16 May

Loonie, Bank Bonds Drop as Moody’s Downgrades Canada Lenders

General

Posted by: John Dunford

Canada’s dollar and bank bonds declined after Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the nation’s banks for the first time in more than four years, signaling that soaring household debt combined with runaway housing prices leave the lenders more vulnerable to losses. The ratings firm lowered the long-term debt and deposit ratings one level on Toronto-Dominion Bank, […]

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11 Apr

Fed Chair Yellen Says Economy Close to Achieving Fed Goals

Latest News

Posted by: John Dunford

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Monday that the central bank is close to achieving its goals on employment and inflation. Her remarks could be seen as providing support for gradual increases in interest rates. While expressing satisfaction with how the economy is performing, Yellen did voice concerns about moves in Congress to limit the […]

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6 Mar

Bank Of Canada Holds Interest Rate, Warns Of ‘Significant Uncertainties’

General

Posted by: John Dunford

OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada is holding its trend-setting interest rate at 0.5 per cent but it’s keeping a watchful eye on “significant uncertainties” that it warns could alter the economy’s improving trajectory. The central bank’s scheduled rate announcement Wednesday arrived as Canada tries to assess the direction of U.S. economic policy under President […]

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17 Feb

Big Bank Increasingly Bearish

General

Posted by: John Dunford

Well, this may be the first time in recent memory a big bank economist has used the feared B-word in relation to real estate. Bubble. Get news stories like this straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter “Let’s drop the pretence. The Toronto housing market—and the many cities surrounding it—are in a housing bubble,” […]

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7 Feb

Association Provides Government With Housing Recommendations

General

Posted by: John Dunford

The industry has provided its recommendations to the government committee that is studying the Canadian real estate market and the issues facing it. The Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association sent a letter to the Standing Committee of Finance, advocating for changes that would lessen the burden on Canadians wanting to purchase homes. “It goes without saying […]

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1 Feb

Mortgage Changes Have Hit First-Timers Genworth Chief Tells Lawmakers

General

Posted by: John Dunford

Recent changes to mortgage regulations have negatively impacted first-time buyers and there should be a pause on further measures, the CEO of Genworth said Monday. Stuart Levings was appearing as a witness at the Standing Committee of the Finance Department as part of its study of the Canadian Real Estate Market and Home Ownership. He said […]

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28 Jan

Strong Evidence Of Problematic Conditions Persists In Real Estate Market: CMHC

General

Posted by: John Dunford

Canada’s federal housing agency says strong evidence of problematic conditions continues to exist in the national housing market. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says the most prevalent issues it has observed in the 15 markets it monitors are overbuilding and overvaluation, which occurs when house prices outpace economic fundamentals such as income and population growth. […]

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19 Jan

Mortgage Insurance Premiums Hiked Once Again

General

Posted by: John Dunford

CMHC announced early Tuesday it is increasing its loan insurance premiums effective March 17. “We do not expect the higher premiums to have a significant impact on the ability of Canadians to buy a home,” said Steven Mennill, Senior Vice-President, Insurance. “Overall, the changes will preserve competition in the mortgage loan insurance industry and contribute to […]

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17 Jan

Morneau Rules Out More Housing Measures For Now

General

Posted by: John Dunford

Ottawa will continue to monitor the housing market but is not planning to introduce any further measures for now. That was the message from federal finance minister Bill Morneau when he met with private sector economists Friday and later spoke to journalists. CBC News reports that the minister said the government is keeping an eye on risks […]

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