1M+ Buyers; When to Use a Broker
For the high-end buyers, we find most people have Private Wealth banks that can pretty much do anything … and we don’t win lots of deals for more than $1M+ unless it is a complicated deal.
If it is complicated, you have a private “general banker” trying to either “figure it out for the first time,” or remember how it works. Not the data a high-end buyer wants to rely on when structuring complicated trades in real estate.
Details of the FTHBI – First Time Home Buyer Incentive
The First-Time Home Buyer Incentive (FTHBI) officially starts on September 2, 2019. Introduced help first-time home buyers, the FTHBI will provide shared equity loans of 5% toward the down payment of a resale home, and 5% or 10% for newly-built homes.
History of Economic Bubbles
This is a most interesting info graphic
https://fortunly.com/infographics/historical-financial-bubbles-infographic/
Economic Bubbles: The History, Causes, and Effects

You don’t need to be an expert to understand what economic bubbles are and how they happen. The simplest definition is the rapid and unrealistic inflation of asset prices without any basis in the intrinsic value of the given asset.
Updates to CMHC First Time Buyer Incentive Program
In March the federal government unveiled changes to the budget that included an interesting opportunity for prospective first time home buyers through an enticing program that they called a “shared equity mortgage”. This program could see Canada’s housing agency (CMHC) kicking in up to 10% of the purchase price of a home if certain conditions are met, therefore bringing down the mortgage load and monthly payment for first time home buyers.
Why you don’t want your mortgage at your main bank
The Big-5 banks do not love you, they love your money, and now they can “trap” you in their mortgages if you fail the Stress Test.
Highlights of the last post are below. The post from January is here: http://markherman.ca/how-the-big-5-banks-trap-you-in-their-mortgages/
Variable rates to hold steady for 2019
Here is the latest on changes to the Prime rate for variable mortgages. The news is good as Prime is now expected to stay the same for the balance of 2019!
Remember:
- Variable rates can be locked in at any time for what the rates are on the day you lock in on.
- The maximum payout fee for is 3 months of interest
Rate hike disappears over the horizon
Apr 22, 2019 from First National Financial LPThe likelihood of a Bank of Canada interest rate increase appears to be getting pushed further and further beyond the horizon.
the WORST: Mortgages @ Big-6 Banks
This blog summarizes why getting a mortgage from 1 of the Big-6 banks is the worst idea:
- Rates are higher; ranging form .25% to .55% higher
- Terms & Conditions are no where near as good:
- Collateral charges: http://markherman.ca/?s=collateral
- payout penalties: http://markherman.ca/?s=payout+penalties
Here is the article that is fully correct:
Big Banks vs. Broker Lenders:
Moving to YYC: How to buy ASAP
Moving to Calgary and Buying a Homes As Soon As Possible
This is a common question, and as usual, the way the banks / lenders want things done is exactly the opposite of what works in real life, for real people, like you.
RBC: Mortgage Mistakes
RBC made what I think are some some pretty serious – and costly – mistakes for their customers and it is too bad … for the customers!
My 2 favorite quotes from this article are:
“My husband and I both felt pretty robbed,” she said. “I feel … it was deceptive.”
How the Big-5 Banks Trap You in Their Mortgages
- what your credit score is
- your pay and income going into your accounts
- your debt payments
- other debt balances on your credit report
- your home/ rental addresses so they can accurately guess at your home value.
Highlights of the article link below are:
Canada’s biggest banks are tightening their grip … as new rules designed to cut out risky lending make it harder for borrowers to switch lenders … the country’s biggest five banks … are reporting higher rates of renewals by existing customers concerned they will not qualify for a mortgage with another bank.