Mortgage Rates to Remain Historically Low

Mortgage Rates to Remain Historically Low

A combination of a strong Canadian dollar vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar and modest GDP growth will help keep Canadian interest and mortgage rates low over the remainder of this year and in 2008. One, three and five-year posted mortgage rates are forecast to be in the 5.75 - 6.75, 6.00 - 7.00, and 6.25 - 7.25 per cent ranges respectively over the rest of this year and in 2008.

Mortgage rates have moved slightly higher so far this year and are expected to drift-up modestly in the first half of 2008. However, while mortgage rates won’t increase much, higher house prices will push mortgage carrying costs higher. This will ease housing demand, particularly for first-time buyers.

MLS price growth will remain strong in 2007 at 9.6 per cent, pushing the average price to nearly $303,500, reflecting continued price pressures in western Canada. In 2008, the average MLS price will reach about $318,400, an increase of 4.9 per cent.
Source: CMHC - www.cmhc.ca

Most buyers are first time home buyers

Most Intending to Buy a Home in 2007 are First-Time Home Buyers
According to CMHC’s newly released Renovation and Home Purchase Report - Major Market Highlights, a large share of intenders will be first time buyers.

Close to half (48 per cent) of purchase intenders will be first time buyers with the majority of first time buyers between the ages of 25 and 34, with a household income between $80,000 to just under $100,000.

How do home buyers intend to finance their future purchase? Over half of potential home buyers are planning to make a down payment of less than 25 per cent of the expected value of their purchase. The main sources of down payment funds are household savings for 37 per cent of potential home buyers, while equity from the present/previous residence is also a popular option with 27 per cent.

Housing Starts Decrease in June
The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was 225,500 units in June, down from 235,200 units in May. “Following a significant increase in May, the volatile multiple segment lost most of the ground it gained in June,” said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC’s Market Analysis Centre. “Although housing starts will remain high in 2007, they are expected to resume a gradual decreasing trend. This is confirmed by the single detached component, which is slightly below the levels of the last two years.”
Want to read more about housing starts? Visit http://www.cmhc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2007/2007-07-10-0815.cfm

Read more about Mortgage Interest Rates




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

Canada’s inflation reprieve likely to be short-lived

Canada’s inflation reprieve likely to be short-lived

Canada’s core inflation rate edged back down to 2.2% in May after hitting a four-year high of 2.5% in April. The monthly core rate increase of 0.3% was below the rapid 0.5% increase recorded last May, but faster than April’s 0.2% rise and almost double the average monthly pace in the core rate in the past two years, indicating that upward price pressures are not abating.

Even if the CPIX goes up by the average rate that it increased during the past seven Junes, the year-over-year core inflation rate would be 2.6% — the fastest pace of increase since March 2003 and reaching toward the 3% upper limit of the Bank of Canada’s 1% to 3% control target band.


Average Prices since 1985


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

How to Increase Your Home's Value

How to Increase Your Home's Value

Like most people, your home is probably your single largest investment. While the value of your home is largely determined by such things as location, size, condition and amenities, there are still steps you can take to maximize its worth.

First, you need to evaluate your plans carefully if you're improving your home to put it on the market. Cutting corners could hurt rather than help your prospects, but you don't want to go overboard either. Your home's value should be no more than 20% above the average. That means a $10,000 kitchen improvement project might be a better idea than a $10,000 hot tub, especially if no other homes in your area have hot tubs.

In other words, it's best to keep changes simple.

Here's a list of remodeled projects that buyers are likely to find valuable:

Add a bedroom: Three- and four-bedroom homes are most desirable.

Install a master bathroom: When a bedroom has a bathroom, it means extra value.

Install a new shower: A new shower says a modern home.

Change your fixtures: Get a faucet that adds a decorative element to the bathroom.

Re-grout the tile: If the tiles are in good shape a new grouting does wonders.

Install new kitchen cabinets: Even just a paint job and some new handles will give your cabinets a fresh look.

