Canadian lenders are only writing off a smaller share of mortgages, but the losses are bigger. The average loss from bad mortgages increased sharply in Q1 2022, shows Equifax data. A smaller share of mortgages are producing write-offs, now at a record low. However, that might change fast as the size of the write-offs rise […]
Canadian mortgage credit has seen a drag from higher interest rates but old habits are hard to break. April hit a new high for residential mortgage debt, according to Bank of Canada (BoC) data. Higher interest rates, only two months in, helped to slow the rate of growth but it’s still very high. Canadian mortgage […]
Told ya’ higher interest rates would lead to more Canadian real estate inventory. Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) data shows existing-home sales dropped sharply in May. At the same time inventory has been climbing as more owners cash out some of those record gains. Falling sales and higher inventory has driven the market into balanced […]
Canadian real estate has had an easy climb over the past 30+ years, but that might be coming to an end. That was the take from BMO Capital Markets in a new research note. Recent mortgage borrowers will have to renew at much higher rates in the future. The estimated renewal increase will be the […]
Low rates and the promise of riches from ever rising home prices sent Canadians on an epic debt binge. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the household debt to disposable income ratio tied the record in Q1 2022. A tie might sound like we’ve seen this before, but interest rates make this situation stand out. […]
Canada borrowed debt so households didn’t have to, but they went ahead and borrowed anyway. Bank of Canada (BoC) data shows the share of highly indebted mortgage borrowers pushed to a new high in Q1 2022. These borrowers, with at least a 450% debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, now represent 1 in 4 mortgages. It sounds bad, […]
Canadians should say good-bye to the 15-or-so year experiment with cheap debt, because it’s over. Government of Canada (GoC) 5-year bond yields continued to boom, accelerating this week. The yield now sits at the highest level since before the Great Recession and isn’t expected to slow down. Mortgage rates will see a big impact from […]
Fewer Canadians were taking out new mortgages, even before the rate hikes began. Mortgage origination data from TransUnion shows how originations fell sharply in Q4 2021. Not one province showed annual growth, with Ontario leading the way lower. As Canadian real estate prices climbed, fewer people were qualified to buy. This can act as friction […]
Canadian institutions are showing fading optimism, according to a new survey. The Bank of Canada (BoC) released the Spring 2022 results of its Financial System Survey (FSS). The FSS is a twice-yearly poll of risk managers, allowing the BoC to compare expectations to their own. Results from the survey show more institutions expect a financial […]
Cheap debt turned Canadian real estate into a playground for deep-pocketed investors, with fewer end-users. That was one of the insights in the RBC Q2 2022 earnings call with analysts. Investors now represent almost 1 in 7 residential mortgage dollars they’re owed. RBC’s top brass called it a “sad commentary” to see so few first-time […]
