Oil prices are making housing forecasts a tough call in Alberta

Plunging oil prices have made it almost too difficult to predict what will happen in the Calgary housing market, according to a new real estate forecast. As Vancouver home prices surge out of reach, businesses worry how to retain staff Business groups are raising the alarm about Vancouver’s ability to attract and retain the talent […]

Housing sales in July highest since early 2010

Sales of existing homes rose for the sixth month in a row in July, hitting their highest level since March 2010, as some of the country’s softer real estate markets sprung to life. Cities such as Montreal, Ottawa, Victoria, Winnipeg and Halifax received a sales boost from June on a seasonally adjusted basis, even as […]

Canadian home prices rose in July by more than usual: Teranet

TORONTO — Canadian resale home prices rose in July and the pace of 12-month price appreciation accelerated, the Teranet-National Bank Composite House Price Index showed on Wednesday, adding to strong housing starts this summer to signal a market that continues to be robust. The index, which measures price changes for repeat sales of single-family homes, […]

Canada’s housing market on course for soft landing, says CMHC – Ask a Vancouver Mortgage broker

OTTAWA — After consistently bucking predictions that a slowing trend was just around the corner, Canada’s housing market is now showing signs that it is, indeed, headed for a soft landing. Pockets of risk in Canada’s condo market but don’t expect a crash, Conference Board report says Pockets of risk continue to exist in the […]

Money-losing rental and layoff put retirement at risk for couple in their 50s

Situation: Layoff and inability to find a new job plus a money-losing rental property jeopardize couple’s retirement Strategy: Either get a new job to subsidize the rental or sell it to balance budget. Tidy up cluttered investment portfolio to reduce fees and duplicaton At their ages of 55 and 51, Dan and Martha, have hit a series […]

Canada’s top court declines to hear Toronto realtor case appeal

Canada’s top court said it won’t hear an appeal of a case on whether Toronto’s main realtor group must give wider access to their historical price data. The Ottawa-based Supreme Court published the decision on its website Thursday. The Toronto Real Estate Board blocks its 35,000 members from publishing sale prices on their internal websites, […]

Bad weather can’t put a dent in Canadian housing sales – Ask a Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Spring came late for the Canadian residential real estate market but despite the delay the organization that represents the country’s realtors is still predicting a 1.2% jump in activity for 2014. Calgary’s housing market making a dramatic comeback Te Calgary housing market is so hot that an economist reported Tuesday that only 15 condominiums in […]

Ed Clark ‘supportive’ of Finance Minister Joe Oliver’s hands-off approach in mortgage wars

Toronto-Dominion Bank chief executive Ed Clark is throwing his support behind Finance Minister Joe Oliver’s decision not tell banks how to price their mortgages. Top economist calls out Ottawa on ‘unhealthy’ lack of information about housing market Crucial information needed to assess the health of our housing market is not available in Canada, and without […]

Could CMHC change its ‘one-size fits all’ mortgage insurance to reflect real risk? – Ask a Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Buy a house with less than a 20% down payment and you have to get mortgage default insurance. There’s no choice. The rules are dictated by Ottawa and protect the banks, in the event you default. Why the mortgage rate wars can rage more freely Why did Bank of Montreal risk a (verbal) slap from […]

Canada home sales fell 3.3% in January, CREA says – Consult with a Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Canadian existing home sales fell for a fifth month in January on fewer transactions in Toronto and Vancouver, adding to evidence the nation’s housing market is cooling. Sales declined 3.3% in January from the previous month, the Canadian Real Estate Association said today in a statement. The average price of a home sold in January […]

Next Page »