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Research Report Concludes That Select Property Owners Will Receive a 10 – 20% Increase in Their Property Values

Calgary, AB — April 15, 2010 — The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN™) a Division of Cutting Edge Research Inc. is pleased to release its 2010 update to The Calgary Transportation Effect, which details the impact of the upcoming transportation improvements, part of the government stimulus packages, on housing in Calgary.  The report’s research concludes that prices in select Calgary neighbourhoods will receive a 10% to 20% premium, over and above what the rest of the city’s market does in the coming years.

The failure of the Province of Alberta to reach a deal with the Tsuu T’ina nation resulted in an update to the transportation report as different communities will now be impacted by the southwest portion of the ring road running entirely through city land.

The report also includes more detailed information on the addition of the West LRT Line and proposed future extensions and expansions to the Calgary LRT network.      

REIN’s detailed research has found that there are three “Tiers of Impact” that will occur in the Calgary region:

First Tier, which will witness the most positive effects from the combined ring road and LRT improvements: NE — Saddle Ridge, Martindale, Falconridge, Taradale, Castleridge; NW — Rocky Ridge, Tuscany, Scenic Acres, Ranchlands, Silver Springs, Hawkwood.

Second Tier, which will feel positive impacts from either the LRT or the ring road: NE —, Coral Springs, Temple, Montery Park, Pineridge, Abbeydale, Applewood Park, Marlborough Park, Penbrook Meadows; NW — Bowness, Greenwood, Valley Ridge. SE — Chapparal, McKenzie Lake, Cranston, Auburn Bay, Mahogany, Copperfield, and Sundance

Third Tier regions will feel the ripple effect outward from the main impact areas; these include Cochrane, Balzac and Airdrie, as well as new developments near the Ring Road. 

When the Ring Road and the new LRT stations are completed, communities within an 800-metre radius of these transportation improvements can anticipate a 10%–20% increase in their property values. The largest effect will be felt in older and more established neighbourhoods.

“Our research shows that when a highway increases accessibility to the region by providing new access or shorter commute times, residential property values rise by 12%–15% over similar properties not affected by the new highway,” says Don Campbell, author of the best-selling Real Estate Investing in Canada. “People need to understand that commute and travel distances are now measured in minutes, not kilometres.”

The 2010 Calgary Transportation Effect report reviews the peer-reviewed academic research that has been conducted on the impact of light rail, highway expansion and road improvements in other parts of the world

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Brad Gavin – VP, MBN Group of Companies

Mortgage Broker – MBN Mortgage Ltd (Associated with Mortgage Intelligence)

The Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals released its report “The Canadian Residential Mortgage Market During Challenging Times” on April 22, 2009. And while sentiments of Canadians towards the overall state of the economy are low, their expectations of their local real estate markets show an increase over 2008.

Summary of Report Highlights

• Residents in provinces who have felt the greatest impact due to the economic downturn are surprisingly the most positive about the current housing market. Sixty three per cent of Ontarians, 62 per cent of Albertans and 64 per cent of British Columbians believe that now is a good time to purchase a home.

• While one-third of Canadians expect prices to fall, Saskatchewan residents are most optimistic about house pricing with 26 per cent believing values will go up.

• Of those who financed or renewed their mortgage during the past 12 months, over a third (36 per cent) obtained variable rate terms, up from 24 per cent of those surveyed in CAAMP’s fall 2008 report.

• Of all Canadian mortgage holders, 68 per cent have fixed rate mortgages, 28 per cent have variable and only five per cent hold combination mortgages. Fixed rate mortgages are most common among those aged 18-34 years (71 per cent), while Canadians aged 55 years or older are most likely to secure adjustable rates (35 per cent).

• The majority of mortgages (83 per cent) have amortization periods of up to 25 years and a minority of mortgages (17 per cent) have amortization periods of more than 25 years.

• Roughly 9.1 million homes are owned in Canada. The estimated value of these homes is $2.67 trillion and the total outstanding mortgage principal on these homes is estimated at $739 billion. This means that Canadian homeowners have about $1.93 trillion in home equity, which amounts to 72.3 per cent of the total value of their homes.

• Home equity positions in the Canadian market are about 67 per cent greater than in the United States. The US Federal Reserve reports that of the more than 75 million American home owners, the average equity holding is 43 per cent which is in contrast to Canada’s average of 72 per cent equity in their homes.

A full copy of the report is available at http://www.caamp.org/download_docs/Spring-Consumer-Report_Apr09.pdf.

What does this all mean for the Canadian home owner?

To put it in persepctive, consider these factors:

1) Mortgage loan rates are at absolute record lows. In the April 21, 2009 Key Interest Rate Announcement issued by Mark Carney, Governer of the Bank of Canada lowered its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of a percentage point to 1/4 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly lowered to 1/2 per cent. as a result. Read another way: Money is cheap to get a hold of right now.

