For Those Looking to Buy a Home, Now is (Surprisingly) the Time: Mortgage Expert

Amid the uncertainty prevalent in today’s real estate conversations, spectators may be surprised to learn that the opportunity is alive and well in the current market.

In an article written for Canadian Mortgage Professional almost exactly two years ago, I predicted that interest rates were too good to be true, and could not be sustained indefinitely. I encouraged fellow brokers to secure 5- and 10-year fixed-rate solutions at every opportunity, and for almost every borrower.

That opportune period of borrowing has disappeared and is showing no sign of returning.

Similarly, today’s economic climate presents a rare opportunity that will not last forever. Now is the time to buy real estate in strong regional markets, such as Toronto and other metropolitan centres in Canada.
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Initially, many may ask: how can this be the case, when interest rates are at decades-high levels and inflation is running rampant? The answer lies in the way buyers are busy processing the new landscape and have been scared into inactivity.

With so few active buyers placing bona fide offers, the bidding wars have lessened, allowing a more natural rhythm of buying to occur.

In fact, many buyers in the GTA are enjoying conditions that have not been seen in years. The duress of competing against a multitude of competitive bids has, for the time being, calmed down. Unconditional offers have (almost) disappeared. Home inspections, financing conditions, and a lawyer’s review of the status certificate are once again commonplace.
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When will the market ramp up again? It is too early to tell — but it will not take much:

In recent days, bond yields have dropped. With it, we have also seen fixed-rate mortgages pull back. This might be the trigger.
10 years ago, Canadian borrowers enjoyed 35- and 40-year amortizations. If they return to mainstream lenders, monthly carrying costs could drop and kickstart the housing market recovery.
Or, perhaps the regulator will revisit their (now dated) stress-test guidelines, enabling borrowers to qualify with their contract rate. This too could bring buyers back from the sidelines.
How long this period of buying opportunity will last, no one knows. One thing is for certain, especially when the buyers return: bidding wars will be back as well, and many will wish that they had acted sooner.
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A Look at Inflation Around the Globe

Half the World Double Digit Inflation, Nov-29
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Opposition to building more homes faster in Ontario will only worsen affordability
Inadequate housing supply is a primary contributor to unaffordable housing prices and rents

After decades of frustrating inaction, the Ontario government has a plan to quickly build many more homes by setting targets for new construction and proposing far-reaching changes to the governance structure necessary to implement the plan.

Ontario’s plan is not perfect — no plan ever is — but it finally provides a fighting chance of solving the province’s supply woes. The status quo of not building homes is and never was, an option if the goal is for the people to have affordable housing.

The first of Ontario’s two important initiatives is Bill 23, also known as the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, which introduces a series of land-use planning changes to cut red tape and sets explicit, non-binding targets for large municipalities to construct new homes.
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The other initiative is empowering the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa, the province’s most populous municipalities, to take decisive actions on housing developments without mustering support from a majority of councillors, who often vote to block new developments at the behest of their NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) constituents.

Those who oppose these plans are diverse, but they have a few traits in common. Many are supply skeptics, who pay lip service to the notion that we need more housing, but are unwilling to do much to achieve that goal.

Others are status quo champions who want to “preserve” the spirit of their neighbourhoods, a polite way of saying they want to keep new citizens out of their areas. Then there are the planners, some of whom were taught a Soviet-style central planning system where ad hoc limits are placed on what land can be developed and at what intensity. Most builders and developers fight for years to have these plans and bylaws amended, resulting in delays and inflated prices and rents.

Some believe that empowering mayors disenfranchises local representatives, which is hardly true. Local representatives are free to advocate for their constituents on all matters except blocking new housing construction.

Consider that Toronto Mayor John Tory received more votes from citizens than the sum of all votes received by the elected councillors. Shouldn’t the executive powers be weighted by the support each voting member of the council, including the mayor, received in the municipal election?

Premier Doug Ford ran on the promise to build more housing and voters overwhelmingly supported the Conservative platform by electing 83 of its candidates, more than twice the seats won by all the other parties combined.

If democracy is to be trusted, Ontario voters overwhelmingly endorsed plans for more housing in the provincial election held in June. Empowering NIMBY types and their enablers are hardly advocating for democracy.
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Ontario Housing Market Snapshot for November 2022

Home sales are down 43.8% across Ontario, with 11,017 units sold in November 2022, compared to 19,614 in November 2021.

The average price of homes sold across Ontario in November 2022 was $829,934, down 10% from $921,819 in November 2021.

Real Estate Buyers and Sellers:

We are with you from the beginning to the end with a professional team in selling and buying your dream home.
services rendered:
- Providing loans with the lowest interest rates available in the market ( First, Second, Third Mortgages)
- Free evaluation of your home
- Finding your dream home according to location and budget
- Obtaining complete market information in order to make the right decision when buying or selling a house/condo
- Special services for:
- First Time Home Buyers
- Newcomers
- Buying a house/condo for Investment Property investment
- Renovation services

☎️ Ways to contact us via Phone and Email:
+1 (647) 772-9502
hoizady@yahoo.com
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Housing Market Snapshot for November 2022

Home sales are down 38.9% across Canada, with 30,135 units sold in November 2022, compared to 49,357 in November 2021.

The average price of homes sold across Canada in November 2022 was $632,802, down 12% from $719,185 in November 2021.

Real Estate Buyers and Sellers:

We are with you from the beginning to the end with a professional team in selling and buying your dream home.
services rendered:
- Providing loans with the lowest interest rates available in the market ( First, Second, Third Mortgages)
- Free evaluation of your home
- Finding your dream home according to location and budget
- Obtaining complete market information in order to make the right decision when buying or selling a house/condo
- Special services for:
- First Time Home Buyers
- Newcomers
- Non-residents
- Buying a house/condo for Investment Property investment
- Renovation services

☎️ Ways to contact us via Phone and Email:
+1 (647) 772-9502
hoizady@yahoo.com
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Market Watch Infographic-December 2022

Home sales are down 48.2% across Canada, with 3,117 units sold in December 2022, compared to 6,013 in December 2021.

The average price of homes sold across Canada in December 2022 was $1,051,216, down 9.2% from $1,157,837 in December 2021.

Real Estate Buyers and Sellers:

We are with you from the beginning to the end with a professional team in selling and buying your dream home.
services rendered:
- Providing loans with the lowest interest rates available in the market ( First, Second, Third Mortgages)
- Free evaluation of your home
- Finding your dream home according to location and budget
- Obtaining complete market information in order to make the right decision when buying or selling a house/condo
- Special services for:
- First Time Home Buyers
- Newcomers
- Non-residents
- Buying a house/condo for Investment Property investment
- Renovation services

☎️ Ways to contact us via Phone and Email:
+1 (647) 772-9502
hoizady@yahoo.com
.