New government regulations will require homebuyers to qualify for their insured OR uninsured mortgages at a higher-than-posted rate. This is

While Canada’s low mortgage rates began to creep up at the end of 2016, mortgagors have been happy to see them remain relatively unchanged since then. However, the March Mortgage Rate Forecast recently released by the BC Real Estate Association suggests that those days may be coming to an end. Citing a stronger Canadian economy and “a large degree of policy incoherence” in the United States, the report predicts an increase in mortgage rates throughout the second half of 2017.

First time home buyers trying to get into the market have a new option for making their downpayment. As of January 16, 2017, BC residents can apply for an interest and payment-free loan of up to $37,500 courtesy of the new ‘B.C. Home Owner Mortgage and Equity (HOME) Partnership’ program. Loans dolled out though the program won’t require payments for five years, after which time home owners can either pay out the loan in one go, or enter into monthly payments at current intere

As of October 17th, many Canadians won't be able to qualify for the mortgage they would be able to get today. Buyers looking to purchase properties under $1 million with less than 20% downpayment will now have to qualify at a much higher mortgage rate than many Vancouver home owners have become accustomed to - regardless of what mortgage rate the lender actually offers them. Specifically: "all insured homebuyers must qualify for mortgage insurance at an interest rate the grea