For the first time in three years, variable rates are cheaper than fixed, and inquiries have tripled. But the same day the Bank of Canada cut rates, bond yields spiked, and Scotiabank is now forecasting rate HIKES in 2026. With only a 34 basis point spread between variable and fixed, this might be the tightest decision you'll ever make. In this episode, I break down the real math, the actual risks, and give you a framework to decide what's right for YOUR situation, because getting this wrong could cost you $25,000+.
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Home ownership in Canada has collapsed from 69.5% to 65.8% in just a decade, with first-time buyers dropping from 40% to only 10% of the market while $83.9 billion in capital fled the country in four months. Despite the Bank of Canada cutting rates to 2.5%, record inventory levels and sophisticated investors running for the exits signal that the traditional path to Canadian home ownership may be permanently broken.
The Bank of Canada cut its policy rate to 2.25%, signaling the end of its easing cycle amid growing recession fears and structural economic challenges. While variable-rate holders will see small payment relief, rising bond yields and collapsing housing activity suggest the move reflects desperation, not recovery.
Canadians now owe $1.74 for every dollar they earn with household debt hitting $3.07 trillion, and that car loan or credit card is quietly killing your mortgage qualification by $50,000 or more. Here are 12 legal strategies to reclaim your borrowing power and why 2 million Canadians renewing in 2025-2026 might not requalify at their own bank.
In this conversation, Alex McFadyen delves into the troubling practices within the Canadian mortgage market, particularly focusing on the use of inflated property values to back mortgages. He discusses the concept of blanket appraisals, the implications for buyers, and the advantages that developers gain from this system. The conversation highlights systemic risks, the differences between power of sale and foreclosure, and the potential consequences for buyers who find themselves underwater on their mortgages. Ultimately, McFadyen argues that the Canadian housing market is experiencing a managed decline rather than an honest correction, with regulators facilitating a transfer of risk from developers to individual buyers.
Canada just hit a record 91,969 listings in September with only 43% selling, the weakest ratio since 1995, and consumer confidence has collapsed to just 16% believing the economy will improve. This isn't a crash, it's a slow grinding correction that's already reshaping the entire Canadian housing market, and here's exactly what it means for buyers, sellers, and homeowners right now.
Canada just crushed job expectations with 60,400 new positions when economists predicted only 5,000, and the fallout is already reshaping mortgage rate predictions for the rest of 2024. In this episode, we break down why the October 29th rate cut odds plummeted from 70% to 53% overnight, why the Bank of Canada just admitted their inflation measurement framework is fundamentally flawed, and what this means for your variable versus fixed mortgage decision right now.
BMO Capital Markets just declared Canada's housing bubble has been deflating for three years, and we're only halfway through a correction that could last until 2030. In this episode, we break down why the bank says Toronto prices are down 27% from peak, which markets are hit hardest, and what this means for homeowners, investors, and first-time buyers navigating a multi-year downturn.
Last week's OSFI announcement had investors thinking rental property investing was dead, but this week's clarification reveals the real impact is more nuanced yet still significant. Here's exactly how the new capital classification rules will affect your ability to build a rental portfolio and why costs are about to go up starting November 1st.
Canada's banking regulator just finalized new mortgage rules for 2026 that will make it nearly impossible for average Canadians to build rental property portfolios... but won't stop institutional investors like BlackRock. If you own a rental property or are thinking about buying one, you need to understand how this will affect you before it's too late.
The Bank of Canada just slashed rates to 2.5% - the lowest in three years - but choosing between fixed and variable mortgages could cost you $25,000 over the next five years if you get it wrong. Alex breaks down the exact decision matrix he uses with clients, revealing why variable rates could save you $12,000 in some scenarios or lose you $10,000 in others, depending on what happens next. Plus, discover the three key questions you must answer to determine which mortgage strategy is right for your specific situation and why the "obvious" choice might be the costliest mistake you make.
86% of Canadian borrowers are unknowingly overpaying $15,000 on their mortgages by choosing the "safe" 5-year fixed term, and recent jobs data has exposed exactly why this is happening. In this episode, I break down the hidden mechanics of mortgage pricing that banks don't want you to understand, and reveal which mortgage terms are secretly underpriced right now due to market mispricing. Learn the exact framework I use to help clients save $8,000-$12,000 on their mortgages by avoiding overpriced terms and making data-driven decisions instead of emotional ones.
Friday's jobs report flipped September 17th rate cut odds from 23% to 86% in just 72 hours after Canada lost 66,000 jobs when economists expected a gain of 7,500. Alex McFadyen breaks down why this economic earthquake means the relief you're waiting for is already priced in, and why the next two weeks could be your last chance to capture better variable rate discounts before lenders adjust their pricing.
77% of Canadians are waiting for September 17th, thinking it means cheaper mortgages and falling home prices, but they're wrong. Host Alex McFadyen breaks down why the Bank of Canada's next rate decision is a trap that's keeping buyers and renewals frozen while smart money moves now, revealing the real math on mortgage savings ($78/month on a $600K home), why variable rates might not save you anything, and why waiting for rate cuts could cost you thousands while missing current opportunities in a paralyzed market.
Mortgage rates just hit 3.69% for the first time since 2022, but this could be the worst news for unprepared buyers and investors who don't understand the trap being set. I break down why these "promotional" rates are actually corporate desperation before fiscal year-end, and reveal the three strategies you need to implement in the next 60 days before the biggest payment shock in Canadian history hits in 2026.
Most Canadians are banking on their home to fund retirement. In this episode, Alex McFadyen explains why relying solely on home equity is risky with renewals, rising payments, and falling values. He shares practical guardrails, smarter strategies like downsizing, refinancing, HELOCs and reverse mortgages, and explains how to build a real plan instead of hoping your house saves you.
In this episode, we break down how Canada’s housing crisis has become a self-inflicted disaster. From the foreign buyer ban and CMHC’s tighter financing rules to the mortgage stress test, we reveal how contradictory policies are stalling construction, cancelling projects, and driving prices higher... and what buyers and investors can do to navigate it.
Alex McFadyen breaks down the surprising aftermath of consecutive Fed and Bank of Canada meetings, revealing why Canadian mortgage rates are now tracking US policy more than Canadian decisions. This data-heavy episode explores eight key takeaways from recent central bank announcements, including why fixed rates might stay higher longer, which regions offer the best real estate opportunities, and why variable rates could outperform over the next 18 months. Essential listening for mortgage holders facing renewals, real estate investors, and anyone trying to navigate the volatile rate environment with practical strategies for buyers, sellers, and investors in today's unpredictable market.
CMHC just revealed the exact timeline for mortgage rate bottoms that 90% of brokers missed. Rates hit bottom Q2 2025, full recovery by Q3 2026 - buried on page 12 of their summer report.
I break down their 4-region analysis, the 2% national price decline prediction, and why developer distress is creating massive opportunities for positioned investors.
The Canadian mortgage market has experienced a dramatic reversal, with banks now suggesting rate hikes are back on the table instead of the expected rate cuts, driven by core inflation hitting 3.4% - well above the Bank of Canada's 2% target. This shift is particularly concerning given that 2026 will see record-high mortgage renewals, meaning millions of Canadians could face significantly higher payments than anticipated. The housing market remains in limbo with regional variations (some areas up 10-15%, condos down 5.2%), creating what may be a brief window of opportunity for buyers before costs potentially increase further.