To fix your mortgage rate or not to fix? That is just one of the questions facing people looking for the best mortgage deal right now in an economy marked by the slings and arrows of inflation and climbing interest rates.

Whether it’s a new mortgage or a renewal, buyers and homeowners are filled with questions: What’s the best rate? Does locking in make sense while interest rates keep rising? If I lock in, for how long?

Canadians have seen interest rates rise considerably this year and those not on a fixed interest rate mortgage have seen their regular mortgage payments rise along with them.  All the talk in the media, and rightfully so, is about the rise in mortgage payments, but what often gets overlooked is the longer-term impact to your financial health and retirement savings.

We have all heard stories about mortgage payments rising by $1,000 per month, but what about the impact of higher interest rates to service a mortgage over its lifetime?

Here is a historical graph showing us that despite all of the recent rate increases, current mortgage rates are still comparatively low.

Take a look at the chart depicting the spread of home prices vs. disposable income for Canada and the United States

Canada’s mortgage stress test applies to anyone applying for or renewing a home loan through a federally regulated lender. 

And apparently nearly half of Canadians (according to a poll conducted by TD Bank) don’t understand what the test is—or who it affects. Here’s your primer on the mortgage stress test!  

If you have have the Nextdoor App installed on your phone, feel free to join the 100+ members on the Mortgage Insights group. We regularly post up-to-date mortgage news on there.

Here's the direct link to the Mortgage Insights group: https://ca.nextdoor.com/g/wlxn4r73n

Homebuyers will often enter the mortgage journey with expectations on the amount they expect to receive, only to be disappointed when they don’t qualify for that amount. This is especially unsettling when they’re already paying a monthly rental amount that exceeds how much the lender will allow their maximum monthly mortgage payment to be.

With the many increases to Mortgage Rates recently, mortgage borrowers are finding they are qualifying for lower mortgage amounts than they were just one month ago. This is true even in the absence of any change to the rate used by the dreaded Mortgage Stress Test.

The Bank of Canada released a new study where, for the first time, it classified homebuyers into three distinct groups: first-time buyers, repeat buyers, and investors.

When it comes to mortgages, the age-old question remains: “Should I go with a variable or fixed-rate?”. To make an informed decision, it is important to assess your own risk tolerance & budget constraints more than historical trends.

Fixed mortgage rates have been climbing steadily since September. But by how much at what cost for new homebuyers?

Whether it is your first house or you’re moving to a new neighborhood, getting approved for a mortgage is exciting! However, even if you have been approved and are simply waiting to close, there are still some things to keep in mind to ensure your efforts are successful.

To avoid having your mortgage approval status reversed or jeopardizing your financing, be sure to stay away from these 10 common mortgage mistakes.

Original Article Source Credits:  Canadian Mortgage Trends, https://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com

Article Written By:  Steve Huebl

Original Article Posted on:  July 20, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com/2021/07/majority-of-canadian-buyers-borrowing-their-maximum-approved-mortgage/

Twenty-five or thirty years can sound like an impossibly long time to service a loan – and for many of us, it is. If you are looking to pay off your mortgage faster, here are some tried-and-true tactics to get you to financial freedom that much sooner!

How much do you really know about reverse mortgages? Maybe you know that reverse mortgages can help Canadians 55+ access the equity in their home, tax-free. Maybe you know that tens of thousands of Canadians are using a reverse mortgage as part of their financial plan. But did you know that there are 7 common misconceptions when it comes to understanding reverse mortgages in Canada. Common Misconceptions About Reverse Mortgages 1. If you have a reverse mortgage, you no longer own your home Nothing could be further from the truth. You always maintain title, ownership and control of your home – the lender simply…

Original Article Source Credits:  Canadian Mortgage Trends, https://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com

Article Written By:  Steve Huebl

Original Article Posted on:  May 3, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com/2021/05/first-time-home-buyer-incentive-2-0-now-available/

Original Article Source Credits:  Canadian Mortgage Trends, https://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com

Article Written By:  Ross Taylor

Original Article Posted on:  APRIL 27, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com/2021/04/a-pre-approval-does-not-guarantee-a-mortgage-approval/

Original Article Source Credits:  Financial Post, https://financialpost.com/

Article Written By:  Bianca Bharti

Original Article Posted on:  APRIL 21, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://financialpost.com/news/economy/bank-of-canada-backs-tighter-mortgage-stress-test-amid-hot-housing-market

Original Article Source Credits:   BNN Bloomberg, https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca

Article Written By:  Pattie Lovett-Reid

Original Article Posted on:  APRIL 8, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/53-of-canadians-within-200-a-month-of-insolvency-mnp-1.1587379

Original Article Source Credits:   Better Dwelling , https://betterdwelling.com/

Article Written By:  Daniel Wong

Original Article Posted on:  APRIL 3, 2021

Link to Original Article:  https://betterdwelling.com/canadian-estate-prices-are-the-most-overvalued-in-the-g7-shows-another-indicator/