Royal Bank of Canada has agreed to buy the Canadian arm of multinational bank HSBC for $13.5 billion in cash.

RBC chief executive Dave McKay said the deal offers the opportunity to add a complementary business and client base.

“This also positions us as the bank of choice for commercial clients with international needs, newcomers to Canada and affluent clients who need global banking and wealth management capabilities,” McKay said in a statement Tuesday.

“It will help us better serve global clients looking to invest and grow in Canada.”

130 branches in Canada

“The deal makes strategic sense for both parties, and RBC will take the business to the next level,” HSBC Group chief executive Noel Quinn said in a statement.

“Our group strategy is unchanged, and closing this transaction will free up additional capital to invest in growing our core businesses and to return to shareholders.”

The Canadian arm of British-based HSBC has been up for sale this year because the parent company has been facing pressure from its largest shareholder, China’s Ping An Insurance Group, to boost returns.

At more than $13 billion, the price tag makes the deal the most expensive one ever for a Canadian bank buying another Canadian-based bank, although the so-called Big Five routinely spend more than that on foreign acquisitions.

HSBC has had operations in Canada since 1981 and currently has approximately 130 branches, 4,200 employees, serving roughly 780,000 customers in Canada.

According to its most recent quarterly report, HSBC Canada had $125 billion worth of assets as of the end of June, and posted an operating income of more than $1.1 billion in the first half of this year. HSBC has about two per cent of all the bank deposits and mortgages in Canada.

Carl De Souza, an analyst with ratings agency DBRS Morningstar says a major appeal of HSBC for Royal Bank is that the brand is so well known around the world. With Canada’s immigration targets set to ramp up in the coming years, that gives RBC a leg up on all those new clients.

“The proposed acquisition does provide the bank with the opportunity to be the bank of choice for newcomers as well as commercial clients with international needs,” he said in an interview. “They do see a huge opportunity for newcomers.”

The deal is expected to close next year, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.

Because of the size of the merger, it needs the OK of numerous government agencies, including the Competition Bureau, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and the Department of Finance.

“In assessing a transaction, the minister of finance may take into account such factors as the rights and interests of consumers and business customers; the impact of the transaction on the level of competition in the sector; its consequences for the stability and integrity of the financial sector and public confidence in it,” the department said in a statement.

This article is courtesy of CBC.

Angela Calla is an 18-year award-winning woman of influence which sets her apart from the rest. Alongside her team, Angela passionately assists mortgage holders in acquiring the best possible mortgage. Through her presence on “The Mortgage Show” and through her best-selling book “The Mortgage Code“, Angela educates prospective home buyers by providing vital information on mortgages. In light of this, her success awarded her with the 2020Business Leader of the Year Award.

Angela is a frequent go-to source for media and publishers across the country. For media interviews, speaking inquiries, or personal mortgage assistance, please contact Angela at hello@countoncalla.ca or at 604-802-3983.

Click here to view the latest news on our blog. 

The holidays are coming up! As much as these celebrations bring us joy and harmony, they can also bring us stress. This is particularly true when it comes to your finances!

However, don’t lose hope that this will be another draining year on your pocketbook. In fact, with a little planning, there are a few ways you can make sure your holidays are stress and credit-free.

• Determine Your Holiday Goals: Are you looking to plan an extravagant black-tie party or have a more low-key celebration? Maybe you just want to hang out with lots of family and friends and enjoy some good food? Or maybe you usually get away and are finding yourself homebound this year. No matter how you normally spend your holidays, sharing your thoughts with family will help determine your goals and come to a decision that works for everyone!
• Create a Budget: Once you have decided your expectations and goals for the holiday, it is time to create your budget. A little planning can go a long way to creating a credit-free holiday, and will help you spread out the costs. The first step is to create a list of everything you need, from individual gifts to decorations to baking ingredients and meal items to clothing!
• Start Now: Early planning can make all the difference when it comes to the holidays. Instead of lumping your entire budget into a couple paychecks, try keeping an eye out for gift ideas and cute decor all year long. While it may be too late this year, it could be a good strategy to try for 2023! Starting early will help reduce stress and give you more opportunities to scoop up incredible deals throughout the year, which means you can spread your budget even farther!
• Manage Your Expectations: Did you find the holidays refreshing last year, or were they somewhat draining and you’re still trying to figure out how to pay off your credit card bills? If you are someone that wants your holidays to be energizing and provide that feeling of togetherness, there is more to it than just spending money. Once you decide your expectations, it becomes easier to work towards things that create that result.
• Accept Help: While I know many of us try to do everything during the holidays so our families can just enjoy themselves, it is important to remember that the holidays are a time when we are supposed to support each other, and celebrate together! If you are hosting a dinner this year, don’t be afraid to ask your family to bring appetizers or drinks. If you are buying gifts for friends, set a limit or challenge everyone to make something by hand! Homemade gifts can often feel more special and it creates a fun exchange for you and your friends. There are many incredible ways to reduce stress and help get others involved so that the holiday is perfect for everyone.

