Canadian real estate is probably fine, but the bank regulator just wants your lender to be extra safe. Earlier today, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) sent an advisory on real estate secured lending (RESL). OSFI, who oversees federally-regulated financial institutions (FRFIs), clarified expectations for risky mortgages. Lenders have been asked to […]
The global economy may be in for a bumpy ride, warns the central bank for central banks. The Bank of International Settlements (BIS) broke down the environmental variables typical of those preceding a hard landing. Most advanced economies fit this bill and are advised to start tackling inflation immediately. Those in the worst circumstances are […]
Canada’s booming population growth is obfuscating a trend policymakers should be watching — emigration. Emigration, the act of moving from a country, saw an unusual surge in Q1 2022. It was the biggest Q1 for emigration in a half decade, shows Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data. The recent surge marks the end of a trend […]
A Canadian lawmaker wants answers after BC’s money laundering inquiry condemned Federal agencies. Member of Parliament (MP) Adam Chambers is gauging support for a Federal inquiry into money laundering. Due to many failures Canada’s economy has become as reliant on money laundering as the US was on housing in ’06. Now the Simcoe North MP […]
Canadian real estate has already seen a shift behind the scenes after a regulatory failure resulted in changes to the way markets will operate. This week, the RCMP charged two prominent real estate professionals with fraud. It comes after a half-decade investigation, and a regulatory failure nearly 10-years ago. The allegations haven’t been proven, but […]
Canada’s soaring real estate prices pushed mortgage payments much higher. Equifax data shows the average mortgage payment only got a small break from low rates. Shortly after, the stimulus helped to drive home prices even higher. However, the average payment obligation is still low, since the majority bought at almost half of today’s price. Canada’s […]
Canada’s reputation as a money laundering haven dug its heels in last week. Despite big talk on tackling money laundering, Canada isn’t making much progress. That was one of the findings from BC’s inquiry last week. Increasingly complex laws aren’t acting as a deterrent, and appear to be designed to catch no one. Tracking beneficial […]
Canadian real estate prices are doing the unthinkable — they’ve stopped going up. After making a sudden drop last month, everyone is now wondering how much prices can fall. We’re hooking it up by assembling the downside scenario forecasts from the Big Six banks. Here’s the worst Canada’s biggest lenders see happening to home prices. […]
All flash and no (illicit) cash. That was the key takeaway from the Cullen Commission‘s final report looking at BC’s money laundering problem. Despite Canada talking a big game on anti-money laundering, its policies are ineffective. The Commission condemned federal anti-money laundering resources, and found Canada ignored the province’s calls for help. Austin Cullen, who […]
First-time home buyers are out and investors are in. That’s the takeaway from Bank of Canada (BoC) data showing the share of real estate investors in the market. Before 2020, investor demand for real estate was beginning to slow down. When rates were cut in 2020, it sparked a new wave of investor demand that […]
