Hold On...
Marci Dean • March 7, 2024
The Bank of Canada has decided not to change its benchmark rate in its latest decision.
- This keeps rates steady for the fifth consecutive time.
- The overnight rate, which affects variable mortgage rates, stays at 5.0%, the same rate since July 2023. (Bank prime is still 7.20%)
- There were no surprises in this Bank announcement today.
- The Bank of Canada is still concerned about inflation risks and wants to see more easing in core inflation.
- Last month, inflation decreased more than expected to 2.9%, inching closer to the Bank's target rate, which was good news, but……
- The Canadian economy expanded in the fourth quarter and grew at a 1.0% annualized rate.
- The speech from the US Treasury later this week will give a better sign on the possible trajectory of the rates both north and south of the Border.
- Another thing to look for is the job numbers both here in Canada and in the US as these will have an impact on interest rate movement and timing of cuts.
All this to say it is a delicate balancing act right now and there is not enough economic incentive for the BOC to start cutting rates!
Leading economists still expect the Bank to lower the policy rate to 3% by 2025, with a 33% chance of a cut in April at the next Bank of Canada meeting. Most economist now think rate cuts will be delayed until the summer. I follow many economists and experts on the Canadian Economy and one of my favourites if Benjamin Tal. Here is what he has had to say after yesterday’s news from the BOC:
Still, while its tone was slightly more hawkish than many had expected, Tal said the central bank had good reason not to give away the game on when it’s likely to begin bringing rates down.
“What’s interesting is the language of the statement, which is not as dovish as some people expected,” Tal told Canadian Mortgage Professional after yesterday’s announcement. “There’s no hint of any cuts coming. They’re concerned about sticky inflation – and I think it makes sense.
Tal went on to say: …. the central bank is still likely to cut in June.
Time will tell if Ben has it right!
Fixed rates for a three-year term are now hovering in the low 5% range while the 5-year fixed rates are a bit lower than this, some even starting with a 4! The trouble with locking in for 5 years is that if/when rates drop further the penalty to break and refinance for an even lower rate could be very costly. Everyone’s situation is different so please reach out if you would like to discuss your mortgage renewal options.
Meanwhile, the real estate market is picking up with an up tick in listings and many buyers coming off the side lines. We do expect that this will continue through 2024 and if/when the BOC cuts and prime drops, activity heat up. If you want to consider your options for buying or selling and upsizing, now is the time to run the Mortgage Math!
The Bank's next announcement is scheduled for April 10, 2024! 🏠💰
As always, if you want to review your own personal mortgage please reach out for a complimentary Mortgage Review.
Let's Talk About Mortgage Renewals In 2024
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, today’s uncertain rate environment means mortgage renewals are more complicated!
Here are some things to consider if you have an upcoming mortgage renewal:
- Confirm that your lender’s renewal offer includes all available terms.
- Know that the lender’s first offer isn't always their best offer.
- Ask for a quote that includes the rate and the new payment.
- Understand that Mortgages can be moved to a new lender at renewal and this is often without a cost to the borrower!
- The time to shop for a new mortgage is 3 - 6 months before your maturity date.
If you would like to explore all of your renewal options be sure to reach out to book a call.
If you want me to monitor your mortgage you can sign up for this service here!
