Great News On The Inflation Front

General Angela Calla 22 Mar

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.8% year-over-year in February, down from the 2.9% January pace and much slower than the 3.1% expected rate. Gasoline prices rose in Canada for the first time in five months, which led many analysts to forecast a rise in February inflation as seen in the US. However, offsetting the increase in gas prices was a deceleration in the cost of cellular services, food purchased from stores, and Internet access services.

Excluding gasoline, the headline CPI slowed to a 2.9% year-over-year increase in February, down from 3.2% in January. Prices for rent and the mortgage interest cost index continued to apply upward pressure on the headline CPI.

On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.3% in February, the same as in January. The most significant contributors to the monthly increase were higher travel tours and gasoline prices.

On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.1% in February.

Prices for food purchased from stores continued to ease year over year in February (+2.4%) compared with January (+3.4%). Slower price growth was broad-based, with prices for fresh fruit (-2.6%), processed meat (-0.6%), and fish (-1.3%) declining. Other food preparations (+1.4%), preserved fruit and fruit preparations (+4.0%), cereal products (+1.7%), and dairy products (+0.6%) decelerated in February.

 

February was the first month since October 2021 that grocery prices increased slower than headline inflation. The slower price growth is partially attributable to a base-year effect, as food purchased from stores rose 0.7% month over month in February 2023 due to supply constraints amid unfavourable weather in growing regions and higher input costs.

While grocery price growth has been slowing, prices continue to increase and remain elevated. From February 2021 to February 2024, prices for food purchased from stores increased by 21.6%.

 

The Bank of Canada’s preferred core inflation measures, the trim and median core rates, exclude the more volatile price movements to assess the level of underlying inflation. The CPI trim slowed two ticks to 3.2% in February, and the median also declined two ticks to 3.1% from year-ago levels, as shown in the chart below.

Bottom Line

The next meeting of the Bank of Canada Governing Council is on April 10. Before then, we will see two more important data releases:

  1. The Bank of Canada Business Outlook Survey and Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectation and;
  2. The Labour Force Survey for March.

Neither of these reports will likely derail the central bank’s move to cut interest rates by the June 10 meeting. Indeed, they could begin to cut rates at the April meeting. This would no doubt trigger a whopping Spring housing market, which is likely to be strong. There is significant pent-up demand for housing, and the prospect of home price increases could well move buyers off the sidelines if a surge in new listings comes to fruition.

The Canadian economy is particularly interest rate sensitive because of the vast volumes of mortgages that will be renewed in the next two years. Mortgage delinquency rates are already rising, so a gradual decline in interest rates is welcome news.

As the chart below shows, the three-month rolling average growth rates for the CPI trim and median core measures averaged 2.2% in February–their lowest reading in three years.

According to the Royal Bank economists, “Building on the January CPI report that was already showing broad-based easing in price pressures in Canada, the February report today reaffirmed those trends. Different measures of core inflation decelerated, and the diffusion index that measures the scope of inflation pressures also improved. That measure, however, was still showing slightly broader price pressures than pre-pandemic “norms”, suggesting there’s still room for more improvement.”

With the economy’s slow growth trajectory, the central bank has every reason to begin cutting interest rates soon.

 

(Article Courtesy of Dr. Sherry Cooper, Chief Economist, DLC)

 


Angela Calla is an 19-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. 

Hidden cameras capture bank employees misleading customers, pushing products that help sales targets

General Angela Calla 18 Mar

Critic says finance minister must do much more to protect consumers.

Michelle Jeraline says she’s so stressed out by the pressure to sell customers products at TD Bank, it’s affected her health.

The TD employee says she’s usually not acting in the best interest of her clients — she’s trying to sell them products that will help her meet sales targets and keep her from being fired.

Read the full article here: Hidden cameras capture bank employees misleading customers, pushing products that help sales targets | CBC News


Angela Calla is an 19-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. 