Improve functionality: If you've got the space, an island is the way to go. New appliances make a difference too.

Expose the floors: Remove old carpet and show off the original floor. If you don't have hardwood floors, consider new carpeting.

Install new doors: Doors set off a room and make a great difference.

Paint the interior: A new paint job speaks volumes. Good colors to use are white, off-white, and a light yellow.

Add new light fixtures: Replace any that are damaged or out-of-style.

Add a fireplace: Even if you don't plan on using it much, it adds great value.

Take advantage of unused or underused space: If you can convert a basement or attic into a useful room, do it.

Landscape: A few strategically located plants and a neat-looking yard will impress.

Add a deck: It's a great use of exterior space because it increases your total entertainment area.

Dress up your porch and entrance: A freshly painted door with a new door handle can make a great first impression.

Replace the windows: New windows not only give your home a new look, they can also lower your energy bill.

Remember, when it comes to your home, it's important to keep pace with your neighbors. Don't let your home become the most expensive on the block - but don't fall behind either. This is a case where it's best to be right in the middle!

Quick Home Improvements
(Even You Can Do!)

Outside:

Sweep all walkways and sidewalks.
Remove newspapers, bikes and toys.
Park extra cars away from the property.
Trim back the shrubs.
Clean windows and window coverings.
Keep pet areas clean.
Make sure roof and gutters are in good condition.
Mow the lawn more frequently and plant flowers.

Inside:

Kitchen and bathroom should shine.
Put dishes away.
Clean and/or vacuum carpets and rugs.
Place fresh flowers in the main rooms.
Make beds and put all clothes away.
Open drapes and turn on lights for a brighter feel.
Straighten closets.


More Ideas and Suggestions



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

Current Posted and discounted rates available in Ontario

Current mortage interest rates

TERM	POSTED	OUR RATES*
6 Month	6.65%	6.25%
1 Year	7.15%	5.6%
2 Year	7.3%	5.65%
3 Year	7.3%	5.7%
4 Year	7.3%	5.84%
5 Year	7.24%	5.79%
7 Year	7.55%	6%
10 Year	7.9%	6.15%
Variable Rate		3.05%
Prime Rate		6.25%

Browse to to see today's posted "Best Rates"





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

Toronto Mansion sells for over $15million!

Mansion goes for a cool $15.8 million

In what is believed to be a record selling price for a residential property in Toronto, an opulent Forest Hill mansion has been purchased for $15.8 million.

The 16,000 square foot Dunvegan Rd. home has eight bedrooms, 13 washrooms and an indoor six-car garage.

The sale of the home in one of the city's toniest neighbourhoods demonstrates the strength of the luxury home market in Toronto, fuelled by stellar returns on Bay Street as the Toronto Stock Exchange hits record levels.

But a new high-water mark for homes has tongues wagging in real estate circles. How much further can we go?

The sale of the property this week comes on the heels of yesterday's Toronto Real Estate Board report that recorded 10,451 sales in June – the best such month ever, and up 20 per cent over June of 2006.

"It has been a good year," said Ilenna Tai, the listing agent who now holds the distinction of selling the most expensive home in Toronto. Tai says the sale is a city record according to Multiple Listing Service records. The listing service, however, does not include private sales, which are not on the public record.

Without irony, the agent calls the home a "great bargain" at the price, since a 2004 appraisal came up with a home replacement value of $14 million – without the land.

The sellers were Raymonde Sacklyn and Cecilia Ying Lee, who previously lived in Hong Kong. Sacklyn heads a financial information service in Hong Kong and has written extensively about the history of the Hong Kong stock exchange. The couple has also donated millions to local charities in Toronto.

The couple bought the home at the bottom of the market in 1997, when it was the former home of George Eaton, of Eaton's department store fame.

Sacklyn and his wife spent millions refurbishing the home, including almost a million dollars of Muskoka peach granite just for the driveway.

