CAAMP’s recent findings (that 86% of 2009 home buyers chose fixed rates) is being questioned by Scotia Capital economist, Derek Holt.
This is from a recent Macleans article:
- “I have difficulty with the CAAMP report,” says Holt. “I think their study grossly underestimates mortgage rate sensitivities.”
- He thinks “as many as” 50% of new mortgages are subject to rate risk because of them having variable or 1-year terms. (We haven’t seen any other published stats corroborating this sort of number.)
- Holt says: “It doesn’t even really matter if they went variable rate or fixed rate, because pretty much all of the mortgage market in Canada resets in the next five years.”
Bingo.
Risk assessment should include what happens on the reset, not just what happens during that first 5 years at the ultra-low 4% fixed rate.
And, those lovely 40-year / 0% down mortgages from 2006 are all coming up for renewal in 2011.
Perfect Storm?