As your trusted mortgage brokers, we’re always on the lookout for developments that can impact your homeownership journey. This month brings some hopeful news on the housing front that we’re eager to share with you.

Federal Budget & Housing Investments

The Government of Canada is set to unveil its federal budget on April 16th, and early indications from Housing Minister Sean Fraser are incredibly promising for anyone looking to buy a home or struggling with housing affordability. The budget is expected to allocate billions of dollars toward the construction of new homes and support low-cost housing programs.

This commitment to substantial investments in housing comes at a crucial time. Canada’s housing affordability crisis has been exacerbated by a rapidly increasing population and economic pressures like high inflation and interest rates — the highest we’ve seen in 22 years. These factors have made it more challenging for many Canadians to find affordable homes or keep up with rent and mortgage costs.

What This Means for You

The upcoming investments aim to ease these pressures by increasing the supply of homes and making housing more accessible to everyone. This includes significant support for the construction of new homes and enhancing low-cost housing programs. According to Minister Fraser, we’re talking about an investment that could reach into the tens of billions of dollars.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is expected to present the budget in Parliament on April 16th, which will reveal the full extent of these plans.

Looking Ahead

It’s important to note that while these investments are a step in the right direction, the impact won’t be immediate. Canada needs to build 315,000 new residences annually through 2030 to keep pace with population growth — a challenging but necessary target to ensure a future where everyone can afford a place to call home.

Our Commitment to You

We understand that navigating the housing market, especially in times of change, can be overwhelming. We are here to help you understand what these developments mean for your individual situation and how you can leverage them to your advantage. Whether you’re buying your first home, looking to invest, or exploring refinancing options, we’re here to provide you with expert advice and solutions tailored to your needs.

Feel free to reach out with any questions or for a personalized consultation. Remember, we are more than just your mortgage brokers; we are your partner in making homeownership dreams come true.
 ____________

Canada’s banking regulator, The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), is introducing a new portfolio test to manage the risk associated with highly indebted borrowers, especially as mortgage rates are set to potentially decrease which may make it easier for individuals to qualify for larger loans. This test will monitor banks’ quarterly loan-to-income ratios, specifically focusing on ensuring that the portion of a bank’s uninsured mortgage loans exceeding 4.5 times a borrower’s income remains under a certain threshold. This initiative stems from concerns that loans exceeding 4.5 times borrower income significantly increase the likelihood of default, especially in the context of the recent trend of low interest rates followed by sharp increases since spring 2022.

The portfolio test is not designed to directly impact individual borrowers’ ability to secure mortgage loans. Unlike the mortgage stress test, this measure targets banks’ uninsured mortgage loan portfolios as a whole rather than imposing additional requirements on homebuyers. This regulatory move is part of a series of anticipated adjustments to mortgage guidelines aimed at preventing the build-up of high-risk loans during low-interest-rate periods.