The house sits on two normal Forest Hill lots stretching 150 feet by 170 feet, and has a bar, a home theatre, gym, massage room and sauna. There are, of course, separate cellars for red and white wines. The eccentric owner has also placed some whimsical touches around the home, including bits of his poetry carved on the granite rocks in the garden, and parking spaces for visitors that say "For Rolls-Royces only."

"The buyers were wowed by the grandeur of the home, the gardens, and the location," said buying agent Elli Davis.

So wowed, in fact, that it took the buyers, who wish to remain anonymous, only a week to make an offer after they initially viewed the property, said Davis.

The home was originally on the market for several months in 2004, at the unheard of price of $25 million. It was listed again in May of this year for $16 million.

"They weren't interested in it at $25 million, but certainly at $16 million they decided to take a look," said Davis. "So even at this level – price does matter."

Tai says the high Canadian dollar helped with the sale, since the Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar. With the loonie closing in at par with the U.S. dollar, the vendors are getting roughly the return they expected back in 2004, said Tai.

Still, analysts have warned that any downturn in the fortunes of the TSX will have a big impact on the luxury market, since discretionary purchases are usually the first on the chopping block.

Bay Street financiers, flush with bonus money, have been spending on cars and homes.

It is believed that former Bank of Montreal CEO Tony Comper, for example, paid $15 million for a new, yet-to-be-occupied 8,500 square foot penthouse at One St. Thomas St. – the most yet for a condo in the city.

Meanwhile, a forecast by Royal LePage released this week estimates that the average Torontonian will see a much more moderate increase in house prices. Average resale homes by the end of 2007 will have increased by a moderate 5 per cent, according to the firm.

With the Bank of Canada poised to increase interest rates next week to cool inflationary pressures that include the heated real estate market, economists are calling for a slowdown in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, the new home owners, who are expected to close the sale this year, will likely escape a controversial real estate levy in Toronto that would double the provincial land transfer tax.

If the buyers had chosen to close on the deal next year, they would have had to pay an extra $312,000 in land transfer taxes.

Read more on Toronto Real Estate Prices




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

Canadian and International Monetary comments on interest rates and inflation

Canadian and International Monetary comments on interest rates and inflation

• The risk that inflation will remain in the upper end of the Bank of Canada’s target band will put policymakers back into rate hike mode in July.

Bank of Canada
• We expect the Bank to boost the policy rate to 5.25% to ensure that growth slows enough to curtail upward inflation pressures.
• Although core inflation has moderated, strong wage growth along with elevated input prices will keep the Fed on the sidelines this year.

Federal Reserve
•A stronger U.S. economy and persistent upward inflation pressures will likely see the Fed hike rates early next year.
1 • Once inflation moves back above zero, the Bank of Japan is likely to start hiking rates again.

Bank of Japan
• Policymakers will deliberately keep the pace of rate increases slow in order to ensure that the economy remains on a firm path

European Central Bank
1 • The ECB is expected to continue to raise rates as inflation risks are skewed to the upside and monetary policy remains stimulative.

Central bank watch
• We expect that policymakers will raise the policy rate to 5% by mid- 2008 to nip upward inflationary pressures in the bud.

• The Bank of England has adopted a more aggressive tone and we now expect a 25 basis-point rate hike in July with another boost likely in November.

Bank of England
• Inflation is expected to settle at 2% in 2008 with the policy rate holding at 6%.

Inflation
Canadian real rates still historically low
The robust growth in Canada’s labour force is ... while productivity growth is expected likely to slow given record-high participation to ramp up after four years of strong inrates and demographic factors...

© Royal Bank of Canada. The material contained in Financial Markets
Monthly is the property of Courtesy of RBC Financial Group

more about rates and inflation




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

New Section about Power of Sales, Foreclosures and Quit Claim Deeds in this section

I've recently added a New Power of Sale section to my website that will show you the pitfalls to avoid and the clauses to put into your offer when you buy a Power of Sale property in Ontario. This new section will also explain Power of Sale and Foreclosure in detail. Read more here.


You will become educated about Power of Sales, Foreclosures and Quit Claim Deeds in this section.

