At Least Mortgage Rates Are Low - Historical Data


ATB Economics

May 13, 2020

 
 
 
At least mortgage rates are low ...
 

It can be tough to afford a home at the best of times, but with unemployment up and hours worked down, the dream of owning a home is likely more distant for many Canadians now than it was before the pandemic. 

 

And while not every homeowner or renter is in the same boat, the current economic turmoil combined with a recovery period that looks like it will be long rather than short will stretch the finances of many households.

 

A…

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Checklist For Moving

The best and less stressed way to move is to break it down into bite-sized pieces. Below is a list to help organize you for the big day.

Two months prior to the move:
Declutter and get rid of things you no longer need.
Investigate movers and rental trucks. If you are getting an estimate, make sure to get it in writing.

4-6 weeks prior to the move:
Gather supplies including, boxes, packing tape, markers, bubble wrap, newspaper, and other types of moving containers.
Make arrangements to have your mail forwarded by Canada Post.

2-3 weeks prior to move:
Inform your utility companies of the move.
Take household chemicals to the proper disposal facility.  
Send address changes to doctors, dentists, insurance companies, banks,…

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Alberta Home Buyer Protection Act


As of February 1, 2014, the Government of Alberta issued the new Home Buyer Protection Act. This act means that all new homes (condominiums, single detached family homes, duplex, multi-family, recreational properties, and manufactured homes) will have a warranty attached to them.

The warranty was set in place to protect buyers of brand new homes from anything that could go wrong with the home due to labour, material, or structural issues.

The following is a summary of what the new home buyer warranty includes:

One year warranty for labour and materials. This includes any issues with regards to how the home was built and the materials used.

Two years for any defect in labour and materials that are related to…

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As you've probably noticed, credit card companies regularly offer bonuses to get you to apply for their cards. For example, one such card company offers opportunities to buy tickets to concerts and other events ahead of everyone else. It's their "front of the line" service.

When you’re searching for a new home, wouldn't it be great if you could get to the front of the line on desirable properties – before other buyers get the chance?

Well, in a way, you can.

The first thing you need to do is create a profile for the specific type of home you're looking to buy. That profile will need to include the basics, such as type of home (e.g. detached), size and rooms (e.g. 2000-2,500 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 baths), and your target…

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Knowing When It’s Time to Renovate or to Move


Sometimes, it’s hard to determine if you should take the time to renovate your home, or just pack up and move. Both options have their own pros and cons, and it’s hard to determine what the best option is. Below are a few things to consider when making your decision between renovating and moving.

What types of changes or upgrades would you like to make? Make a list of the types of changes you want to see in your home. Make sure to include everything that you would like to renovate. At this point, don’t think about cost, but what it is you would like.

List the pros and cons of renovating and moving. What will work for you and your life situation? Can your current home be renovated to meet your needs?…

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City of Calgary, May 1, 2020 –

After the first full month with social distancing measures in place, the housing market is adjusting to the effects of COVID-19.

April sales hit 573 units, a decline of 63 per cent over last year.

"The decline in home sales does not come as a surprise. The combined impact of COVID-19 and the situation in the energy sector is causing housing demand to fall," said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

"Demand is also falling faster than supply. This is keeping the market in buyers' territory and weighing on prices."

Sales activity eased across all price ranges, but the largest declines were for homes priced above $600,000.

With a greater share of the sales occurring in the lower price ranges, the…

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Potential homebuyers are always cautioned to be aware of mortgage lending standards and the difficulty they might face when trying to obtain a mortgage. Credit availability is expanding, making it easier to get a mortgage now than it was a year ago. The market is still tight however, and homebuyers should be prepared to shop around until they find a lender who is offering something that will meet the needs of their family.

 

Mortgage lending companies have high standards so it is important to make sure you and anyone else who will be included on the mortgage have their credit in check. The mortgage market is strict because lenders do not want to be put in a situation where they are forced to repurchase loans that are not paid on. They also do not…

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Using Your RRSPs to Purchase a Home

When looking at purchasing a home, one thing that many people are concerned about is the ability to put a down payment on the property. A 20% down payment of the purchase price of the home is typically required. If a 20% down payment is not doable, then a 5% option is available. However, you are then required to have mortgage insurance through CMHC to be able to qualify for the mortgage.

Regardless if it is a 5% or 20% down payment, the government of Canada allows home buyers to use their RRSPs to purchase a home without a penalty for withdrawing the RRSPs. This is called Home Buyer’s Plan or HBP.

However, before you withdraw anything, the following conditions must be met:

The maximum amount you can withdraw…

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