Canadian Mortgage News & Canada's Mortgage Trends

Lower Mortgage Insurance Rates

Competition among mortgage insurers is paying off. 

Insurers are now increasingly basing mortgage premiums on a new policy called "risk-based" pricing.  This means that your mortgage insurance fees can now be based on your credit score.  No longer will you be slapped with a flat insurance fee if you don't have the required 20% down payment. 

Here's an example:  Just weeks ago you would have paid almost 4% of your mortgage in insurance fees if you got a 0% down mortgage.  Now Genworth Financial is offering the same insurance for only 3.1% if you have a credit score over 679.  (Source:  Globe & Mail)

For those with bad credit, it remains to be seen if mortgage insurance premiums will increase to compensate.

Mortgage Insurance May Hit Fewer Homeowners

Here's some more good news for the 40% of Canadians who don't have 25% to put down on a new house. 

Ottawa wants to let people borrow up to 80% of a home's cost without needing mortgage insurance.  Currently mortgage insurance is required by law if your mortgage is for 75% or more of your home's value.

Parliament has until April 24 2007 to consider the legislation.  If it passes, it could save homeowners roughly $1000 over 25 years per $100,000 borrowed.

It's unclear, however, if mortgage insurance premiums for people with less than 20% down will rise to offset these lost fees.

New Law Protects Mortgage Seekers

Ontario has passed the Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006.

It's the first update to laws governing the fast growing mortgage brokerage industry in 30 years.

While details haven't been finalized, the law mandates that:

• Those who sell, lend, or trade in mortgages be licensed
• Mortgage professionals meet minimum educational requirements
• Mortgage brokers act on behalf of only one brokerage
• Mortgage agents be closely supervised by compliance officers in their firms
• New penalties up to $200,000 be levied for violations of the law

Mixer Mortgages

Are you and your roommate tired of renting?  How about splitting on a new house?  Vancity bank in B.C. might be happy to accommodate you with its new "Mixer Mortgage," a mortgage made for two! 

(Story by Langley Times)

The Most Popular Canadian Mortgage Terms

According to the Canadian Institute of Mortgage Brokers and Lenders...

• 66% of Canadians with mortgages choose a fixed-rate
• 22% choose a variable rate
• 12% select a combination of the two
• The most popular mortgage term is 5 years.

Unconventional Mortgages

5 percent of Canadians take out non-conventional mortgages (interest-only, 100% financing, etc...).  In the U.S. the number is 20%.

Could the U.S. housing bubble have anything to do with America's penchant for higher risk mortgages with more buying power?  We think so. 

Furthermore, once non-conventional mortgages take hold in Canada (and they will), some think this same logic will apply here.  The result?  Many expect another bump up Canadian home prices.

First National's New 100% Mortgage

First National has announced a new 100% mortgage geared to good credit customers with no money for a down payment.  Here's the details:

• Amortization:  Up to 35 years (40 years as of Dec. 15, 2006)
• Rate Guarantee:  120 days
• Mortgage Insurance Surcharge:  3.1 to 4.1% depending on insurer and amortization
• Minimum Credit Score:  680 to 710 depending on insurer

Keep in mind, you still need to come up with about 1.5% in closing costs. Call Melanie McLister at MyVirtualMortgageAgent for rates or more details:  (800) 280-2460

Mortgage Factoid of the Day

Here's two factors that suggest Canada's housing market might not succumb to the same type of housing "correction" as in the U.S.

• The number of Canadians with mortgages in arrears is at a record low.  In the U.S. mortgage foreclosures are up 42% in the past year.
• In the U.S., real estate comprises 34% of typical household assets.  In Canada that number is only 20%.

Source:  The Gazette

CMHC Joins the 40-Year Party

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. has become the third Canadian mortgage insurer to offer 40-year mortgages.  See this National Post Story.

Don't be suprised if CMHC's new competitors force it to up the ante to 50-years before too long.

Mortgage Debt Piles Up

Mortgage debt jumped almost 11% in 2006 and will increase 10% more in 2007.  With mortgages becoming easier to get every day, this trend will likely continue for a while.

The Ottawa sun says this and record home buying has sunk Canada's national savings rate from 20% two decades ago to almost 0% today.