Last month, the mortgage industry panicked when OSFI announced new rules that seemed to ban using personal income to qualify for investment property mortgages, but the interpretation was completely wrong. The actual change is about how banks classify risk and capital requirements for investor mortgages, not underwriting rules, meaning you can still use your income to qualify. What most people missed is that OSFI delayed implementing these rules for three years since 2022, which allowed banks to continue writing investor mortgages with minimal restrictions during a critical market period. When the new capital requirements finally kick in during Q2 2026, investor mortgages will likely cost more and become harder to qualify for, while first-time homebuyers may actually benefit from better terms.

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Canada's banking regulator is testing a new mortgage rule that could take effect by spring 2026, capping mortgages at 4.5 times your gross household income. This replaces the current "stress test" system where you prove affordability at higher rates. Under the new system, someone earning $150,000 would max out at a $675,000 mortgage, regardless of interest rates or other factors. High earners in affordable cities may qualify for more, while lower income borrowers and those in Vancouver/Toronto face tighter limits. Currently, only 12% of mortgages exceed this threshold, so most people won't be affected at today's rates. However, if rates drop significantly, this cap will become the main constraint. The regulator will make a final decision between April and June 2026, with possible outcomes including replacing the current system, keeping both, or modifying existing rules.

Trump’s proposed 50-year mortgage lowers monthly payments slightly but adds hundreds of thousands more in interest, helping banks and builders while hurting first-time buyers. Canada once had 40-year mortgages and could follow if supply issues persist. Longer terms do not fix affordability and only raise prices without major housing supply reforms.

Canada's 2025 budget just dropped with a staggering $78.3 billion deficit - and it changes everything for homeowners and buyers. With only $20 billion in new stimulus (most not hitting until 2027), the Bank of Canada may be forced to cut rates below 2.25% just to compensate for weak fiscal policy. I break down the three critical things you need to know: the GST rebate for first-time buyers (and why it might not actually help), what this means for your mortgage rates and renewals, and why this budget could actually hurt house prices in the short term. Plus, with 1.2 million mortgages renewing in 2025-2026 and immigration cuts reducing demand, the next 12-24 months could be rough - but there's a surprising opportunity for 2027-2028 buyers. If you're buying, selling, or renewing your mortgage, this budget impacts you directly. Here's exactly what to do next.

For the first time in three years, variable rates are cheaper than fixed, and inquiries have tripled. But the same day the Bank of Canada cut rates, bond yields spiked, and Scotiabank is now forecasting rate HIKES in 2026. With only a 34 basis point spread between variable and fixed, this might be the tightest decision you'll ever make. In this episode, I break down the real math, the actual risks, and give you a framework to decide what's right for YOUR situation, because getting this wrong could cost you $25,000+.

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Home ownership in Canada has collapsed from 69.5% to 65.8% in just a decade, with first-time buyers dropping from 40% to only 10% of the market while $83.9 billion in capital fled the country in four months. Despite the Bank of Canada cutting rates to 2.5%, record inventory levels and sophisticated investors running for the exits signal that the traditional path to Canadian home ownership may be permanently broken.

The Bank of Canada cut its policy rate to 2.25%, signaling the end of its easing cycle amid growing recession fears and structural economic challenges. While variable-rate holders will see small payment relief, rising bond yields and collapsing housing activity suggest the move reflects desperation, not recovery.

Canadians now owe $1.74 for every dollar they earn with household debt hitting $3.07 trillion, and that car loan or credit card is quietly killing your mortgage qualification by $50,000 or more. Here are 12 legal strategies to reclaim your borrowing power and why 2 million Canadians renewing in 2025-2026 might not requalify at their own bank.

In this conversation, Alex McFadyen delves into the troubling practices within the Canadian mortgage market, particularly focusing on the use of inflated property values to back mortgages. He discusses the concept of blanket appraisals, the implications for buyers, and the advantages that developers gain from this system. The conversation highlights systemic risks, the differences between power of sale and foreclosure, and the potential consequences for buyers who find themselves underwater on their mortgages. Ultimately, McFadyen argues that the Canadian housing market is experiencing a managed decline rather than an honest correction, with regulators facilitating a transfer of risk from developers to individual buyers.

Canada just hit a record 91,969 listings in September with only 43% selling, the weakest ratio since 1995, and consumer confidence has collapsed to just 16% believing the economy will improve. This isn't a crash, it's a slow grinding correction that's already reshaping the entire Canadian housing market, and here's exactly what it means for buyers, sellers, and homeowners right now.