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Consumer Affairs Reporter  Global News“We continue to watch the housing market and the lending and borrowing situation very carefully," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday Ottawa is closely watching developments in the still-hot housing market, but there’s no need for another intervention. “I’m not saying I’m unconcerned. We are watching it. We’re not planning to take any immediate action,” Harper told reporters after an event in Mississauga, Ont.

“We continue to watch the housing market and the lending and borrowing situation very carefully,” he said.

 

The Prime Minister made the remarks as Canada’s big banks made fresh cuts to mortgage lending rates, with the Bank of Montreal leading the market lower by slicing its 5-year, fixed rate to 2.79 per cent.

That should help rev up home sales across the country this spring, even as buyers confront affordability constraints in big centres — namely Vancouver and Toronto.

 

There are also concerns though that Canadians have piled on too much debt and that some pockets of the housing market have become “overheated.”

 

MORE: Spring real estate market heats up in Toronto, Vancouver, realtors say

But with borrowing rates edging back toward all-time lows, Harper said debt-servicing costs are falling and default rates remain extremely low.

 

Harper said Wednesday he believes Canada’s financial institutions remain strong and well capitalized.

The last time the big banks cut mortgage rates to their current levels, in 2013, then-Finance Minister Jim Flaherty publicly criticized lenders for their “race to the bottom” approach. Lenders raised rates after the warning.

Flaherty’s public criticism was preceded by a series of mortgage-tightening rules were implemented, chiefly in 2012 when amortization periods for insured home loans were capped at 25 years.

 

MORE: IMF warns over Canada’s ‘overheated housing market’ — again

Lending re-accelerates

While the moves created a lull in lending growth, experts have noted a re-acceleration in recent months.

“Following a sustained period of stable year-over-year increases, mortgage growth accelerated for the third consecutive month in January,” RBC economists said in a research note published earlier this month.

Total outstanding home loans grew by 5.4 per cent from the year-ago level to mark the fastest rate of growth since November 2013, RBC said.

Prices cooling

The faster pace of lending appears to be concentrated to within a dwindling number of markets, though, namely — again — Vancouver and Toronto.

 

 

Resale and pricing data published by the Canada Real Estate Association last week show the country’s two most expensive markets propping up national figures, which otherwise would be far weaker.

 

 

“The national average home price remains skewed by sales activity in Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto, which are among Canada’s most active and expensive housing markets,” the association said.

 

MORE: Home prices are cooling everywhere but red-hot Vancouver, Toronto


The average benchmark price for a home in Canada continued to rise at a surprisingly strong pace last month, climbing 6.3 per cent, to $431,812. But excluding those two markets, the average price gain would have come in at a much tamer 1.5 per cent, to an average price of $326,910.

 

Calgary, formerly the hottest housing market in the country as higher oil prices bolstered an active market, still saw average prices climb nearly 6 per cent last month, according to CREA. But “the increase was far smaller than gains posted last year and the smallest since December 2012,” the association said.

 

“In other markets from West to East, prices were up compared to year-ago levels by between two and two-and-a-half per cent in the Fraser Valley, Victoria, and Vancouver Island, while holding steady in Saskatoon, Ottawa, and Greater Montreal, and falling in Regina and Greater Moncton,” CREA said.

 

— With files from the Canadia

Read

As you are no doubt aware, yesterday’s release of Budget 2015 contains increases to fees for real estate transfers as of July 1, 2015. In statements related to the Budget, Service Alberta identified real estate associations among the stakeholders who were consulted on increases to fees related to the transfer of real estate. To that effect, AREA CEO Ian Burns has released the following statement to clarify that AREA was not consulted on these increases and to state the association’s position:

 

"Budget 2015 includes significant hikes to fees paid by real estate consumers beginning July 1, 2015, including registering new land titles and mortgage documents.


The Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA), the provincial, professional association for Alberta’s 10,000 REALTORS®, was not one of the real estate association stakeholders consulted on these increases.

AREA appreciates the fiscal challenges faced by government and recognizes that, after this increase, fees related to real estate transfers remain lower in Alberta than other provinces. We have asked Service Alberta to confirm what sources they are quoting when expressing that real estate associations were among the stakeholders who identified that there was ‘room for these fees to grow’."