The holiday is YOURS, so make sure you spend it whichever way brings you the most joy – and the least amount of stress on your pocketbook.

This article is from the DLC November Newsletter

Angela Calla is an 18-year award-winning woman of influence which sets her apart from the rest. Alongside her team, Angela passionately assists mortgage holders in acquiring the best possible mortgage. Through her presence on “The Mortgage Show” and through her best-selling book “The Mortgage Code“, Angela educates prospective home buyers by providing vital information on mortgages. In light of this, her success awarded her with the 2020Business Leader of the Year Award.

Angela is a frequent go-to source for media and publishers across the country. For media interviews, speaking inquiries, or personal mortgage assistance, please contact Angela at hello@countoncalla.ca or at 604-802-3983.

Click here to view the latest news on our blog. 

Probably no secret that I am a fan of Sagen Mortgage Insurance, the HOAP program has helped many of my clients during hard times. House fires, floods, divorce, you name it. They were the first competitor to CMHC and that helped reduce premiums for all Canadians.

Sagen released last week that they would allow extending amortizations back out to the 40 yr mark within reason of course and just down to 39%GDS.  Glad to see there is some uncommon common sense in times that are this unusual.

My prediction is that while it is not fully advertised many banks and other insurers will follow.

If you would like to read more about it, here is a PDF from Sagen themselves outlining the changes in more detail: BDL-EN_Sagen-Lender-Update-Supporting-Homeowners-Impacted-by-Rising-Interest-Rates

Angela Calla is an 18-year award-winning woman of influence which sets her apart from the rest. Alongside her team, Angela passionately assists mortgage holders in acquiring the best possible mortgage. Through her presence on “The Mortgage Show” and through her best-selling book “The Mortgage Code“, Angela educates prospective home buyers by providing vital information on mortgages. In light of this, her success awarded her with the 2020Business Leader of the Year Award.

Angela is a frequent go-to source for media and publishers across the country. For media interviews, speaking inquiries, or personal mortgage assistance, please contact Angela at hello@countoncalla.ca or at 604-802-3983.

Click here to view the latest news on our blog. 

BC’s government introduced new legislation Monday to tackle the housing crisis under recently sworn-in Premier David Eby.

Among the proposed new rules is a prohibition on strata rules against renting, meant to free up 300,000 units in stratas that forbid renting.

“It is simply unacceptable that in British Columbia someone is searching for a home to rent on Craigslist and can’t find one, while somebody who owns a condo is not permitted to rent to that individual,” Eby said.

Once the bill is approved in the legislature, it will become effective immediately — enabling all condo owners to rent their unit, regardless of former strata rules. In the case of problem renters, the new rules allow a strata corporation to issue an eviction notice in place of the landlord.

Stratas will still be able to restrict short-term rentals of less than 30 days.

“Every housing unit [should] be used to its maximum potential,” Eby said. “We need to bring those homes onto the market for British Columbians to rent.”

The Condominium Home Owner’s Association of BC wasn’t a fan of the new legislation, saying it could make quality of life worse for residents of condo buildings.

“The Strata Property Act does not permit a strata corporation to screen tenants. They are at the mercy of whoever landlords accept as tenants.” Tony Gioventu, CHOA executive director, said in a statement.

Eby also wants to end age-related strata rules, so that residents who have children won’t need to move due to stratas forbidding residents under 19. Seniors-only housing is the only exception, with stratas still allowed to limit buildings for people 55+.

In a second bill, Eby outlines rules for cities to issue reports on housing needs every five years which would include binding targets. If municipalities fail to meet their targets, the provincial government would have the power to step in and amend zoning bylaws or issue permits.

“Our housing supply is not keeping up,” Eby said, saying British Columbians aren’t able to achieve their vision of moving out from their parents’ house to rent, and one day buying a home.

The new housing rules are part of a proposed legislation package tabled Monday and will need approval from the legislature before they become law.

Absent from the legislation package are a proposed flipping tax and an amendment to allow secondary rental suites, which Eby mentioned during the NDP leadership race.

When asked about it during a news conference in Victoria, Eby said delivering on all promises takes time and he wanted to begin making progress by abolishing rental restrictions and introducing housing reports.

