Canadian Home Equity Borrowing Is On The Rise Once Again

Canadians are once again comfortable borrowing their home equity – at least a little of it. Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) filings show the balance of loans secured by home equity approached the previous all-time high in September. Growth is still slow, but it’s no longer negative.

Canadians Owe $307.11 Billion Secured By Home Equity 

The outstanding balance of loans secured by home equity is picking up steam again. The balance reached $307.11 billion in September, up 0.64% from the month before. The increase represents a 1.05% increase compared to the same month last year. Still pretty abysmal growth, but it’s the highest level since May. 

Total Loans Secured With Residential Real Estate

The total of personal and business loans, secured with residential real estate.

Source: Regulatory Filings, Better Dwelling.

Personal Loans Secured By Home Equity Hit $271 Billion

Breaking the total down by segment, personal loans secured by real estate represented the majority of the debt. The outstanding balance for this segment represented $271.11 billion of the balance in September, up 0.73% from the month before. This is 0.31% higher than the same month last year. It may not seem like much, but the past three months showed negative annual growth. The monthly increase was large enough to reverse the negative annual growth. 

Personal Loans Secured With Residential Real Estate

The total of personal loans, secured with residential real estate.

Source: Regulatory Filings, Better Dwelling.

Business Loans Secured By Home Equity Hit $36 Billion

The remainder of the total balance are business loans secured by home equity. The balance was $36.00 billion in September, down 0.04% from a month before. Compared to the same month last year, this is 6.99% higher. Business growth is much higher than personal loans, but it always runs a little higher. This is the lowest annual growth for the segment since March 2019.  

Business Loans Secured With Residential Real Estate

The total of business loans, secured with residential real estate.

Source: Regulatory Filings, Better Dwelling.

Borrowing against home equity is picking up, but the growth is still close to zero. Personal loans are growing below one point, meaning inflation adjusted growth will likely still be negative. Business loans on the other hand are falling. Typically slow credit growth would drag consumer growth, especially in Canada. However, an elevated savings rate may offset the number in the near-term.

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  • abc 4 years ago

    Canada’s GTA and GVRD economy and real estate is a pure lie. Canada is not a rich country and all the fake bank-induced hyperinflation ( you have a pulse you were approved for 1.5 million dollar mortgage in Canada in the past 10 years,) in residential housing is pure fluf and its going to meet reality. Canada is not China or the Middle East, namley actual rich parts of the planet. Canada’s housing is overpriced by 100%. 2 million dollar homes are at best 800k since Canadians are taxed to death and poor as crap, even high income earners in the 1 percent 200k plus have no savings and are just making bare minimum payments on their million dollar mortgages in many cases with borrowed money. 2020-2021-2022 GVRD GTA will be the biggest housing collapse anywhere in history and everyone in the GTA and GVRD know it.

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