Hidden camera reveals how bank employees mislead and upsell on pricey credit card insurance

General Angela Calla 18 Mar

Tactics used to sell credit card balance protection ‘problematic’ and ‘high risk’ to consumers, watchdog says

Read the full article here: Hidden camera reveals how bank employees mislead and upsell on pricey credit card insurance | CBC News

 


Angela Calla is an 19-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. 

How To Give Your Kids a Living Inheritance

General Angela Calla 14 Mar

One of the main ways a Reverse Mortgage is used to create family legacy is through a living inheritance, which the recipient often uses for a down payment. Parents can pass along their wealth now, when their kids need it most and without impacting their cashflow in retirement.

 

Living Inheritance – Gifted Down Payment

A living inheritance is a great way to grow generational wealth. When the adult children use the funds to enter the housing market, the extended family now has two properties appreciating in the Lower Mainland instead of one.

Traditionally, clients who want to help their children while still alive have requested a withdrawal through their financial planner. This assumes that those clients have enough saved to provide the gift to their children and still maintain their standard of living for the rest of their retirement years. And obviously, for clients who hold the majority of their wealth in their property, this isn’t an option.

Even for those clients who do have sufficient investments to facilitate a gift of that size, using a reverse mortgage for the living inheritance means parents can gift the funds with:

  • no impact to their monthly cashflow
  • no capital gains or income tax trigger
  • no depreciation of investments
  • no pension claw back

Not only are the parents investments left untouched and continuing to grow, the family now has two properties growing in value.

A note about living inheritance… the title insurers have been requesting additional documentation on living inheritance files. The title insurers may ask for a copy of the will and confirmation of how many children are in the family.

 

Recent Client Story – Gifted Down Payment

Charles (80) and Donna (74) have a $2.8M clear title home in Vancouver. They want to help their grandchildren purchase their first home. They spoke to their financial planner about withdrawing the money from their investments but, given the tax implications, she referred them to her mortgage broker instead.

CHIP approved loan amount: $1,148,500

They advanced $600,000 and gifted their granddaughters $300,000 each to use as a down payment. They were able to help their grandkids purchase a home without affecting their own lifestyle, without incurring an additional tax burden and their investments are still continuing to grow in value.

 

Living Inheritance PDF  

In another example this week, we have a great pdf (HEB_WealthCaseStudy_Mike_FINAL and Reverse Mortgage Financial Illustration Mike) from our investment division that compares gifting funds from investments vs gifting funds through a reverse mortgage. This illustration shows that when the reverse mortgage is are used, adequate cashflow is maintained through retirement whereas gifting from investments leads to a shortfall later in retirement. This can includes a financial projection that shows net equity in the home is maintained throughout retirement as well.

 


Angela Calla is an 19-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. 

Exploring Financial Options: Reverse Mortgages vs. Lines of Credit

General Angela Calla 14 Mar

As a top mortgage professional, I understand the importance of providing unbiased advice to consumers, helping them navigate through the plethora of financial options available. Today, I want to shed light on two popular choices: Reverse Mortgages and Lines of Credit.

 

Reverse Mortgages:

A reverse mortgage is a unique financial product designed specifically for homeowners who are 55 years or older. It allows individuals to convert a portion of their home equity into cash without having to sell their home or make monthly mortgage payments. The loan is repaid when the homeowner moves out of the home or passes away, typically through the sale of the property. No income qualification is required for this product, it is based on age and equity in the property.

Reverse mortgages can provide financial flexibility for retirees, allowing them to supplement their income, cover unexpected expenses, or fund home renovations. Additionally, they offer the peace of mind of being able to remain in the comfort of their own home while accessing the equity they’ve built up over the years being a non taxable event.

 

Lines of Credit:

On the other hand, lines of credit offer a more traditional approach to accessing funds. They provide borrowers with a revolving credit limit that can be used for various purposes, such as home renovations, debt consolidation, or emergency expenses. Unlike reverse mortgages, lines of credit require regular payments of interest and principal, and the client must qualify based on there income and debts with todays stress test at over 9% interest rate.

 

Choosing the Right Option:

When deciding between a reverse mortgage and a line of credit, it’s essential for consumers to carefully evaluate their financial goals, needs, and circumstances. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, and what works best for one individual may not be suitable for another.

