetime. For example, the total interest on a $300,000 mortgage can soar from $286,161 over the life of a 25-year mortgage to $498,416 over a 40-year amortization period – adding more than $200,000 to the cost of the home.

According to analysts, the Canadian housing market would have slowed sooner if longer- term amortizations had not been introduced. The longer amortizations mean much greater interest costs over the life of the mortgage, but smaller monthly payments, which allows buyers to bid on a more expensive home than they otherwise could afford.

Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney said in May he was concerned about the prevalence of long amortizations. "They add to the momentum in the housing market, and if everyone has a 40- year amortization mortgage, then you just have higher housing prices."

This, combined with the fact that these mortgages are often combined with little or no equity, raised alarm bells with policy makers looking at the turmoil that took place in the U.S. when house prices started to fall.

"We've seen an inclination now, a trend, toward longer-term amortizations and smaller down payments, and that is a matter of some concern," Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in a speech in May. Mr. Flaherty was not available for comment Wednesday.

Jim Murphy, president and chief executive of CAAMP, said in talks with him the government expressed concern about the risky lending products that collapsed the U.S. housing market. The Finance Department was also worried about the future impact of competition between mortgage insurers, which led to the introduction of 40-year mortgage in 2006, Mr. Murphy said.

"I think you have a clear case of the government sitting down and looking at its risk exposure and wanting to review that. They have financial guarantees in place for the CMHC and private insurers, and they were saying, 'What is our risk, and what is the risk to the Canadian taxpayer?' " he said.

Others, however, say home buyers and banks have been prudent with their finances, and are being punished for the more lax approach south of the border. "Things here are not like they are in the U.S. where they had those NINJA loans, no income, no job, no assets. … It's only going to hurt the consumer," said John Panagakos, owner of Toronto brokerage Mortgage Centre.

Reaction from the industry was mixed. "CMHC supports the new parameters … . We also support their efforts to maintain the strong Canadian housing market," said spokesperson Stephanie Rubec, adding CMHC will stop insuring 40-year and zero down payment mortgages in October.

"It's the right move," said Nick Kyprianou, president of Home Capital Group Inc., whose principal subsidiary, Home Trust Co., provides alternative mortgages. "Why get people overextended? Nobody wins by getting people right to the end of the cliff."

The move actually comes at a time when the housing market has moved on to other concerns, the most pressing of which is chilling consumer sentiment due to high fuel prices, said Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist at BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.

This was issued by CREA 10/07/2008

You may read more about this at my site, www.mississauga4sale.com

Thanks

Mark

Thursday, July 10, 2008

RBC reports that markets have changed across country

Tide turns in 2008

Last year, major markets delivered a sixth consecutive year of 10% house price gains, sales-to-listings ratios held firmly in seller’s

territory, and housing starts held above 220,000 units for a fourth year running as excess demand in the resale market spilled over into

the new home market. But, housing markets are now on a clear cooling path.

Calgary and Edmonton have moved from chart-toppers to bottom-of-the heap in only a matter of months on a range of key housing

market indicators, including house prices and sales.

Regina and Saskatoon continue to clock year-over-year price gains that are several multiples above the pace of their local wage

growth. This lends evidence that current momentum is unsustainable,. with a similar fate to Alberta’s likely for both of these cities in a

year’s time.

Many of the middle-of-the-pack markets — like Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal — are maintaining their slow and steady cruising

speed. House prices across much of central and eastern Canada are growing between 5% and 10% year-over-year.

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS Newsletter
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

(
BUS 905-828-3434
2
FAX 905-828-2829 ÈCELL 416-520-1577
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Thursday, May 15, 2008

CMHC predicting Terms of trade advantage to help Canada outperform the U.S. economy

Terms of trade advantage to help Canada outperform the U.S. economy

Canada's economy will slow but will slightly outperform the U.S. economy, with support coming from high prices for Canadian natural resource exports.

Domestic demand will slow modestly due to credit tightening.

Canada's trade sector will act as a significant drag on Canada's economy this year and next.

The core inflation rate is expected to remain below 2% this year, with the all-items CPI likely to drop to 1% mid-year.

We are calling for the Bank of Canada to lower the overnight rate to 2.75% to mitigate downside risks to the growth outlook coming from a weakening U.S. economy, tight credit conditions and a strong Canadian dollar.

Read more about:Homes for Sale

Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to contact me,

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.

Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

( BUS 905-828-3434
mark@mississauga4sale.com
8 Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

Homes for Sale

Monday, February 18, 2008

Mortgage Interest Rates 2008 Forecast and last year summary

Mortgage Interest Rates 2008 Forecast and last year summary


Mortgage rates increased by about 100 basis points between the start and the end of 2007. The sub-prime mortgage loan crisis in the U.S. has continued to rock financial markets resulting in liquidity issues which have increased the costs of funding mortgages.

