The next BOC meeting is next Wednesday, Sept 7th, 2022. We anticipate that they will increase the Prime lending rate by something between 0.50% to 1.00%. In terms of mortgages, this increase only impacts variable/adjustable-rate mortgage holders since the banks and mortgage lenders typically increase their consumer Prime rates in step with the central bank’s Prime rate. If you have a… Read More »
Some Good News for Variable Rate Mortgages
If you have a variable rate mortgage, you’ll be very aware of the Bank of Canada (BoC) Prime Rate increases that have happened in quick succession over the last 4 months. The BoC is fighting a battle against inflation driving up prices and wages across the country. Rocketing inflation was initially started by pandemic supply chain issues causing shortages of… Read More »
Prime Rate Increasing by 1%
Today the Bank of Canada (BoC) announced a Prime rate increase of 1% (most economists were forecasting a rate increase of 0.75%), from the previous rate of 1.5% up to 2.5%. The BoC acknowledged that the increase was aggressive, but indicated they decided that it was appropriate to front-load their interest rate increases (move up the timeline on some of… Read More »
Interest Rates and Inflation Troubles
The Bank of Canada (BoC) is next meeting on Jul 13, 2022 and at the moment it looks likely that it will raise the Prime interest rate by another 0.5% to 0.75%. A 0.75% Prime rate increase will mean that people with variable rate mortgages will see their payments increase by $40/month for every $100,000 of mortgage debt (so a… Read More »
Bank of Canada Rate Announcement – June 2022
On June 1st the Bank of Canada (BoC) increased the Prime Rate 1% to 1.5%, an increase of 0.50% that was widely anticipated by the markets. For consumer banks and mortgage lenders, this means they will be raising their consumer Prime rates from 3.2% up to 3.7% on all variable and adjustable rate mortgages as well as Lines of Credit.… Read More »
Prime Rate now expected to increase aggressively through 2022. Should I lock in?
The Bank of Canada (BoC) will be meeting next on Wednesday April 13, 2022, and in the last couple of weeks its senior officials have been giving speeches indicating that we should brace for faster and larger Prime Rate increases than they predicted earlier this year. Inflation numbers are coming in stronger than expected and the BoC is going to… Read More »
Prime Rate is Increasing Soon. What should I do?
The Bank of Canada (BoC) will be meeting next Wednesday (March 2, 2022), and most economists and forecasters expect that it will raise the Prime lending rate by 0.25%. This will be the first rate increase we’ve seen since the BoC slashed rates at the start of the pandemic in early 2020. Why is Prime Increasing? The BoC is expected… Read More »
Tighter Rules Coming for CMHC Mortgage Insurance
Last week, CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) announced that effective July 1, 2020 it will be tightening the rules for high ratio mortgage qualification. Specifically, the following 3 changes will come into effect: The maximum allowed Gross Debt Servicing (GDS) and Total Debt Servicing (TDS) ratios will be reduced to 35% (from 39%) and 42% (from 44%), respectively. At… Read More »
Post 2019 Election – Liberal Minority and Mortgage Rate Outlook
Well, the Election was interesting, wasn’t it? With new Liberal minority government the future for mortgage rates is still a bit up in the air. Today, as expected, the Bank of Canada (BOC) decided to hold their prime lending rate at 1.75%, which means most banks and credit unions will keep their consumer Prime Rates at 3.95% (so no immediate… Read More »
Lenders increase Prime rate. Does it affect you?
On October 24, 2018 the Bank of Canada increased the overnight lending rate by 0.25% to 1.75%. This caused consumer banks and mortgage companies to raise their consumer prime lending rates by 0.25% as well, passing the increase on to consumers. An increase in prime will immediately affect you if you have a “variable” or “adjustable” rate mortgage, or a Line of Credit with… Read More »