Canada’s house rich but cash strapped Boomers are back to tapping their home equity. Regulatory filings with the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) show reverse mortgage debt hit a new record in February. Over the past couple of years, the segment had seen a slowdown. However, growth is now suddenly back and […]
Canadian future building construction intentions tapered as interest rates climbed, shows permit data. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the value of building permits, a leading indicator, made a small dive in March. Future building plans remain elevated compared to pre-2020. However, residential plans slowed as expected after record building activity. Canadian Building Permit Values […]
Canadian real estate prices may be slowing now, but the damage got even worse in the year’s first quarter. The Desjardins Affordability Index (DAI) reached the worst level recorded in Q1 2022. Home prices continue to become more overvalued, even as incomes fall. The Desjardins Affordability Index (DAI) The DAI is an inverse affordability index […]
Time for your cheat sheet on this week’s top stories. Canadian Real Estate Canadian Real Estate Has A Money Laundering and Fraud Problem: Intelligence Report Canadian real estate is an excellent tool for money laundering, according to CISC. The Canadian intelligence agency published a report on how organized crime launders. They found organized crime engaged […]
Canada’s hot employment market turned up a few degrees last month. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) released its Labour Force Survey showing April’s employment climbed. It was a relatively small increase, but enough to drive the unemployment rate to a new record low. Toronto and Vancouver are bucking the trend, though, both showing climbing unemployment rates. […]
Intel just confirmed, Canadian real estate is a haven for money laundering and fraud. Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC), a national intelligence agency, quietly produced an anti-money laundering report in 2020. The report focuses on the scope and extent of money laundering in Canada. The agency found real estate was used extensively as a tool […]
US mortgage rates are climbing nearly as fast as they were cut just a few months ago. Freddie Mac released its Primary Mortgage Market Survey this week. They found the 30-year fixed rate mortgage is now well over 5%, the highest rate since 2009. Higher costs to control inflation means a lot less time repairing […]
Canadian inflation is the highest in decades, and it’s even higher for those without a mortgage. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows growth of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) hit a 31-year high in March. But when mortgage interest costs are excluded, inflation is even higher — the highest growth in the agency’s data set. […]
Canadian real estate prices won’t correct due to population growth, right? Well, BMO Capital Markets shared a different take with institutions this morning. The bank explains there is no historical evidence to support this narrative. During the last significant home price crash, Canada saw its population grow at a faster rate. They warn interest rates […]
New Zealand real estate’s epic run is fast approaching its end, and a correction looms. That was the take in the Reserve Bank of New Zealand‘s (RBNZ) May 2022 Financial Stability Report. The central bank called housing unsustainable and said gradual price declines are desirable. However, they warn a significant correction is possible. New Zealand […]