Increases to fees are certainly never welcomed and the table below details the impact of these increases on the fees for a $500,000 home with a $400,000 mortgage:

 

 

Fees Prior to July 1, 2015
($50 + $1 per $5,000 increment)

Fees After July 1, 2015
($75 + $6 per $5,000 increment)

Land Title Registration

$150

$675

Mortgage Registration

$130

$555

Total

$280

$1,230

Though the increase as of July 1st represents a hike of more than 400% for the real estate consumer, the cost of real estate transfers in Alberta remains lower than other provinces. This can be attributed to the continued avoidance of a Land Transfer Tax in Alberta at either the provincial or local levels.

 

Rest assured that AREA continues to monitor discussions by government and advocate on behalf of members to avoid Land Transfer Tax ever becoming a reality in our province.


AREA also believes that preferable alternatives to increasing fees exist, and will continue to have discussions with Service Alberta to that effect. Enhancements to the Land Titles Registry could incorporate all existing property records under one, centralized system (e.g. property-related permits, condominium documents, grow-op history, environmental assessments and New Home Warranties). All of these records under one roof could allow the Government to increase revenues through the provision of these documents.

 

Click here to view information on AREA’s positions on both Land Transfer Tax and enhancements to the Land Titles Registry.

Read
Categories:   | Abbeydale, Calgary Real Estate | Airdrie, Airdrie Real Estate | Alberta Housing Market | alberta housing market forecast 2012 | Alberta Housing Market, housing projections, cmhc | Alberta Housing Market, housing projections, cmhc, Calgary housing market, chestermere homes for sale | Alberta Land Tax | Android | April Market Update | April Market Updates for Calgary | Arbour Lake, Calgary Real Estate | Bowness, Calgary Real Estate | Braeside, Calgary Real Estate | Bragg Creek, Bragg Creek Real Estate | Bridlewood, Calgary Real Estate | Calgary cash incentives | Calgary Economic Recovery | calgary economy | Calgary Economy, Calgary Housing Market, Calgary Real Estate, Chestermere Real Estate | Calgary Econonomy, Calgary Housing Market, Calgary Real Estate, Chestermere Real Estate | Calgary Grants | Calgary home market | Calgary Home Prices | Calgary home sales | Calgary Homes For Sale | Calgary Housing | Calgary Housing Market | Calgary Housing Market Outlook 2012 | calgary housing market statistics | Calgary Housing Market Update | Calgary Housing Stats | Calgary Housing Trend | Calgary Market Forecast | Calgary Market Outlook 2012 | Calgary Market Update | Calgary Open House | Calgary Properties | Calgary Real Estate | Calgary Real Estate Forecast | Calgary Real Estate Market | Calgary Real Estate Stats | Calgary Relocation | Canada Housing Market | Canada Mortgage Update | Cardston, Cardston Real Estate | Carstairs, Carstairs Real Estate | Chaparral, Calgary Real Estate | Chestermere | Chestermere home for sale | Chestermere Homes | Chestermere Housing Market | Chestermere Open House | Chestermere Real Estate | Chestermere Real Estate Stats | Chestermere Realtor | Chestermere, Chestermere Real Estate | Citadel, Calgary Real Estate | Cityscape, Calgary Real Estate | CMA, Market Analysis, Selling Price, Fair Market Value, Home Value, home price | CMHC | Connaught | Connaught, Calgary Real Estate | Country Hills | Country Hills, Calgary Real Estate | Coventry Hills, Calgary Real Estate | Dalhousie, Calgary Real Estate | Deer Ridge, Calgary Real Estate | Deer Run, Calgary Real Estate | economic recovery | Economy | Evanston, Calgary Real Estate | Executive Home for Sale | Falconridge, Calgary Real Estate | Finance | First Time Home Buyers | foreclosure | Garrison Green | Garrison Green, Calgary Real Estate | Harvest Hills, Calgary Real Estate | Hawkwood, Calgary Real Estate | Hillhurst, Calgary Real Estate | Housing Trends | Inglewood, Calgary Real Estate | IPhone | January 2013 Market Update | Lake Bonavista, Calgary Real Estate | Lakeside Home For Sale | Langdon | Langdon, Langdon Real Estate | Lyalta, Lyalta Real Estate | Mahogany, Calgary Real Estate | Market Trends | Market Update | Market Value | Marlborough Park, Calgary Real Estate | Martindale, Calgary Real Estate | Mayland Heights, Calgary Real Estate | McKenzie Towne, Calgary Real Estate | MLS QR Code | MLS Search | MLS Search, Personal Real Estate Office, Real Estate, home search, compare homes, search for homes | Monterey Park, Calgary Real Estate | Mortgage | Mortgage Fraud | Mortgage Rates | Mortgage Registration | Mortgages | New Listing | Okotoks, Foothills Real Estate | Okotoks, Okotoks Real Estate | Open House | Pineridge, Calgary Real Estate | Pricing Your Home For Sale | QR Code | Real Estate | Real Estate App | Real Estate Forecast | Real Estate GPS QR Code | Real Estate Integrity | Real Estate QR Code | Real Estate, Chestermere Real Estate, Calgary, Buy, Sell, home | Recession | Redcarpet_Mountview, Calgary Real Estate | Rent vs Buy | Rental Property | Rental Property, Calgary Rental, First Time Home Buyers | Rosscarrock | Rosscarrock, Calgary Real Estate | Rural Rocky View MD, Rural Rocky View County Real Estate | Rural Rocky View MD, Rural Rocky View MD Real Estate | Rural Rocky View MD, Rural Rockyview County Real Estate | Rural Wheatland County, Rural Wheatland County Real Estate | Sage Hill, Calgary Real Estate | Secondary Suite | Sell Your Home | Selling Your Home | Shawnessy, Calgary Real Estate | Somerset | South Calgary, Calgary Real Estate | Southview, Calgary Real Estate | Spruce Cliff, Calgary Real Estate | Strathmore | Strathmore, Strathmore Real Estate | Suite | Sundance, Calgary Real Estate | Temple, Calgary Real Estate | Turtle Lake Real Estate | Tuscany, Calgary Real Estate | Victoria Park, Calgary Real Estate | Whitehorn | Whitehorn, Calgary Real Estate | Woodbine, Calgary Real Estate
RSS

