In this episode I take listeners through my favourite methods of winning at the bidding war game. You’ll learn what a bully or pre-emptive offer is and how you can win them to get the home you want. You’ll learn what you need to do before you compete in a multiple offer situation.
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Last week the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) decided that the stress test that had been proposed for June 1st, which was only to impact those with a down payment of 20% or greater, should be extended to all of those applying for mortgages. So now those who are putting less than 20% down payment will also be affected by the increase to the stress test.
In the past, home-buyers were given a stress test at a rate of 4.79% to make sure that when interest rates increased, the borrower would still be able to cover the mortgage at an interest rate of 4.79%. Last week’s announcement has increased that rate to 5.25%.
Let’s break down those numbers a little. Right now a buyer can get a 5-year fixed rate for 1.79%. So for example, let’s say that a buyer was looking at an $800,000 purchase with an $80,000 down payment. With an interest rate of 1.79%, their monthly mortgage payment would be $3,068.65. Under the current stress test guidelines of 4.79%, the monthly mortgage payment would be $4,229.06. As of June 1, the monthly mortgage payment would be $4,423.62 using the 5.25% rate. The lenders that fall under OSFI are trying to make sure that you can still cover your mortgage payments should rates increase to 5.25%.
The mortgage delinquency rate in Canada is less than 2%. Just over 40% of Canadians don’t even have a mortgage anymore because they have paid it off. Canadians are diligent about paying mortgage debt.
They are trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist, meanwhile making it that much harder for a buyer to get into the housing market. They are trying to account for the possibility that your housing costs will increase by 44%. But here is the thing; right now you can get a 5-year fixed rate at 1.79% which ensures that you will be able to make your payments for the next 5 years. It doesn’t take into consideration that in the next 5 years, you might change jobs, get a promotion, make more money or any other life circumstance that might change.
Owning real estate has been proven as a great method for wealth-building. Making the stress test harder removes real estate as a wealth building option for so many people. Why increase the divide between the rich and the poor even further? Why make it harder for the little guy to get ahead? Interest rates are at an all-time low, which represents a great opportunity for buyers. So why not allow them to take advantage of it?
I understand that housing prices across our country have climbed to new heights, which is where this concern is coming from. However, now might be the time to make some drastic decisions to increase the supply of housing in the market. The more properties for sale, the more likely prices won’t scale to these new heights. Why not create a temporary tax holiday on the land transfer tax (LTT)? In Toronto, buyers must pay a double land transfer tax which has fueled the renovation industry as homeowners decide to stay in their home and renovate, instead of moving because the transaction costs are too high.
So, for a Toronto homeowner who lives in a $1.2 million home, if they are to upgrade to a $2 million home, they would have to pay $72,950 in double land transfer tax. That’s a huge disincentive to move. Most people would just renovate or stay in their homes, which is what most people are doing. This further impacts the supply of houses on the market.
We have buyers caught in a game of musical chairs with more and more chairs being taken away so they are left to bid up the price of the few chairs (or houses) left which drives up the price every year.
If our governments are truly serious about quelling the large increases in housing prices, they will need to fix the supply issues or learn the basics of economic supply and demand theory and how it affects prices.
Thinking of selling your house or condo? Would you like to learn how to get top dollar for your home?
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There has been a lot of talk lately about opening up the bidding war process for houses because people feel the current process isn’t fair to them.
It sounds like the kids who were given participation badges when they were young instead of first, second and third place badges like the rest of us want to ruin the housing system too.
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As a real estate agent and seasoned real estate investor, I’m always asked the question.
”Where should I invest?” I would usually say, “Anywhere you can afford to so that you can obtain positive cashflow.”
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What percentage of detached homes in Toronto are selling for more than $1.7 million?
You’ve seen the headlines. Housing prices are on the rise. Buyers are getting frustrated with the high prices and the bidding wars.
Given the low interest rates and the need for more space, we don’t see housing prices going down anytime soon. In fact, it seems as though the only way is up. As much as we might complain about the high prices of housing right now, in 5 years, we’ll be saying, “Do you remember when a detached house was only $1.7 million?” I know this sounds hard to believe.
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Are the current increases in real estate prices unsustainable? What we are seeing is a tale of the haves and have-nots playing out before our eyes in the economy and in the housing market. It’s as if we’ve entered the domain of the movie The Hunger Games which featured volunteers from various districts fighting for their survival while the wealthy watched.
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Over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed a trend with the prices of semi-detached houses in the core (C01, C02, C03, C04, C08, C09, C10, C11, E01, E02, E03, E06, W01, W02, W03 – see below for map) of Toronto. Pricing trends in the real estate market tend to be gradual but what I’m noticing seems like a more drastic trend. It’s an upward trajectory on the prices of semi-detached houses in Toronto. Many home buyers will now be shut out of the semi-detached housing market and more likely to buy condos.
