As of January 1, 2023 the Canadian Government has enacted a temporary two-year ban (2023-2024) on non-Canadian purchase of residential real estate. The legislation link is here.

Life has certainly kept us on our toes the last couple of years. At this point, I'm sure that most of us are yearning for some of the relative normalcy of years past, however looking forward into 2023, it doesn’t seem like there will be much of a let up. Buckle up your seat belts and get ready for another interesting year. As a mortgage broker and economist by training, here is a list of 4 trends that I will be keeping a close eye on over the coming year, which should help provide some context to understand what is going on in the world of Canadian real estate. 

Normally in purchase financing, mortgage lenders have a rule that their loan be based upon 1) the appraised value of the property, or 2) the purchase price, whichever is less. But what if the property has appreciated considerably since the purchase price was agreed to years ago, as may be the case in pre-sale condominium and pre-construction purchase agreements and even rent-to-own transactions? The question then becomes, can I get a pre-sale condo mortgage based on the higher market value? Can I use price appreciation as my mortgage down payment?

Client is 55, single, and behind on retirement savings. A case-study in pre-retirement mortgage planning.

I have a client - let's call him Ted - who recently reached out to me to do some mortgage planning.

Last updated November 9, 2022

Essential Mortgage Planning Tips BEFORE you Retire/Quit Your Regular Job

As you approach retirement, before relocating or downsizing, or otherwise before losing your regular predictable employment income, you may want to consider to position yourself to retain access to your home equity and be aware of your future lending options - it's smart retirement planning in my opinion. Once you lose your regular employment income, your lending options are drastically reduced and your home equity may become trapped forcing you to sell or change your plans if there is an acute need for money. I always say, the best time to apply for credit is when you don't need it!  Please enjoy the video (click the image) and the supplementary discussion below.