On April 19th 2010 new mortgage rules came into effect which have made it a little bit more challenging to qualify for a variable rate mortgage. Traditionally lenders qualified your maximum mortgage amount based on their current 3 year fixed rate. However, today it is a little bit more complicated and this post will help [...]

Mortgage interest rates continue to climb for the 4th week in a row. There is a lot of discussion between observers and economists who think that the banks are prematurely driving rates up as highlighted in Rob Carrick’s Globe & Mail article, “Are Big Banks Jumping the Gun?”. With each passing week the variable option [...]

After a very quick increase to fixed rate mortgages over the past 2 weeks mortgage lenders have started to compete for the new fixed 5 year. The standard rate is 4.59% however some lenders have introduced their quickclose rate at 4.39%.
The dilemma of deciding to go fixed over variable is on every borrower’s mind these [...]

A combination of positive economic data, the high Canadian dollar and probably the most important factor, the end of RRSP season in mid March when lenders artificially kept rates low to attract business, has caused two increases to fixed rate mortgages over the past 10 days. The difference between current fixed rates (4.59%) and current [...]

We all knew it was going to happen, we just didn’t know exactly when. Last Monday fixed rate mortgages increased. The fixed 5 year rate increased by a half of a percent from 3.89% to 4.39%. The following are current rates that I can offer but if you are feeling down that you missed an [...]

Fixed mortgage rates are married to bond yields. As a mortgage broker I constantly look towards the 5 year Government of Canada bond yield to forecast where rates are heading to advise clients. Bond yields and fixed rate mortgages have a positive relationship. Put another way, when the yield on 5 year Canadian Bonds increases, [...]

Merix is leading the way down with their 3 year variable rate mortgage. They announced yesterday evening that they are now offering Prime minus 0.50 which currently gives the borrower an effective rate of 1.75%! We are now back down to the same variable rate spreads that we saw pre-financial crisis fall 2008. The rate [...]

Bond yields are up which would typically result in an increase to fixed rate mortgages however lenders are artificially keeping rates low in order to gain market share. This is good for borrowers currently in the market however don’t expect the low fixed rates to stay around forever as it only takes one bank to [...]

Do you remember when you were a kid and you stood on the train tracks on a hot summer day peering into the distance for the coming train? Then suddenly, in the distance, a single light appeared suspended in mid air and the shape of a massive train hurdling towards you sent your heart racing. [...]

To start the month, there is a new variable rate mortgage! I can now offer Prime minus 40 (1.85%) on 3 year variable mortgages. It was also announced after I recorded my video, that the 5 year fixed rate special that I was offering at 3.69% has been extended for closings up until April 26th. [...]