Prime rate increase in the cards

Variable rates should stay a good option as Prime is expected to stay at 3% for the rest of the year.

The Bank of Canada will be first up when it makes its monthly interest rate announcement on Tuesday. But that will come before Friday’s critical report from Statistics Canada on the country’s consumer price index for June.

Canadian Economy Gathering Steam

The Canadian economy is gathering steam, with Western Canada leading the way and all provinces participating, according to the Provincial Outlook report issued today by BMO Capital Markets Economics. Canadian growth is expected to reach 3.4 per cent in 2010 and 3.1 per cent in 2011, providing a strong rebound from the 2.5 per cent decline in 2009.

Buyers still enjoy exceptional rates

I've said this before and I'll say it again: homebuyers today have it exceptionally good when it comes to mortgage rates.

I moved to Calgary and bought in the early 1980s when mortgage rates were something like 22 per cent. Try that on for size -- and compare it with what the rates are today, even after they moved off the historic bottom.