You will learn the pitfalls to avoid, the clauses you could expect to see in an offer and read about the special clauses you can insert into your offer when you buy a Power of Sale Property. I will also explain the remedies open to sellers of these types of properties and how this affects you.

Power of Sales, Foreclosures and Quit Claim Deeds in this section.



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

Making Sense of Confusion - Questions about mortgage interest rates and the differences between prime, bank prime and mortgage rates

I received an email today with some great questions about mortgage interest rates and the differences between prime, bank prime and mortgage rates. The questions and then my answers are below.

Hello Mark,

I find your study of the history of our Canadian interest rates interesting and I appreciate the information you have on your web site. (the graphs are here)

Hopefully, you can answer two questions for me.

How do rates vary for mortgages over 15 years amortization with 20 years or 25 years. Are the rates higher, due to the loss of interest acquired by the lender over 15 year period.

When a prime rate is posted; is this just for the banks best business customers? How much difference should one expect if it is a first mortgage (therefore no major assets) and the borrower has no set income (example: works on commission, or is an artist)

I will look foreward to hearing from you.

F.

This was my email back to this person with answers to these questions.

Hello F.

Thank you for your email.

Interest rates on mortgages are the same regardless of the
amortization. Thus, shorter is better for you, longer is much better for the
bank!

Prime can be confusing. There is Bank of Canada Prime rate, which today is 4.75% The bank prime, the rate banks charge to their best customers is about 1.5% higher, RBC prime rate today is 6.25%

See RBC rates here:
http://www.royalbank.ca/rates/prime.html

TD-Canada Trust prime rates here:
http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/lending/index.jsp

Mortgage rates are set based upon the bank prime rate and bank forecasting, specials they may be offering and many other variables. Banks will base their rate upon your situation, self employed may pay slightly higher rates than a salary employee, but every situation is different. I am self employed, but have been for 20 years, so I receive same rates as a banks "A" people, this is also due to the fact that my credit rating is very high.

See the current TD-Canada Trust mortgage rates at this page: http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/mortgages/numbers.jsp

See the RBC rates here and note the "special offers":
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/products/

mortgages/view_rates.html

Thank you,
Mark

Read more about Mortgage Interest Rates


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

Canadian National Housing prices since 1990 to 2005

MLS® Average Residential Price - Canada and Provinces 1990–2005 (dollars)

Canada Housing Observer

Now in its fourth year of publication, the Observer is a flagship CMHC publication that presents a detailed annual review of housing conditions and trends in Canada and the key factors behind them.

The 2006 edition included an enlightening chart comparing housing costs across the country over the past 15 years, a sampling of which follows:

MLS® Average Residential Price - Canada and Provinces 1990–2005 (dollars)



See Toronto and GTA average price graphs

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

What is David Dodge trying to do? Bank Rate Increases - Again!

July 10, 2007

Good Morning,

The Bank of Canada announced a rate increase this morning. The Bank increased the prime overnight rate to 4.50% (a .25% increase). This is the highest Bank rate in the last 6 years.

David Dodge (Governor of the Bank of Canada) gave strong signals the rate may go up to 4.75% with the Bank's next review on September 5th, 2007.

Today's rate increase is not expected to have a major impact on the market since the increase was anticipated and priced accordingly in recent months.

My lenders have not issued rate changes yet - the following rates are HLC's best rates currently available. If you are a potential home buyer, it's time to contact your mortgage person and get a rate lock in place.

The following table is HLC RATE UPDATE
July 10, 2007

Prime Rate………….6%
Variable Rate……….Prime less .95%
1 year closed……….5.60%
3 year closed……….5.70%
5 year closed……….5.65%*
7 year closed……….5.78%*
10 year closed……...5.85%*
25 year closed……...6.58%

* for mortgage of $500,000 or greater; slightly higher rates for lower mortgage amounts
Information subject to change without prior notice. APR.E.&O.E.

Read more about Current Mortgage Interest Rates



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