Equity and financial markets have experienced additional upheaval as many analysts and investors speculate on the possibility of the U.S. slipping into a recession. The ensuing flight to quality in financial markets has resulted in lower yields on government bonds, but has not had a large impact on posted mortgage rates.

The potential drag on Canadian GDP growth due to a potential U.S. economic slowdown, coupled with the tightening on Canadian credit conditions, and the high value of the Canadian dollar will cause minor fluctuations in mortgage rates through 2008.

Mortgage rates are expected to remain within 25-75 basis points of their current levels in 2008 and then stabilize throughout 2009.

The one year posted mortgage rate is forecast to be in the 6.75-7.50 per cent range, while three and five year posted mortgage rates are forecast to be in the 7.00-7.75 per cent range in 2008.
Source: CMHC 2008 Canadian Housing Observer First Quarter


Friendly Ponds
Building a network is not just about business. New acquaintances can often become friends for life, even though you initially connected because of a business association. The best way to build a network of depth, breadth and reach comes from Dale Carnegie: "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." So, how many new friends did you make this year?
Source: Darcy Rezac's Tip of the Week at workthepond.com

Did you know that in 2005, 1.1 million households in Canada owned second homes, vacation homes or cottages? This represents a growth of approximately 200,000 households since 1999. Baby boomers were responsible for much of the increase; households with maintainers aged 45 to 64 accounted for almost three quarters of the total increase in households owning secondary homes. Source: 2008 Canadian Housing Observer

Knowing your Markets
One of the more difficult challenges in growing your business is knowing where your next sale is coming from. That is why it is very important to have an in-depth understanding of the resale market in which you work. The following summary table provides you with a quick overview of resale activity in Canada's largest markets

(you can also visit http://www.cmhc.ca/en/inpr/homain/index.cfm for more information):


MLS® Statistics for Select Canadian Markets

Sales

Average Price

2006

2007

up/dwn

2006

2007

up/dwn

Calgary

33,027

32,176

-2.6%

$348,004

$413,139

18.7%

Edmonton

21,984

20,427

-7.1%

$251,169

$337,428

34.3%

Vancouver

36,479

38,978

6.9%

$509,802

$568,588

11.5%

Ottawa-Crltn

14,003

14,739

5.3%

$256,447

$272,395

6.2%

Toronto

84,842

95,164

12.2%

$350,616

$376,873

7.5%

Montréal

50,106

56,151

12.1%

$216,100

$230,147

6.5%

Halifax

6,462

7,261

12.4%

$202,565

$215,055

6.2%

Source: Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), CMHC



Current Mortgage Interest Rates

Read more about:Homes for Sale

Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to contact me,

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.

Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

( BUS 905-828-3434
mark@mississauga4sale.com
8 Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

Homes for Sale

Monday, January 28, 2008

Outlook for Housing Starts Continues to Look good!

The outlook for the housing market continues to be very upbeat for the near term.

Housing Starts:
2007: 227,500
2008: 214,300
Resales:

2007: 521,100
2008: 500,800

Housing starts will remain above the 200,000 unit threshold for a seventh consecutive year in 2008, a feat last accomplished in the 1971-1978 period.

Over the long term it is expected that residential construction will gradually decline as factors that drive housing become less stimulative reaching approximately 198,425 units by 2011. Despite this downward movement, the level of activity will remain well above the average annual level of about 150,000 housing starts observed during the 1990s.

The outlook for Canadian GDP growth remains positive over the medium term. The economy will continue to operate close to its capacity and expand at about 3 per cent from 2008 to 2011.

Employment growth is expected to be constrained over this time frame since a record number of Canadians are presently employed. Employment growth will average 1.3 per cent annually over the 2008 to 2011 period. At this pace, the unemployment rate is expected to creep up toward 6.5 per cent range by 2011.

Inflation will remain modest at about 2 per cent per year over the medium term. As a result, both short and long term interest rates will be fairly stable going forward. Longer term mortgage rates, such as the 5 year fixed rate, will stay low and should increase by 50 to 75 basis points between 2008 and 2011.

Population growth is a key driver of housing demand over the longer term and a major contributor to population growth is immigration. More than 216,000 immigrants arrived in Canada in 2006. Looking ahead, continuing tight labour market conditions will provide an attractive environment that will continue to draw large numbers of immigrants to Canada. As a result, net migration is forecast to rise steadily through 2011.

This rise will boost population growth and household formation, which in turn will support strong levels of housing starts through 2011.


Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia will continue to attract most of the new immigrants settling in Canada.
Source: CMHC Housing Market Outlook Canada Edition 4Q2007


Search the MLS or read more about Interest Rates, Power of Sale Properties, Price Trends and more at my website. Homes for Sale

Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to contact me,

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.

Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

( BUS 905-828-3434
2
FAX 905-828-2829 ÈCELL 416-520-1577
E-MAIL : mark@mississauga4sale.com
8 Website : Mississauga4Sale.com