BC’s Dependence on Alberta This article highlights research on the dependence of BC’s economy and housing market on Alberta and the potential implications of the on-going economic turndown. Summary Of all the regions in Canada, BC is the most [...]
An Explanation of the “Shadow Mortgage Market” in Canada This article explains what “shadow lending” is in the context of the Canadian mortgage market, outlines third-party estimates of its size and growth rate, and summarizes concerns policy makers have [...]
CMHC has announced changes to their underwriting policy that will make it easier for some homeowners to qualify for a loan Who Does it Affect? The changes affect anyone looking for a mortgage on a dwelling with a legal, secondary suite. [...]
A recent report by TD bank argues that the Bank of Canada’s recent rate cut will not have a significant impact on Canada’s housing market. This article summarizes the arguments put forth. The recent report is largely in line with a recent post [...]
We have talked in the past about affordability problems in Vancouver. We argued then, as we argue now, that single-detached homes are likely to remain out of reach for most families within the city and that we need to re-evaluate how [...]
Foreign investors take a lot of flack in Vancouver and are generally blamed for the rise in home prices in recent years. The unease is completely understandable as the average single-detached home in the Greater Vancouver Area now costs [...]
A recent survey by CIBC indicates that most Canadians would use a rate cut to pay down their debts faster, rather than take on more debt] indicates that most Canadians would use a rate cut to pay down their [...]
On the eve of the Bank of Canada’s decision to lower their overnight rate target, we provide a summary of the most recent available interest rate forecasts for the 5-year government of Canada bond yield. There is a little more [...]
Vancouver’s Economy and Housing Market Outlook A recent report by The Bank of Montreal highlights the underlying strength of Vancouver’s economy and housing market. This article presents the highlights of that report. Highlights BC’s economy is expected to grow slightly slower compared [...]
On Wednesday, July 15th, the Bank of Canada will announce whether they will maintain the overnight rate at 0.75% or whether they will cut it for the second time this year. The likelihood that they will announce a rate cut [...]
Vancouver’s Affordability Problem Housing affordability is a hot topic these days, especially in Greater Vancouver, where single-detached home prices have doubled in the last ten years, reaching $1.1 million in May 2015. Prices like that keep these homes out of the reach [...]
This article highlights recent research into homebuying activity of Canadians. We will focus on sources of financing, housing preference, and demographics. At the conclusion, the reader should have a good understanding of who is buying what, how, where, and why. [...]