2) Real estate values, especially in historically strong markets, are turning positive. There remains a backlog of real estate inventory in most markets, keeping prices stable for the coming months. Most Canadian markets are heading into the natural summer upswing that occurs as spring gets us all out of the house, and active in the housing markets.

3) Stock market performance has been poor, and many Canadians are looking to their assets and equity in real estate to bring them back into the green (more on this in a future article- stay tuned!)

All things considered, what a truly remarkable time to invest in real estate- money is cheap, real estate inventory is high, and banks and mortgage companies are becoming highly competitive for your mortgage business. All of these factors combine to make the right property, in the right city, a brilliant idea- right now.

As Canadians weather the harsh economy, a beacon of their strength is the considerable amount of equity they have in their properties, according to a report released today by the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP).

New challenges, such as budgeting for mortgage payments, are emerging, yet housing affordability has dramatically improved due to lower interest rates and price reductions. The report is authored by CAAMP Chief Economist Will Dunning and based on information gathered by Maritz Research in an online survey conducted in March 2009.

Over 40 per cent of all mortgage holders have at least 50 per cent of the value of their homes in equity, and of all Canadian home owners, which includes those without mortgages, 65 per cent hold at least half the value of their properties. Only two per cent of mortgage holders have negative home equity, meaning the value of the mortgage exceeds the value of the home.

During the past year, 15 per cent of mortgage holders took equity out of their homes, representing a national total of $34 billion. Over half (57 per cent) used these funds for debt repayment or consolidation amounting to $12.5 billion.

“CAAMP’s report demonstrates that home owners have solid equity positions and although facing financial uncertainties, most Canadians have the ability to deal with temporary market fluctuations and reductions in personal income,” said Jim Murphy, AMP, President and CEO of CAAMP. “With only a very small number at risk of not being able to pay or refinance their mortgages, our overall market is very strong.”

There is no doubt that the current economic backdrop means increased financial challenges for Canadians. Job loss is a major risk factor for home owners and 18 per cent of those surveyed indicated an individual in their household had lost a job in the past six months. The economy looms large when people consider buying a home. Despite the fact that 55 per cent say now is a good time to buy, up almost 20 percentage points from fall 2008, only four per cent of homeowners and six per cent of non-owners actually say they anticipate buying – about the same number as last fall.

Low and flexible interest rates plus longer terms are adding buoyancy to the mortgage market. Mortgage holders are extremely successful negotiating their interest rates, knocking off an average of 1.68 per cent from the posted rate. Three-quarters of those who renewed their mortgage in the past year had their interest rate reduced. On average, renewals resulted in interest rate reductions of almost one full per cent. Three-quarters of Canadian borrowers are also likely to see reductions in their interest rates at their next renewal.

“While many Canadians are experiencing mortgage-related challenges, these issues are much less significant than the problems in the American market,” said Will Dunning, CAAMP Chief Economist. “We are not seeing the dramatic mortgage rate resets or panic selling that occurred in the United States, and Canadian mortgage lenders and insurers are demonstrating a willingness to work with those who encounter financial difficulties. These are good signs for the health of the market.”

The popularity of mortgage brokers continues to grow with almost half (46 per cent) of new mortgages taken out in the past year secured through brokers. Over one-half (61 per cent) of mortgage renewals occurred with the major banks.

“With increased choice and negotiation power in today’s market, informed mortgage consumers have an opportunity to leverage lower overall rates,” said Murphy. “CAAMP members are committed to educating consumers and increasing professional standards in the industry.”

Based on current housing market forecasts, the outstanding volume of residential mortgage credit is forecast to expand by close to $70 billion in both 2009 and 2010, growing at a rate of 7.6 per cent in 2009 and 7.0 per cent in 2010, although the growth rate has decreased from 10.4 per cent in 2008. Mortgage credit is expected to surpass $1 trillion about mid-2010. The volume of annual approvals may fall to about $150 billion in 2009 and $160 billion in 2010, downfrom totals that exceeded $200 billon per year in 2007 and 2008.

“The Canadian Residential Mortgage Market During Challenging Times” report contains a wealth of industry data, including consumers’ expectations of the housing market, profiles of mortgage holders, regional breakdowns of survey responses, and additional insight into challenges for mortgage holders in Canada. For a copy of the report, please visit: www.caamp.org

The U.S. government and the country’s mortgage sector on Tuesday announced plans to help homeowners behind on their house loans.

Roughly four million U.S. homeowners were behind on their mortgage payments or in foreclosure in June, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. 

To qualify, homeowners will have to be at least three months behind on their payments, and owe more than 90 per cent of the value of their house.  Anyone who does not occupy their home would not qualify for the aid, nor would borrowers who have gone into bankruptcy.

The government’s plan would see interest rates cut so that borrowers would wind up not spending more than 38 per cent of their income on house payments. Another option is for loans to be extended from 30 years to 40 years, or for some of the loan principal to be deferred.

