Latest in Mortgage News, COVID-19, and Economic Recovery.

Marci • June 24, 2020

Although the volume of news over the last month has been pretty tame in comparison to when COVID-19 initially hit, there has still been a lot going on. If you find yourself wondering about the current state of affairs as it relates to real estate, mortgage financing, and the recovery of our economy mid and post-pandemic, you’ve come to the right place!

Here is a quick recap, a look forward, and links to many good sources of information!

Questionable economic outlook. 

Back in the third week of May, the head of the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) made some pretty gloomy predictions. These Included a potential decrease in house prices of 18%, a jump in mortgage deferrals by 20% from 12% by September, and a debt-to-GDP ratio jump from 99% to 130% by Q3.

However, this particular economic outlook wasn’t widely accepted in the mortgage industry and was seen more as an absolute worst-case scenario. Despite this, CMHC went ahead and made changes to their underwriting guidelines and qualifying criteria for insured mortgages.

CMHC changes policy for insured mortgages. 

On June 4th, 2020, CMHC announced that they would be making changes to their underwriting qualification effective July 1st 2020.

Essentially, they have lowered the buying power of anyone looking for an insured mortgage by up to 10% by limiting the Gross/Total Debt Servicing (GDS/TDS) ratios to 35% and 42% respectively. They changed the credit score requirements to a minimum of 680 for at least one borrower. While they also removed non-traditional sources of down payment that increase indebtedness, (borrowed downpayment). A gifted downpayment from a family member is still acceptable.

Genworth and Canada Guaranty don’t plan on changing guidelines.

In response to CMHC’s changes, the other two mortgage insurers in Canada made announcements that they would not be changing their guidelines.

“Genworth Canada believes that its risk management framework, its dynamic underwriting policies and processes and its ongoing monitoring of conditions and market developments allow it to prudently adjudicate and manage its mortgage insurance exposure, including its exposure to this segment of borrowers with lower credit scores or higher debt service ratios,” said  Stuart Levings , President and CEO.

“Canada Guaranty confirms that no changes to underwriting policy are contemplated as a result of recent industry announcements… Given implementation of the qualifying stress test and historic default patterns, Canada Guaranty does not anticipate borrower debt service ratios at time of origination to be a significant predictor of mortgage defaults.”

So although CMHC is taking a very pessimistic view towards our economic recovery and has made it harder to qualify for an insured mortgage going forward, Genworth and Canada Guaranty will be there to make sure more Canadians have access to insured mortgage products.

Economic Outlook from the Bank of Canada.

On June 22nd, Tiff Macklem, the new governor of the Bank of Canada, released his first public press release called Monetary Policy in the Context of COVID-19.

“Currently, we expect growth to resume in the third quarter. The economy will get an immediate boost as containment measures are lifted, people are called back to work, and households resume some of their normal activities. But it will be important not to assume that these growth rates will continue beyond the reopening phase. The pandemic is likely to inflict some lasting damage to demand and supply. The recovery will likely be prolonged and bumpy, with the potential for setbacks along the way.”

Conference Board of Canada.

In a sizeable release, the Conference Board of Canada shared their Canadian Outlook Summary: Summer 2020.

“With the worst of the recession likely over, the outlook for 2021 is brighter. The economy is forecast to rebound by 6.7 per cent in 2021 and 4.8 per cent in 2022. As the threat of the pandemic eases, how well the reopening of the economy and the withdrawal of government support is managed will be a crucial determinant of the economy’s trajectory over the next several years.”

Business as usual.

By all accounts, it’s business as usual amid this global pandemic. Although COVID-19 has impacted the number of houses being bought and sold, prices haven’t dropped. CMHC has made it harder to qualify for an insured mortgage through them, but you have two other insurers providing options, so it’s not a big deal.

If you’re looking to make a move or need to discuss mortgage financing, please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime. I would love to work with you!

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Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 2.25% — July 15, 2026

By Marci Deane • July 15, 2026
The Bank of Canada announced today that it is holding its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. The tone of today's announcement is notably more optimistic than previous months. Here's what's changed and what it means for you.

