How Will Higher Interest Rates Impact My Mortgage?

How will higher interest rates impact my mortgage? It’s a question more homebuyers and homeowners are asking, in the wake of the Bank of Canada’s recent interest rate hikes. We consider many variables in life before making any big decision, and one of the most important ones to think about when buying a home is the current state of interest rates. While a low interest rate is desirable for a prospective buyer, as it means they have more purchasing power, lower rates may not be all they are cracked up to be.

Interest rates fluctuate. They rise and fall in response to the economy and world events, and can significantly impact the amount you pay for your home over the lifespan of your mortgage.

Typically, mortgage loans are…

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Market Update - Newfoundland & Labrador Association of REALTORS®

Newfoundland and Labrador MLS® home sales surpass Q1 2021 totals; new listings return to historical average for this time of year

The number of homes sold through the MLS® System of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of REALTORS® totaled 443 units in March 2022. This was down modestly by 2.9% (13 sales) from March 2021.

Home sales were 35.7% above the five-year average and 47.4% above the 10-year average for the month of March.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales totaled a record 1,138 units over the first three months of the year. This was an increase of 12% from the same period in 2021.

Residential activity in St. John’s was up modestly by 3.3% on a year-over-year basis in…

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Smaller City - Good Move?

Over the course of the pandemic, homeowners have been re-evaluating what they need most out of their property. For some, this has meant packing up and downsizing to a smaller city or community for greater living space, privacy, and a more relaxed pace of life.

Both statistically and anecdotally, we’ve witnessed buyers moving to the suburbs and other rural areas over the past two years. Small towns like Squamish, Wasaga Beach, Kingston, and Collingwood have been home to some of Canada’s fastest growing populations lately, a trend largely attributed to residents moving from urban centres in search of more affordable housing, according to a report from RBC Economics.

Why have buyers been moving to smaller cities?

Right now, there are two main…

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Can You Buy a House With Bitcoin in Canada?

We’ve all seen the headlines across the globe proclaiming the rise of cryptocurrency, and the pandemic has accelerated that growth, with many coins reaching all-time highs. Even mainstream investors are getting into the cryptocurrency game, adding bitcoin and other cryptos to their portfolios.

With more people invested in bitcoin, some real estate agents are hearing questions from their clients related to buying a house with bitcoin in Canada. It is an outside-the-box idea for many homebuyers, beyond the traditional banking and mortgage industries.

We will examine the possibility of buying a house in Canada with bitcoin, but first, a little introduction to the world’s most popular cryptocurrency.

What is Bitcoin?

…

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So, You're Ready to Buy?

Are You Ready?

You’ve come to the right place! Now that you have decided to buy, RE/MAX Infinity can help guide you through the entire process and a REALTOR® can help take care of the rest.

Responsibilities can come at a cost – from financial commitment to necessary care and maintenance. You need to make sure that both fit your current lifestyle.

Check your financial standing

One of the biggest and most important purchases of your lifetime is buying a home. With the help of a real estate agent, you can avoid getting in over your head. It’s important to have some savings, and manage any debt before making a home purchase. In just a few steps you can determine how much you can afford, and with the help of our Mortgage Calculator you can…

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Rethinking a Variable Rate Mortgage in the Face of Hikes

For a long time, it was a common ideology that a variable rate mortgage was ideal when purchasing a home. The thought process was based on the theory that if the rate drops, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of lower interest payments as opposed to someone who is in a fixed-rate mortgage.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of it, let’s review how interest rates impact a mortgage and the difference between a fixed-rate and a variable-rate mortgage.

Interest rates are determined by the Bank of Canada and often reflect the state of the economy. When the economy is strong, interest rates are high. This means that borrowing money would cost more, but you should receive a higher payout on your investments. When the economy…

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5-Year Housing Market Outlook

• Pragmatic policy across interest rates, immigration and taxation could deliver a stable, albeit expensive Canada housing market through to 2027

• RE/MAX Canada launches chapter one of Unlocking the Future: 5 Year Outlook Report in partnership with CIBC and The Conference Board of Canada

• This series of reports, done in collaboration with relevant area experts, will be issued through 2022 and will leverage specific “what if” scenarios related to economic policy decisions, climate change, the future of on-premise work and technology, and how they may impact the housing market in Canada

The Canada housing market reflects more than just a commodity or an investment that is measured month-over-month or…

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Home Sales Forecast to Ease but Remain Historically Strong in 2022-2023

Home Sales Forecast to Ease but Remain Historically Strong in 2022-2023

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has updated its forecast for home sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems of Canadian real estate boards and associations in 2022 and extended the forecast into 2023.

Home sales have kicked off 2022 below 2021 levels, while price growth has continued to set records. This is consistent with strong demand meeting end-of-month inventory levels that are lower than they have ever been.

Along with the ongoing supply crisis, the other main factor expected to impact housing markets this year and next will be higher interest rates.

While discounted five-year mortgage rates have already begun to rise – a…

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Canada Sees a Jump in New Supply in the February Market Snapshot

Canadians looking to purchase a home will be happy to hear there was a jump in new listings that hit real estate markets across the country in February 2022.

The number of newly listed properties jumped 23.7% month-over-month in February. That would have been an all-time record had it not been for the exceptional May and June Canada’s housing market experienced in 2020 following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest data from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) shows Canadians took advantage of the increase in supply as national home sales rose 4.6% from January to February 2022. Year-over-year, February’s home sales are down 8.2% compared to a record-breaking February 2021.

During CREA’s latest Monthly Housing Market…

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5 Reasons Why You Should Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Buying a home for the first time is an exciting experience. While the process can be stressful at times, there are ways to limit unnecessary anxiety, and one of the most significant ways is to get pre-approved for a mortgage before you begin your house-hunting adventure.

To put it simply, being pre-approved for a mortgage means that a lender says you have qualified to borrow a specific amount of money for the purchase of a home. Pre-approval is based on various factors, and the process involves several different steps.

As the borrower, you can shop around for mortgages and compare options from different lenders. Throughout this process, you will learn the maximum amount of mortgage you qualify for and the estimated…

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