Consumer Affairs Reporter  Global News“We continue to watch the housing market and the lending and borrowing situation very carefully," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday Ottawa is closely watching developments in the still-hot housing market, but there’s no need for another intervention. “I’m not saying I’m unconcerned. We are watching it. We’re not planning to take any immediate action,” Harper told reporters after an event in Mississauga, Ont.

“We continue to watch the housing market and the lending and borrowing situation very carefully,” he said.

 

The Prime Minister made the remarks as Canada’s big banks made fresh cuts to mortgage lending rates, with the Bank of Montreal leading the market lower by slicing its 5-year, fixed rate to 2.79 per cent.

That should help rev up home sales across the country this spring, even as buyers confront affordability constraints in big centres — namely Vancouver and Toronto.

 

There are also concerns though that Canadians have piled on too much debt and that some pockets of the housing market have become “overheated.”

 

MORE: Spring real estate market heats up in Toronto, Vancouver, realtors say

But with borrowing rates edging back toward all-time lows, Harper said debt-servicing costs are falling and default rates remain extremely low.

 

Harper said Wednesday he believes Canada’s financial institutions remain strong and well capitalized.

The last time the big banks cut mortgage rates to their current levels, in 2013, then-Finance Minister Jim Flaherty publicly criticized lenders for their “race to the bottom” approach. Lenders raised rates after the warning.

Flaherty’s public criticism was preceded by a series of mortgage-tightening rules were implemented, chiefly in 2012 when amortization periods for insured home loans were capped at 25 years.

 

MORE: IMF warns over Canada’s ‘overheated housing market’ — again

Lending re-accelerates

While the moves created a lull in lending growth, experts have noted a re-acceleration in recent months.

“Following a sustained period of stable year-over-year increases, mortgage growth accelerated for the third consecutive month in January,” RBC economists said in a research note published earlier this month.

Total outstanding home loans grew by 5.4 per cent from the year-ago level to mark the fastest rate of growth since November 2013, RBC said.

Prices cooling

The faster pace of lending appears to be concentrated to within a dwindling number of markets, though, namely — again — Vancouver and Toronto.