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If you need a mortgage, working with an independent mortgage professional will save you money and provide you with better options than dealing with a single financial institution. And if that is the only sentence you read in this entire article, you already know all you need to know. However, if you’d like to dig a little deeper, here are some reasons that outline why working with an independent mortgage professional is in your best interest. The best mortgage is the one that costs you the least over the long term. An independent mortgage professional can help you achieve this. Mortgages aren’t created equally. Oftentimes slick marketing leads us to believe the lowest “sticker price” is the best value. So when it comes to mortgage financing, you might assume the mortgage with the lowest rate is the best option. This isn’t always the case. When considering a mortgage, your goal should be to find the mortgage that will cost you the least amount of money over the total length of the mortgage. There are many factors to consider, such as your specific financial situation, the rate, initial term length, fixed or variable rate structure, amortization, and the penalties incurred should you need to break your mortgage early; the fine print matters. An independent mortgage professional can walk through all these factors with you and will help you find the mortgage that best suits your needs. Sometimes taking a mortgage with a slightly higher rate can make sense if it gives you flexibility down the line or helps you avoid huge payout penalties. Working the numbers with an independent mortgage professional will save you money in the long run instead of just going with what a single lender is offering. Save time by letting an independent mortgage professional find the best mortgage product for you. Let's face it, getting a mortgage can be challenging enough on its own. Everyone’s financial situation is a little different and making sense of lender guidelines is a full-time job in itself. So instead of dealing with multiple lending institutions on your own, when you work with an independent mortgage professional, you submit a single mortgage application that is compared to the lending guidelines of various mortgage lenders. This will save you time as you don’t have to go from bank to bank to ensure you’re getting the best mortgage. Simply put, an independent mortgage professional works for you and has your best interest in mind, while a bank specialist works for the bank and has the bank's best interest in mind. It’s no secret that Canadian banks make a lot of money. It seems every quarter they turn billions of dollars in profit (despite the economic environment). They do this at the expense of their customers by charging as much interest as they can and structuring mortgages to their benefit. It’s all about the alignment of interest. Bank employees work for the bank; the bank pays them to make money for the bank. In contrast, independent mortgage professionals are provincially licensed to work for their clients and are paid a standardized placement or finder’s fee for matching borrowers with lenders. When you work with a single bank, you only have access to the products of that bank. When you work with an independent mortgage professional, you have access to all of the lenders that mortgage professionals have relationships with and all their products. Working with an independent mortgage professional will save you money, time, and provide you with better mortgage options. Plus, you have the added benefit of working with a licensed professional looking out for your best interest, providing you with the best possible advice. If you’d like to know more or to discuss mortgage financing, please connect anytime; it would be a pleasure to work with you.
Chances are, buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make in your life. And as mortgage financing can be somewhat confusing at the best of times, to alleviate some of the stress and to ensure your home purchase goes as smoothly as possible, here are six very high-level steps you should follow. While it might seem like the best place to start the home buying process is to browse MLS on your phone and then contact a Realtor to go out and look at properties, it’s not. First, you’re going to want to work with a licensed independent mortgage professional. When you work with an independent mortgage professional, instead of working with a single bank, you’ll be working with someone who has your best interest in mind and can present you with mortgage options from several financial institutions. The second step in the home buying process is to put together a mortgage plan. Unless you have enough money in the bank to buy a home with cash, you’re going to need a mortgage. And as mortgage financing can be challenging and not so straightforward, the best time to start planning for a mortgage is right now. Don’t make another move until you discuss your financial situation with an independent mortgage professional. It’s never too early to start planning. As part of your mortgage plan, you’ll want to figure out what you can afford on paper, assess your credit score, run some financial scenarios, calculate mortgage payments, and have a clear picture of exactly how much money is required for a downpayment and closing costs. You’ll also be able to discuss which mortgage product is best for you, considering different mortgage terms, types, amortizations, and features. Now, what you qualify to borrow on paper doesn’t necessarily mean you can actually afford the payments in real life. You need to consider your lifestyle and what you spend your money on. Understanding your cash flow is the key. Make a budget to verify you can actually afford your proposed mortgage payments and that you have enough funds to close on the mortgage. No one wants to be house-poor or left scrambling to come up with funds to close at the last minute. If everything looks good at this point, the next step will be to get a preapproval in place. Now, a pre-approval is more than just typing some numbers into a form or online calculator; you need to complete a mortgage application and submit all the documents requested by your mortgage professional. Only proceed with looking at properties when you’ve been given the green light from your mortgage professional. When you’ve found a property to purchase, you’ll work very closely with your mortgage professional to arrange mortgage financing in a short period of time. This is where being prepared pays off. As you’ve already collected and submitted many documents upfront during the preapproval process, you should be set up for success. However, remain flexible and provide any additional documentation required by the lender to secure mortgage financing. Once you have firm lender approval and you’ve removed conditions on the purchase agreement, don’t change anything about your financial situation until you have the keys. Don’t quit your job, don’t take out a new loan, or don’t make a large withdrawal from your bank account. Put your life into a holding pattern until you take possession of your new home. So there you have it, six steps to ensuring a smooth home purchase: Work with an independent mortgage professional. Put together a mortgage plan. Figure out what you can actually afford. Get a pre-approval. Provide the necessary documentation. Don’t change anything about your financial situation until you take possession. If you’d like to discuss your personal financial situation and find the best mortgage product for you, let’s work together. We can figure out a plan to buy a home as stress-free as possible. Please connect anytime; it would be a pleasure to work with you.
LET'S TALK
MARCI DEANE
MORTGAGE BROKER
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The first step is to start a conversation with me.