This article is courtesy of Daily Hive Vancouver

Angela Calla is an 18-year award-winning woman of influence which sets her apart from the rest. Alongside her team, Angela passionately assists mortgage holders in acquiring the best possible mortgage. Through her presence on “The Mortgage Show” and through her best-selling book “The Mortgage Code“, Angela educates prospective home buyers by providing vital information on mortgages. In light of this, her success awarded her with the 2020 Business Leader of the Year Award.

Angela is a frequent go-to source for media and publishers across the country. For media interviews, speaking inquiries, or personal mortgage assistance, please contact Angela at hello@countoncalla.ca or at 604-802-3983.

Click here to view the latest news on our blog. 

Bank of Canada will not be happy with this inflation report

Not only did the headline CPI inflation rate stall at 6.9% last month, but the core CPI numbers remain stubbornly high. Food inflation–a highly visible component–edged down slightly. Still, prices for food purchased from stores (+11.0%) continued to increase faster year over year than the all-items CPI for the eleventh consecutive month. Bonds fell on the news, with Canada’s two-year yield rising to 3.877% at 8:43 a.m. Ottawa time, about 3.5 basis points (bps) higher than its level before the data release. The yield on 5-year Government of Canada bonds spiked temporarily on the release of these disappointing inflation data. This was in direct contrast to the US, which posted a better-than-expected inflation reading for October last week.

Less than two weeks after a stronger-than-expected jobs report, the inflation numbers continue to show the economy in overheated territory. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has said that rates will need to continue to rise further while acknowledging the end of this tightening cycle is near.

Traders are pricing at least a 25 basis-point increase at the next policy decision on Dec. 7, with a 50-50 chance of a half percentage point hike. The central bank has increased borrowing costs by 3.5 percentage points since March, bringing the benchmark overnight lending rate to 3.75%.

A significant factor in the Bank’s decision process is the continued rise in wage inflation to a 5.6% annual pace in October. If inflation expectations remain robust, wage-price spiralling becomes a real threat.

Bottom Line

Price pressures might have peaked, but today’s data release will not be welcome news for the Bank of Canada. There is no evidence that core inflation is moderating despite the housing and consumer spending slowdown. The average of the Bank’s favourite measure of core inflation remains stuck at 5.3%. The central bank slowed reduced its rate hike at the October 26th meeting to 50 bps, and while some traders are betting the hike in December will be 25 bps, there is at least an even chance that the Governing Council will opt for an overnight policy target of 4.25%. 

Inflation is still way above the Bank’s 2%-target level. Ultimately, it will take a higher peak interest rate to break the back of inflation. I expect the policy target to peak at about 4.5% in early 2023 and to remain at that level for an extended period despite triggering a mild recession in early 2023.

This article is courtesy of the Sherry Cooper Article

Angela Calla is an 18-year award-winning woman of influence which sets her apart from the rest. Alongside her team, Angela passionately assists mortgage holders in acquiring the best possible mortgage. Through her presence on “The Mortgage Show” and through her best-selling book “The Mortgage Code“, Angela educates prospective home buyers by providing vital information on mortgages. In light of this, her success awarded her with the 2020Business Leader of the Year Award.

Angela is a frequent go-to source for media and publishers across the country. For media interviews, speaking inquiries, or personal mortgage assistance, please contact Angela at hello@countoncalla.ca or at 604-802-3983.

Click here to view the latest news on our blog. 

As outlined in the City of Burnaby’s housing strategy, laneway homes are smaller additional homes built in the backyard of the main house, facing the road and running behind the property.

A draft program recommendations report is slated to be presented in late 2022 and subject to council approval, residents will be able to apply for a laneway home building permit by Spring 2023.

You can read the full article HERE:

Angela Calla is an 18-year award-winning woman of influence which sets her apart from the rest. Alongside her team, Angela passionately assists mortgage holders in acquiring the best possible mortgage. Through her presence on “The Mortgage Show” and through her best-selling book “The Mortgage Code“, Angela educates prospective home buyers by providing vital information on mortgages. In light of this, her success awarded her with the 2020Business Leader of the Year Award.

Angela is a frequent go-to source for media and publishers across the country. For media interviews, speaking inquiries, or personal mortgage assistance, please contact Angela at hello@countoncalla.ca or at 604-802-3983.

Click here to view the latest news on our blog. 

With the changing of the seasons, it can be a good time to take stock of your home and ensure you are ready for the colder weather.

To help you feel more comfortable, save on bills and prevent future repair costs, there are some simple things you can do to prepare for the coming season.

Tending to minor problems yourself, or booking a professional now, will save you time and aggravation later when poor weather makes it harder to tackle home maintenance jobs.