Let’s Talk About Getting Top Dollar for Your Property

By Marci Deane • July 8, 2026
When it comes to selling your home, most people think the first call should be to a real estate agent. But the smartest first step often isn’t with your agent—it’s with an independent mortgage professional. Why? Because your mortgage plays a bigger role in your bottom line than most people realize. Planning to Buy After You Sell If selling means you’ll also be purchasing another property, you’ll want to know exactly where you stand financially before listing. Mortgage rules change regularly, and qualifying once doesn’t guarantee you’ll qualify again. Getting a pre-approval in place ensures you know what you can afford and eliminates surprises later. On top of that, reviewing the terms of your existing mortgage could uncover options you may not have considered. For example, porting your mortgage instead of arranging a brand-new one could save you thousands. Selling Without Buying Even if you aren’t planning to buy right away, there’s still an important step: understanding the cost of breaking your mortgage. Unless your mortgage is open, penalties apply—and they can be significant. By reviewing the numbers with a mortgage professional, you might find that simply adjusting your timeline could reduce or even avoid costly fees. Navigating Life Changes In situations like a marital breakdown, it can feel like selling the family home is the only path forward. But that’s not always the case. With the right guidance and a legal separation agreement, one spouse may be able to buy out the other, keeping the home and providing stability for everyone involved. The Bottom Line Selling your property is more than just putting a sign on the lawn—it’s about creating a financial plan that protects your equity and positions you for the best possible outcome. Before you take the leap, let’s sit down and review your options. 📞 If you’re ready to talk strategy and make sure you get top dollar for your property, I’d be happy to connect anytime.

Don’t Let Collections Derail Your Mortgage Application

By Marci Deane • July 1, 2026
Can You Get a Mortgage If You Have Collections on Your Credit Report? Short answer? Not easily. Long answer? It depends—and it’s more common (and fixable) than you might think. When it comes to applying for a mortgage, your credit report tells lenders a story. Collections—debts that have been passed to a collection agency because they weren’t paid on time—are big red flags in that story. Regardless of how or why they got there, open collections are going to hurt your chances of getting approved. Let’s break this down. What Exactly Is a Collection? A collection appears on your credit report when a bill goes unpaid for long enough that the lender decides to stop chasing you—and hires a collection agency to do it instead. It doesn’t matter whether it was an unpaid phone bill, a forgotten credit card, or a disputed fine: to a lender, it signals risk. And lenders don’t like risk. Why It Matters to Mortgage Lenders? Lenders use your credit report to gauge how trustworthy you are with borrowed money. If they see you haven’t paid a past debt, especially recently, it suggests you might do the same with a new mortgage—and that’s enough to get your application denied. Even small collections can cause problems. A $32 unpaid utility bill might seem insignificant to you, but to a lender, it’s a red flag waving loudly. But What If I Didn’t Know About the Collection? It happens all the time. You move provinces and miss a final utility charge. Your cell provider sends a bill to an old address. Or maybe the collection is showing in error—credit reports aren’t perfect, and mistakes do happen. Regardless of the reason, the responsibility to resolve it still falls on you. Even if it’s an honest oversight or an error, lenders will expect you to clear it up or prove it’s been paid. And What If I Chose Not to Pay It? Some people intentionally leave certain collections unpaid—maybe they disagree with a charge, or feel a fine is unfair. Here are a few common “moral stand” collections: Disputed phone bills COVID-related fines Traffic tickets Unpaid spousal or child support While you might feel justified, lenders don’t take sides. They’re not interested in why a collection exists—only that it hasn’t been dealt with. And if it’s still active, that could be enough to derail your mortgage application. How Can You Find Out What’s On Your Report? Easy. You can check it yourself through services like Equifax or TransUnion, or you can work with a mortgage advisor to go through a full pre-approval. A pre-approval will quickly uncover any credit issues, including collections—giving you a chance to fix them before you apply for a mortgage. What To Do If You Have Collections Verify: Make sure the collection is accurate. Pay or Dispute: Settle the debt or begin a dispute process if it’s an error. Get Proof: Even if your credit report hasn’t updated yet, documentation showing the debt is paid can be enough for some lenders. Work With a Pro: A mortgage advisor can help you build a strategy and connect you with lenders who offer flexible solutions. Collections are common, but they can absolutely block your path to mortgage financing. Whether you knew about them or not, the best approach is to take action early. If you’d like to find out where you stand—or need help navigating your credit report—I’d be happy to help. Let’s make sure your next mortgage application has the best possible chance of approval.