Signs of financial stress. The effects of higher interest rates have a 6 to 12 month lag period before showing up in the general economy. It appears we’re seeing those related issues now. A Canadian real estate lender has recently halted redemptions on its fund. This means investors can’t get their money out which is a pretty big… Read More »
Who does higher interest rates hurt the most? The obvious answer is people who have variable rate mortgages. But there’s a group of people that are even more at risk, and are hurting more from the impact of higher interest rates. They are renters. Why renters? Because as the cost to borrow becomes more expensive, would-be buyers who… Read More »
Yes, rates will probably be higher in 2022. But not as much as people might think. Inflation is stubbornly high. We’ve been above the Bank of Canada’s target rate of 2% since March, and the rising cost of living doesn’t seem to be even slowing down. This prompted the top economist at Scotiabank, Derek Holt to predict… Read More »
The trickle down effect It has been said that if we cut taxes for the rich and help profitable businesses make even more money then the economic benefits would trickle down from the top to the rest of us. But for many in the working class this has simply not been the case. 🙁 The top 1% have… Read More »
The Canadian housing market continues to defy gravity! 🙂 According to CREA the average home price in May increased to $416,584, a 7.1% jump from a year ago. The number of homes sold also increased by 5.9% month over month, which is the largest gain in several years. A lot of people feel concerned that this kind of growth is unsustainable. They… Read More »
Last Fall I made some bold predictions that low interest rates are staying until 2016, which will keep the housing market stable. I also suggested that investing in parts manufacturers like Magna International would be a profitable venture due to the consumer’s love for cars 😀 Fast forward to today and it looks like events are unfolding thus… Read More »