1 Dec

Not quite a recession, but Canada sees third-quarter growth turn negative

General

Posted by: Dean Kimoto

There was growing talk of the “R-word” (recession) leading up to today’s GDP data release, given the third quarter could have marked the second straight month of negative growth. Instead, markets received another R-word…revision. While Statistics Canada revealed that real gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.3% quarter-over-quarter in Q3, it also revised up its previous negative reading […]

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19 Nov

Four big banks to be impacted by OSFI’s new capital requirements for negative amortization mortgages

General

Posted by: Dean Kimoto

Canada’s banking regulator recently confirmed it will move ahead with new capital requirements for lenders and insurers with negatively amortizing mortgage portfolios. Starting in early 2024, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) will require lenders to hold more capital for negative amortization mortgage balances with loan-to-values (LTVs) above 65%. What’s a negative […]

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30 Oct

Latest in mortgage news: Equitable Bank unveils 40-year amortization mortgage

Latest News

Posted by: Dean Kimoto

Equitable Bank has announced that, in partnership with a third-party lender, it is introducing a new 40-year amortization mortgage product. Equitable, Canada’s seventh-largest bank, which provides both prime and alternative lending options, made the exclusive announcement at the National Mortgage Conference that took place in Toronto. By extending the amortization period beyond the standard 25 […]

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27 Oct

OSFI report reveals largely unknown mortgage exemption: no stress test on insured switches

Latest News

Posted by: Dean Kimoto

Many in the mortgage industry reacted with surprise after learning about a little but very important nugget buried in an OSFI report released earlier this week. In its report on industry feedback concerning its proposed underwriting changes to B-20, Canada’s banking regulator said this: “Insured borrowers…are exempt from the re-application of the MQR (Minimum Qualifying Rate) when […]

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23 Oct

OSFI shelves some of its regulatory proposals in response to stakeholder feedback

General

Posted by: Dean Kimoto

Canada’s banking regulator confirmed today that it will no longer pursue at least several of the proposed mortgage regulations it had introduced earlier this year after they were met with widespread concern and criticism during its public consultation period. Nine months after the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) unveiled its proposed measure related to […]

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20 Oct

Residential Mortgage Commentary – Housing starts stagnate

Latest News

Posted by: Dean Kimoto

While Canada’s main political Parties have been doing a lot of talking about getting people into homes, actual construction continues to lag. The latest figures from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation show housing construction, in the country’s six biggest metropolitan areas, increased by a mere 1.0% in the first half of 2023, compared to a […]

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