Is it time for mortgage interest rates to start going up?

The Canadian housing market shows no signs of slowing down during the typically slowing summer months. Economists say they continue to be surprised by the strength in the housing market and continued appetite that Canadians have towards home ownership.

The U.S economy is growing much faster than expected and unemployment is down to 6.1% which is at its lowest level since the summer of 2008. Housing starts across the US have also exceeded the expectations of many economists.  This encouraging news is causing speculation that the US Federal Reserve will be forced to raise interest rates faster than anticipated to ensure inflation does not become a concern.

According to Bloomberg News, Charles Plosser of the Federal Reserve states, “The data keeps telling us we ought to be raising rates, if we wait too long we could find ourselves raising rates faster and higher than we want to.”  Historically, our interest rates usually follow the lead of the US.

With the hot real estate market this summer, it makes sense to get a pre-approved mortgage with a locked in interest rate while we are still at historical lows. Access to major banks, trust companies and credit unions combined with my expertise provides you the opportunity to get the right mortgage with the best possible rate and terms.

Contact me today.

Regards,

Mark Herman,
MA Mortgages Are Marvellous
Mortgage Associate

(403) 681-4376
(403) 681-4376
mark.herman@shaw.ca
http://www.mortgagealliance.com/MarkHerman         

             

5 Plex and up, Yes we do them now!

Multi Residential Lender within a bank that will work with 5-PLEX and UP!! These are multi residential rates (APPROX 3.99% on 5 year).

This is nerdy news but it is a big deal for real estate investors who have a tough time getting funding for small 5 and 6 plex deals as they are so small lenders will not look at them commercially and anything more than 4 units can not be done as residential. Read More

Calgary 4th most expensive city in Canada to live in

Vancouver tops the list of most expensive Canadian cities to live in, surpassing Toronto for the second year in a row, according to an annual cost of living survey.

But life is still expensive in Toronto, as well as Montreal and Calgary, which round out the top four costly cities in the country, according to Mercer’s 2014 Cost of Living Survey. Read More

CMHC not insuring luxury homes with sales price of more than $1M

This was announced about 4 months ago so it is no surprise – unless you have been sitting on a huge pile of cash and just now thought it is a good time to buy a home for $1,000,001 or more.

Another great example of rules that we have been working under for months that did not make the headlines …

CMHC no longer offering mortgage insurance for luxury homes

 Also cutting insurance to loans to finance condo projects  By Mario Toneguzzi AND cANADIAN pRESS, Calgary Herald June 6, 2014   Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. is making changing to mortgage insurance for luxury properties.

CALGARY – Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says it will no longer offer mortgage insurance for homes that cost $1 million or more, starting July 31, even if the buyer has made a deposit of 20 per cent or more. Read More

CMHC and Flood Damaged Homes in YYC / Calgary

We get this question often as there is lots of fully bizarre data out there.

Here is what we are seeing. Remember, as the #1 mortgage brokerage/ franchise in ALL of Canada for 2013 at the countries largest SuperBroker – Mortgage Alliance we see lots of deal flow so this is based off of many hundreds of conversations with the insurers and lenders: Read More

More on how Banks “get ya” with payout penalties

The beginning of a great article below goes more into the details on what the BANKS do to you when you get their low rates deals like the BMO 2.99% – which everyone now says is not a great deal as you must sell your home to get out of it  – among other things. Ensure you always use a broker for your mortgage.

Low mortgage rates  tempt, but penalties for breaking  can be high!!

You want some of these record low rates on the market but you’re locked into a mortgage. Just break it, right?

Not so fast, there’s a key question you need to ask before you commit to break a mortgage: how much will it cost you? Actually, it’s a question you should be asking before you sign up in the first place. Read More

the 2.99% BMO deal is not that great

My colleague in Toronto wrote this and he puts it very well:

Don’t let the Banks Play you for a Fool.

With all the press surrounding the 2.99% % year fixed rate mortgage from BMO we thought we should clarify some if its characteristics. There is no point in saving 0.05% on a mortgage if it means having to pay outrageous break fees, or be limited to dealing with one Lender for the entire term of your mortgage. Believe it or not, many Lenders offer the same 2.99% without the draconian terms the Bank insist upon you. Read More