Canada Archives - Synergy Mortgage

17Sep

The Advantages of Buying a Home in British Columbia: Tips on Affordability

[Synergy Mortgage - September 16, 2023] The Advantages of Buying a Home in British Columbia: Tips on Affordability British Columbia, with its stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and a high quality of life, has always been a desirable place to live. If you’re considering relocating to this beautiful province, one of the most significant decisions you’ll face is whether to rent or buy a home. While renting may seem like a convenient option, there are numerous benefits to buying and owning a [...]

British Columbia, Canada, Vancouver Real Estate

29Aug

Buy or sell first? Softening housing market gives owners options

[Globe and Mail - August 4, 2022] Last summer, when the Salters sold the Calgary home they had been renting out since their move to the quiet Cariboo region of British Columbia a few years earlier, the Calgary market was hot. This year, when they decided to move back to the city, the COVID-19-inspired buying spree in rural Canada had increased the value of their Cariboo property significantly, while the Calgary real estate market was decidedly cooler. “The market drastically slowed after [...]

Canada, Industry News, Vancouver Real Estate

23Jun

Rising interest rates mean Canadians need the right mortgage advice

[Globe and Mail - June 8, 2022] Homeowners and buyers should seek advice as they adjust their strategies and look for more ways to save The changing landscape around interest rates is having a cooling effect on Canada’s scorching real estate market, giving Canadians an opportunity to slow down and explore their options. Three out of four homeowners polled by CIBC this spring say they intend on staying put in the short-term. While about 22 per cent of homeowners expect to buy [...]

Canada, Mortgage Rate Outlook

05May

The Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (“FHSA”) explained

[Invis - May 5, 2022] If you or someone you know is saving for a downpayment on their first home, the Federal government announced a new program aimed at first-time buyers in their recent budget. The First Home Savings Account combines the features of an RRSP and TFSA to give prospective homeowners some tax relief and a boost toward their homeownership goals. Here are the highlights: Account holders can contribute up to $8,000 annually, up to a lifetime maximum of $40,000. [...]

British Columbia, Canada, Mortgage Education Centre, Vancouver Real Estate

14Apr

New tax-free home savings account, foreign buyer ban top budget plan to tackle housing affordability

[CBC - April 7, 2022] Government pledges to double pace of new home construction to 400,000 annually to target supply issues The federal government outlined its plans to tackle sky-high housing costs in Thursday's budget — including a temporary ban on foreign buyers, a crackdown on speculators, a pledge to double the pace of new home construction and a new tax-sheltered way for Canadians to save up to buy a home. The government is moving ahead with something it floated on the [...]

Canada, Vancouver Real Estate

03Mar

Bank of Canada hikes rates for first time since 2018

[BNN - March 2, 2022] OTTAWA - The Bank of Canada raised its overnight lending rate by 25 basis points to 0.50 per cent on Wednesday, marking the first time the central bank has tightened monetary policy since 2018, while highlighting how Russia's attack on Ukraine could weigh on global growth and lift commodity prices further. The central bank cited strong recent economic growth in Canada, resilient household spending despite the surge of the Omicron COVID-19 variant and inflation figures that are "well above" the [...]

Bank of Canada announcements, British Columbia, Canada, Uncategorized, Vancouver Real Estate

17Jan

Broken Supply Chains by Steve Saretsky

Steve Satetsky Group - January 17, 2021 As of this week, unvaccinated US truckers will not be able to cross the Canadian border. This decision by the Trudeau government is going to have significant economic impacts. COVID politics aside, let's discuss the economic ramifications moving forward and how this could ultimately come full circle for the housing market. More than 70% of cross-border trade moves by truck. Canada imports $21B worth of food from the US each year. Suffice to say, [...]

Canada, COVID-19, Economic Outlook, Vancouver Real Estate

05Jan

Canada’s bank regulator keeps mortgage stress test unchanged despite spiking home prices, rising household debt

[Globe and Mail - December 17, 2021] Canada’s bank regulator said it is not changing the mortgage stress test, calling the borrowing rules “adequate,” even as home prices continue to accelerate and household debt rapidly increases. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, or OSFI, said the mortgage stress test for uninsured mortgages will continue to require borrowers to qualify at a rate of 5.25 per cent. The Finance Department also said the rate would remain the same for borrowers [...]

Canada, Industry News, Mortgage Qualification

21Oct

Sales have calmed from earlier in 2021 but tight supply conditions are expected to continue to drive prices higher

[Crea - September 15, 2021] Ottawa, ON September 15, 2021 – The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has updated its forecast for home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems of Canadian real estate boards and associations. Over the past several years, record levels of international immigration (not including 2020), low interest rates, and an increasingly middle-aged Millennial cohort have come together to fuel very strong household formation and housing demand in Canada. Recall that prior to COVID-19, the [...]

Canada, Economic Outlook

16Oct

How to choose between selling your home and taking out a reverse mortgage

[Financial Post - September 23, 2021] Homeowners who need funds should weigh their options before tapping a home for income Just because you’re house-rich doesn’t mean you can’t go broke. Many homeowners who lack sufficient retirement income can find themselves faced with a difficult choice: sell a beloved home or turn it into an emergency income source. One option is to take out a reverse mortgage, which can let them maintain their lifestyles while staying put. But it’s a big decision. While a conventional [...]

Canada, Mortgage Education Centre