One of Canada’s Big 3 mortgage insurers is no longer publicly sharing its underwater exposure. Canada Guaranty quietly dropped the value of mortgages with negative equity in its latest data, as first reported by the Globe. Is the private insurer, backstopped by taxpayers, hiding a public concern? Let’s take a quick dive into the issue, […]
Canada’s real estate developers are pushing forward despite less-than-ideal conditions. CMHC data reveals June housing starts made the biggest jump in a decade. Even with the jump, the general trend has been fewer housing starts, despite the booming population growth. At least one of Canada’s largest banks has stated the country’s goal to double output […]
Will Canada’s real estate market correction hit pause with an influx of cheap credit? CMHC data shows that 5-year conventional mortgage rates fell in February. Not huge, but the second consecutive month since the most aggressive climb in a generation. With credit costs plummeting even faster in March, it could provide a boost for the […]
Canadian real estate is starting to see the first sign of stress from higher interest, and normalized demand. Canadian mortgage lenders are beginning to write off larger mortgages in Q3 2022—the largest in nearly a decade. Credit bureau data shows this isn’t a problem yet, as the share of mortgages written off continues to fall. […]
Canadian mortgage rates are on the rise but the average household’s payment is growing only slightly faster than they were with low rates.
Canadian lenders are only writing off a smaller share of mortgages, but the losses are bigger. The average loss from bad mortgages increased sharply in Q1 2022, shows Equifax data. A smaller share of mortgages are producing write-offs, now at a record low. However, that might change fast as the size of the write-offs rise […]
Canada is changing a first-time home buyer program to limit its exposure to losses. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) made unannounced changes to the First-Time Home Buyer Initiative (FTHBI). The program, which sees the government take a stake in a successful applicant’s home purchase, is now limiting its downside exposure. Only a few […]
Canadian mortgage payments are soaring as home prices hit record growth. Those payments might get more expensive for some as interest rates rise. It’s understandable that some are worried homeowners will face significant pressure. However, don’t expect renters to have any sympathy. As expensive as housing is, average mortgage payments are lower than the cost […]
Canadian real estate is entering one of its most precarious phases in history. Households will navigate it without the help of the national housing agency, though. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has halted its Housing Market Assessment (HMA) report. The regular report provided the public with insights on housing market imbalances. The cancellation […]
Canadian new housing construction is slowing, but remains above pre-pandemic levels. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) data shows new housing starts slowed in January 2022. The number of new homes to start construction fell below last year’s level. Financial institutions forecast this will continue for at least a couple of years. Canadian New Home […]