• Service Your Heat Source: Before Winter starts, be sure to have a professional check and clean your heat sources. You should have your chimney cleaned out if using wood heat or make sure to update your oil heater’s filters and service gas furnaces regularly.
• Check Your Pipes: Checking pipe joints for leaks that could cause rot and damage will save you trouble in the future. Repair any cracks you find, especially those around electrical outlets and alarm system lines. You can also consider foam pipe insulation, which is fairly easy to install and could help prevent energy loss and potential water damage from frozen pipes.
• Mind the Gaps: Search exterior window frames, doors and siding for cracks and gaps where water could get in. Doors and windows commonly have gaps that let cold in and heat out. Some will be easy to fill or fix yourself but could save you money and damage down the line!
• Insulation is Key! On a snowy day go outside and look at your roof; you should see snow on the roof. If you can see your roof that means the attic is not insulated well and heat is escaping and melting the snow. If this is the case, you will want to have it repaired and packed to ensure you are not losing excess heat during the winter months.

Create a Storm Kit: A storm kit is a handy source of essential items in the event of losing power. Consider what you and your family might need, such as a flashlight with new batteries, candles, matches, a portable radio, water and snacks. Keep your kit somewhere easy to access!

This article is from the DLC November Newsletter

Angela Calla is an 18-year award-winning woman of influence which sets her apart from the rest. Alongside her team, Angela passionately assists mortgage holders in acquiring the best possible mortgage. Through her presence on “The Mortgage Show” and through her best-selling book “The Mortgage Code“, Angela educates prospective home buyers by providing vital information on mortgages. In light of this, her success awarded her with the 2020Business Leader of the Year Award.

Angela is a frequent go-to source for media and publishers across the country. For media interviews, speaking inquiries, or personal mortgage assistance, please contact Angela at hello@countoncalla.ca or at 604-802-3983.

Click here to view the latest news on our blog. 

We had lots of media coverage yesterday regarding the Bank of Canada’s 6th interest rate hike this year, bringing prime up to 5.95% for most banks.

Watch our segment with Global BC and CBC News on our latest blog post HERE

Angela Calla is an 18-year award-winning woman of influence which sets her apart from the rest. Alongside her team, Angela passionately assists mortgage holders in acquiring the best possible mortgage. Through her presence on “The Mortgage Show” and through her best-selling book “The Mortgage Code“, Angela educates prospective home buyers by providing vital information on mortgages. In light of this, her success awarded her with the 2020Business Leader of the Year Award.

Angela is a frequent go-to source for media and publishers across the country. For media interviews, speaking inquiries, or personal mortgage assistance, please contact Angela at hello@countoncalla.ca or at 604-802-3983.

Click here to view the latest news on our blog. 

Having the biggest and best home on the block sounds great – but not if it is at the expense of your life and monthly finances!

Be smart about your budget and avoid buying a home at the very top of your pre-approval value, which might lead to cash flow issues and being “house poor” down the line.

Home Expenses

When it comes to your home, it is more than just your purchase price and mortgage cost. While you might be able to afford to buy an $800,000 home, can you also afford the maintenance, property taxes, utilities and more?

When it comes to your home expenses and overall monthly budget, the goal is that the costs to maintain your home do not exceed 35% of your total monthly income.

Monthly Budget

To help you keep track of your finances, consider breaking up your monthly budget into the following categories:

• Housing – mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities, etc.
• Transit – car payments or transit passes, gas, maintenance, etc.
• Debt – payments to credit cards, lines of credit, etc.
• Savings – your long-term savings for retirement, etc.
• Life – food, vacations, fun, medical, childcare, etc.

From there, you would want to look at how much you spend on each category. Below is a good rule of thumb:

• Housing – 35% of your monthly income
• Transit – 15% of your monthly income.
• Debt – 15% of your monthly income
• Savings – 10% of your monthly income
• Life – 25% of your monthly income

By spending too much on housing, you are forced to sacrifice in other areas of spending such as your life or savings, but it is better to be life RICH than house POOR.

If you’re not sure what you should budget for your new home, or have questions about making your home costs more affordable (such as changing your mortgage payments), please don’t hesitate to reach out to me today!

This article is the from the DLC November Newsletter

Angela Calla is an 18-year award-winning woman of influence which sets her apart from the rest. Alongside her team, Angela passionately assists mortgage holders in acquiring the best possible mortgage. Through her presence on “The Mortgage Show” and through her best-selling book “The Mortgage Code“, Angela educates prospective home buyers by providing vital information on mortgages. In light of this, her success awarded her with the 2020Business Leader of the Year Award.

Angela is a frequent go-to source for media and publishers across the country. For media interviews, speaking inquiries, or personal mortgage assistance, please contact Angela at hello@countoncalla.ca or at 604-802-3983.

Click here to view the latest news on our blog.