“Foreclosures hurt families, their neighbours, whole communities and the overall housing market,” said James Lockhart, director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency. “We need to stop this downward spiral.”

Lockhart’s agency seized control of two mortgage finance companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in September. Together, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own or guarantee almost 31 million U.S. mortgages, or about 60 per cent of all outstanding mortgages.  The new plan is hoped to be in place by Dec. 15.

So How does the US Mortgage Market compare with the Canadian Market?

Despite this past month’s financial sector turbulence and the heightened concerns over the US economy, Harper said the Canadian Financial Institution remains in “very good shape.”  All information provided to Harper’s government has indicated that while there are banks that have had significant write-downs, none near the extremity of AIG, the balance sheets of the financial sector remain strong.

Harper is further supporting Economists’ suggestions that the troubles in the US should not “spill over into Canada.” Canada has strong economic fundamentals and a government that has been prudent and pro-active.  The Canadian government anticipated the US bubble would burst over a year ago and the crisis this week was not surprising, nor unexpected.  It is however, not expected to affect Canada to anywhere near the extent it has affected the US. 

There is no direct tie between the US housing market and the Canadian housing market and Canada’s strong economy and dearth of high-risk mortgage lending should help the real estate sector withstand the volatility that has been buffering the equity markets.   Ultimately, the Canadian market should be relatively unscathed by the turbulence experienced in the US.

MBN Mortgage

CBCNews.ca

November 11, 2008

In the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, Canada has joined the ranks of governments that in recent weeks stepped up to help banks cope with more fallout from bad U.S. subprime mortgages. In Canada’s case, however, the reason for the assistance is a little different from some of its G-7 partners. Unlike banks in the U.S., Britain and Germany, which needed to be bailed out with hundreds of billions of dollars in new capital, Canada’s major banks are solid and solvent. They don’t need any help to work through their subprime exposure.

So why did Ottawa agree to insure the money they routinely borrow from other banks, a practice that keeps their credit operations liquid? Ironically, the troubled non-Canadian institutions that received capital injections and loan guarantees in other countries now carry a government seal of approval that tilts the playing field in their favor when it comes to borrowing. That leaves Canada’s big banks, including Scotiabank, TD Bank Financial Group, RBC Royal Bank and CIBC, at a competitive disadvantage. So the government acted to level the field, not to aid troubled banks.

Why has Canada withstood the subprime tornado better than other countries, and should the Canadian banking system be a model for G-7 and G-20 leaders when they gather in Washington on Nov. 15? Consider that the Geneva-based World Economic Forum, an influential think tank whose annual conference attracts the likes of Bill Gates and Tony Blair, earlier this month ranked Canada’s banking system as the soundest in the world. The U.S. came in at No. 40, and Germany and Britain ranked 39 and 44, respectively. (Switzerland was No. 16, just ahead of Namibia.) “For Canadian banks, having higher capital ratios than anyone else in the world is a source of pride,” says analyst Mario Mendonca with Toronto-based investment bank Genuity Capital Markets.

The average capital reserves for Canada’s Big Six banks — defined as Tier 1 capital (common shares, retained earnings and non-cumulative preferred shares) to risk-adjusted assets — is 9.8%, several percentage points above the 7% required by Canada’s federal bank regulator. That’s a little better than major U.S. commercial banks like Bank of America, but significantly higher than an average capital ratio of about 4% for U.S. investment banks and 3.3% for European commercial banks.

Another factor that helped make Canada the new gold standard in banking was Ottawa’s decision in the late 1980s to allow commercials banks to acquire investment dealers on Toronto’s Bay Street, the country’s financial hub. As a result, these institutions are subject to the same strict rules as commercial banks, while U.S. investment dealers are subject to only light supervision from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, of course, will now be under the U.S. Federal Reserve’s supervision since they have been chartered as bank-holding companies.

Canada’s banks make bad investments on occasion. When Toronto-based CIBC, Canada’s most aggressive big bank, took $3.5 billion in charges against the U.S. subprime debacle, federal regulators quickly arrived on the scene. But here’s the difference: CIBC ended up selling $2.94 billion worth of its own shares in the first quarter of this year to shore up capital reserves. “The relationship between government and banks is a positive one,” says Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty. “We have a lot of discussions and regular meetings. The common goal is a sound financial system.”

There is, of course, a flip side to Canada’s regulatory system. When the global economy was flying high, Canadian banks complained about not being allowed to merge to become more significant international players. “In hindsight, that decision may have saved Canada from having a Royal Bank of Scotland on its hands,” says Lawrence Booth, a finance specialist at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, referring to the overly ambitious bank’s bailout earlier this month by the British government.

Says FFlaherty: “The credit crisis we’re facing is the result of unbridled greed. We need to bridle greed.” Perhaps when world leaders sit down in Washington to forge a 21st-century New Deal for the global financial system, it may have more than a smattering of Canadian banking know-how.

MBN Mortgage

TIME

Monday November 10, 2008