As we round the corner into October, now is a great time to touch base about what to expect in the marketplace this Fall!
As you may have heard, The Bank of Canada opted to maintain its policy rate at 5% as of September. The recent rate hikes over the spring and summer have slowed the housing and mortgage markets as potential buyers were unsurprisingly spooked by the rise in mortgage rates. More recently, fixed-rate loans have become more expensive because of the rise in longer-term interest rates. As a result, housing affordability became a bigger hurdle and led to a slight decrease in home prices by 6% in major markets over the summer.
Anticipating Policy Rate Changes and Housing Market Outlook
Navigating the Housing Market in 2024: Strategies for Buyers
As the housing supply shortage continues, new listings are likely to rise and provide much-needed new inventory. As we move into 2024 and start to see interest rates decrease, motivated sellers will move off the sidelines and housing demand is expected to be resilient.
For anyone who is thinking about purchasing this season, it is important to get pre-approved to guarantee your interest rate for 90-120 days while you shop the market. This way, you will avoid being impacted by potential rate changes and can properly estimate your budget for mortgage costs. Plus, pre-approval will indicate to the seller that you will not have issues obtaining financing (assuming nothing changes between now and the purchase with your job, savings, etc.), which is key during the current economic landscape.
To help you make the best decision possible, download the MCC Home Centre app to determine what you can afford, and what your mortgage would look like at various interest rate levels.
I am also here to provide expert, unbiased advice to anyone with concerns, questions or wanting to get started on their pre-approval today!
Tim Ward, Collingwood Mortgage Broker.