 

 

Resale and pricing data published by the Canada Real Estate Association last week show the country’s two most expensive markets propping up national figures, which otherwise would be far weaker.

 

 

“The national average home price remains skewed by sales activity in Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto, which are among Canada’s most active and expensive housing markets,” the association said.

 

MORE: Home prices are cooling everywhere but red-hot Vancouver, Toronto


The average benchmark price for a home in Canada continued to rise at a surprisingly strong pace last month, climbing 6.3 per cent, to $431,812. But excluding those two markets, the average price gain would have come in at a much tamer 1.5 per cent, to an average price of $326,910.

 

Calgary, formerly the hottest housing market in the country as higher oil prices bolstered an active market, still saw average prices climb nearly 6 per cent last month, according to CREA. But “the increase was far smaller than gains posted last year and the smallest since December 2012,” the association said.

 

“In other markets from West to East, prices were up compared to year-ago levels by between two and two-and-a-half per cent in the Fraser Valley, Victoria, and Vancouver Island, while holding steady in Saskatoon, Ottawa, and Greater Montreal, and falling in Regina and Greater Moncton,” CREA said.

 

— With files from the Canadia

Read

As you are no doubt aware, yesterday’s release of Budget 2015 contains increases to fees for real estate transfers as of July 1, 2015. In statements related to the Budget, Service Alberta identified real estate associations among the stakeholders who were consulted on increases to fees related to the transfer of real estate. To that effect, AREA CEO Ian Burns has released the following statement to clarify that AREA was not consulted on these increases and to state the association’s position:

 

"Budget 2015 includes significant hikes to fees paid by real estate consumers beginning July 1, 2015, including registering new land titles and mortgage documents.


The Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA), the provincial, professional association for Alberta’s 10,000 REALTORS®, was not one of the real estate association stakeholders consulted on these increases.

AREA appreciates the fiscal challenges faced by government and recognizes that, after this increase, fees related to real estate transfers remain lower in Alberta than other provinces. We have asked Service Alberta to confirm what sources they are quoting when expressing that real estate associations were among the stakeholders who identified that there was ‘room for these fees to grow’."


Increases to fees are certainly never welcomed and the table below details the impact of these increases on the fees for a $500,000 home with a $400,000 mortgage:

 

 

Fees Prior to July 1, 2015
($50 + $1 per $5,000 increment)

Fees After July 1, 2015
($75 + $6 per $5,000 increment)

Land Title Registration

$150

$675

Mortgage Registration

$130

$555

Total

$280

$1,230

Though the increase as of July 1st represents a hike of more than 400% for the real estate consumer, the cost of real estate transfers in Alberta remains lower than other provinces. This can be attributed to the continued avoidance of a Land Transfer Tax in Alberta at either the provincial or local levels.

 

Rest assured that AREA continues to monitor discussions by government and advocate on behalf of members to avoid Land Transfer Tax ever becoming a reality in our province.


AREA also believes that preferable alternatives to increasing fees exist, and will continue to have discussions with Service Alberta to that effect. Enhancements to the Land Titles Registry could incorporate all existing property records under one, centralized system (e.g. property-related permits, condominium documents, grow-op history, environmental assessments and New Home Warranties). All of these records under one roof could allow the Government to increase revenues through the provision of these documents.

 

Click here to view information on AREA’s positions on both Land Transfer Tax and enhancements to the Land Titles Registry.

