Nahid A-Ashrafi

5 February 2018

2018 CMHC Prospective Home Buyers Survey

In October 2017, CMHC surveyed 2,507 prospective home buyers on-line. Respondents were all prime household decision-makers who intend to purchase a new home within the next two years, including approximately 1,500 First-Time Buyers, 500 current owners, and 500 previous owners. The survey results highlight that: • First-Time Buyers and Previous Owners share the same top […]

23 January 2018

Vancouver the main driver of the Composite in December

Vancouver the main driver of the Composite in December says Teranet and National Bank of Canada Without Vancouver, the Composite index would have declined for a fourth month in a row. The strength of Vancouver’s index is consistent with continued tight home resale market conditions. Toronto’s index declined for a fifth consecutive month, but the unsmoothed […]

17 January 2018

Bank of Canada increases overnight rate target to 1 1/4 per cent

The Bank of Canada today increased its target for the overnight rate to 1 1/4 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/2 per cent and the deposit rate is 1 per cent. Recent data have been strong, inflation is close to target, and the economy is operating roughly at capacity. However, uncertainty surrounding […]

11 January 2018

Fourth Quarter Housing Market Trends Seal 2017 as ‘the Year of the Condo’

According to the Royal LePage House Price Survey, Canada’s residential real estate market saw strong, but slowing year-over-year price growth in the fourth quarter of 2017. While year-over-year aggregate appreciation remained high in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Greater Vancouver, two-storey and bungalow home values softened in the GTA, slightly declining on a quarter-over-quarter […]

10 January 2018

Time for a mortgage review

The start of a new year almost always inspires individuals to commit to resolutions that will improve the quality of life. And in the spirit of the new year, new you mantra, a mortgage review reminder is aptly timed. Many mortgage holders underestimate the value of proactively reviewing their finances and in particular their mortgages. […]

2 January 2018

Non-Resident ownership of condo apartments remains low and stable: CMHC

The share of condominium apartments owned by non-residents remains low in the 17 Canadian Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) surveyed, with the majority reporting shares of less than 1%. Non-resident ownership shares remained stable in Vancouver and Toronto, while Montreal saw an increase. Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, Halifax, Victoria and Gatineau have non-resident ownership shares above 1% […]

12 December 2017

Construction intentions for multi-family dwellings in Montréal continue to climb

In October, the value of permits for both single-family and multi-family dwellings increased in the CMAs of Montral and Toronto. However, in the Vancouver CMA, both residential components fell, offsetting the gains in September. Municipalities in the CMA of Montral issued $538.1 million in permits for multi-family dwellings in October, higher than in Toronto ($409.2 million) and Vancouver ($330.6 million).

4 December 2017

Housing Market Digest by Will Dunning, Conomist for Mortgage Professionals Canada

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) now requires that all residential mortgages by federally-regulated lenders must be stress-tested, at two percentage points above the contract interest rate (or the 5- year posted rate, if that is higher). In combination with the requirements for mortgage insurance, about 90% of all new mortgages will be tested. This can be expected to reduce housing activity by 10-15%.

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In the News

2018 CMHC Prospective Home Buyers Survey

Vancouver the main driver of the Composite in December

Bank of Canada increases overnight rate target to 1 1/4 per cent

Fourth Quarter Housing Market Trends Seal 2017 as ‘the Year of the Condo’

Time for a mortgage review

Non-Resident ownership of condo apartments remains low and stable: CMHC

Construction intentions for multi-family dwellings in Montréal continue to climb

Housing Market Digest by Will Dunning, Conomist for Mortgage Professionals Canada