Read
Categories:   | Abbeydale, Calgary Real Estate | Airdrie, Airdrie Real Estate | Alberta Housing Market | alberta housing market forecast 2012 | Alberta Housing Market, housing projections, cmhc | Alberta Housing Market, housing projections, cmhc, Calgary housing market, chestermere homes for sale | Alberta Land Tax | Android | April Market Update | April Market Updates for Calgary | Arbour Lake, Calgary Real Estate | Bowness, Calgary Real Estate | Braeside, Calgary Real Estate | Bragg Creek, Bragg Creek Real Estate | Bridlewood, Calgary Real Estate | Calgary cash incentives | Calgary Economic Recovery | calgary economy | Calgary Economy, Calgary Housing Market, Calgary Real Estate, Chestermere Real Estate | Calgary Econonomy, Calgary Housing Market, Calgary Real Estate, Chestermere Real Estate | Calgary Grants | Calgary home market | Calgary Home Prices | Calgary home sales | Calgary Homes For Sale | Calgary Housing | Calgary Housing Market | Calgary Housing Market Outlook 2012 | calgary housing market statistics | Calgary Housing Market Update | Calgary Housing Stats | Calgary Housing Trend | Calgary Market Forecast | Calgary Market Outlook 2012 | Calgary Market Update | Calgary Open House | Calgary Properties | Calgary Real Estate | Calgary Real Estate Forecast | Calgary Real Estate Market | Calgary Real Estate Stats | Calgary Relocation | Canada Housing Market | Canada Mortgage Update | Cardston, Cardston Real Estate | Carstairs, Carstairs Real Estate | Chaparral, Calgary Real Estate | Chestermere | Chestermere home for sale | Chestermere Homes | Chestermere Housing Market | Chestermere Open House | Chestermere Real Estate | Chestermere Real Estate Stats | Chestermere Realtor | Chestermere, Chestermere Real Estate | Citadel, Calgary Real Estate | Cityscape, Calgary Real Estate | CMA, Market Analysis, Selling Price, Fair Market Value, Home Value, home price | CMHC | Connaught | Connaught, Calgary Real Estate | Country Hills | Country Hills, Calgary Real Estate | Coventry Hills, Calgary Real Estate | Dalhousie, Calgary Real Estate | Deer Ridge, Calgary Real Estate | Deer Run, Calgary Real Estate | economic recovery | Economy | Evanston, Calgary Real Estate | Executive Home for Sale | Falconridge, Calgary Real Estate | Finance | First Time Home Buyers | foreclosure | Garrison Green | Garrison Green, Calgary Real Estate | Harvest Hills, Calgary Real Estate | Hawkwood, Calgary Real Estate | Hillhurst, Calgary Real Estate | Housing Trends | Inglewood, Calgary Real Estate | IPhone | January 2013 Market Update | Lake Bonavista, Calgary Real Estate | Lakeside Home For Sale | Langdon | Langdon, Langdon Real Estate | Lyalta, Lyalta Real Estate | Mahogany, Calgary Real Estate | Market Trends | Market Update | Market Value | Marlborough Park, Calgary Real Estate | Martindale, Calgary Real Estate | Mayland Heights, Calgary Real Estate | McKenzie Towne, Calgary Real Estate | MLS QR Code | MLS Search | MLS Search, Personal Real Estate Office, Real Estate, home search, compare homes, search for homes | Monterey Park, Calgary Real Estate | Mortgage | Mortgage Fraud | Mortgage Rates | Mortgage Registration | Mortgages | New Listing | Okotoks, Foothills Real Estate | Okotoks, Okotoks Real Estate | Open House | Pineridge, Calgary Real Estate | Pricing Your Home For Sale | QR Code | Real Estate | Real Estate App | Real Estate Forecast | Real Estate GPS QR Code | Real Estate Integrity | Real Estate QR Code | Real Estate, Chestermere Real Estate, Calgary, Buy, Sell, home | Recession | Redcarpet_Mountview, Calgary Real Estate | Rent vs Buy | Rental Property | Rental Property, Calgary Rental, First Time Home Buyers | Rosscarrock | Rosscarrock, Calgary Real Estate | Rural Rocky View MD, Rural Rocky View County Real Estate | Rural Rocky View MD, Rural Rocky View MD Real Estate | Rural Rocky View MD, Rural Rockyview County Real Estate | Rural Wheatland County, Rural Wheatland County Real Estate | Sage Hill, Calgary Real Estate | Secondary Suite | Sell Your Home | Selling Your Home | Shawnessy, Calgary Real Estate | Somerset | South Calgary, Calgary Real Estate | Southview, Calgary Real Estate | Spruce Cliff, Calgary Real Estate | Strathmore | Strathmore, Strathmore Real Estate | Suite | Sundance, Calgary Real Estate | Temple, Calgary Real Estate | Turtle Lake Real Estate | Tuscany, Calgary Real Estate | Victoria Park, Calgary Real Estate | Whitehorn | Whitehorn, Calgary Real Estate | Woodbine, Calgary Real Estate
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