To assist you in making an informed decision, I’ve prepared a comprehensive PDF guide specifically tailored for Canadians. This guide provides detailed information on both reverse mortgages and lines of credit, including eligibility requirements, pros and cons, and important considerations to keep in mind.

HELOCvsCHIPvsDownsizing_FINAL-031124-1

Conclusion:

We are committed to empowering consumers, I encourage you to review the PDF guide and explore all available options before making a decision. Whether you’re considering a reverse mortgage or a line of credit, it’s crucial to weigh the benefits and drawbacks carefully and choose the option that aligns with your financial goals and objectives. Contact us directly to review all of your suited options at 604-802-3983 or angela@countoncalla.ca

Remember, knowledge is power, and arming yourself with information is the first step towards achieving financial security and peace of mind.

 


Angela Calla is an 19-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. 

Family legacy and normalizing using a reverse mortgage to build wealth for the family

General Angela Calla 8 Mar

Proactive Resizing

The average Canadian in retirement has a shortfall of $20,000 annually and an average of $200,000 saved. Many believe the smart retirement decision is to sell their larger home, buy a smaller condo and live off the difference. These clients don’t realize they could stay in the home they love, buy that condo now and have an income stream until they want to downsize.

Proactive resizing is the purchase of a property that clients will eventually move into when they sell their existing home. That property is often a condo but could be a townhouse or a one-level rancher.

The clients take a reverse mortgage on the existing primary residence to fund the purchase of the condo. If there’s enough equity in their primary residence, we do the deal based on the primary residence alone. If there isn’t enough equity in the primary residence we can do an inter-alia over the primary residence and the new condo. There is no mortgage payment so the rent collected only needs to service the strata fees, insurance and property taxes. All remaining rent – usually more than $2,000/month – becomes monthly income for the clients.

Not only are their investments left untouched and continue to grow, they now have two properties growing in value and a monthly income stream.

 

Recent Client Story – Proactive Resizing in Action

Steven (70) and Cynthia (70) have a free & clear home in Burnaby valued at $2.5M. They have a shortfall each month and were going to start drawing down their $300,000 investments. They knew they were going to downsize at some point but weren’t ready yet. They decided to purchase a condo that they would one day move into, but they were going to rent it out for the next 5-10 years.

Reverse Mortgage approved loan amount: $856,500

We could have done an inter-alia over their house and the new condo but they found a condo they loved for $800,000. Because they don’t have any mortgage payments, the rental income on the condo (after deducting property taxes, strata fees and insurance) nets them $2,000 per month, more than enough to cover their shortfall. Assuming both properties appreciate at a rate of 4%, the net worth of their 2 properties in 10 years exceeds $3.1M. They’ve also had the benefit of the additional $2,000 month for 10 years and their investments remain intact and growing.

 

Proactive Resizing Strategy Walkthrough

The proactive resizing strategy can be difficult to wrap your head around. Angela Calla Mortgage Team is happy to hop on call a to go through the example that can be used to illustrate the scenario.

 


Angela Calla is an 19-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. 

No Recession In Canada, As Q4 GDP Growth Rose 1%

General Angela Calla 6 Mar

Still No Recession In Canada Thanks to Huge Influx of Immigrants

Real gross domestic product (GDP) rose a moderate 1.0% (seasonally adjusted annual rate), a tad better than expected and the Q3 contraction of -1.2% was revised to -0.5%. This leaves growth for 2023 at a moderate 1.1%. Monthly data, also released today by Statistics Canada, showed that December came in flat, well below the robust flash estimate, while the January preliminary estimate was a strong +0.4% (subject, of course, to revision). The January uptick was driven by the return of Quebec public servants and a mild winter.

The fourth quarter growth was fueled by higher oil exports and was moderated by a significant decline in business investment. Housing investment declined again in Q4–a sixth decline in the last seven quarters. Despite increased activity in Q4 new residential construction and renovations, it was more than offset by a large drop in home ownership transfer costs, reflecting the weakening resale market across Canada. Single-family units and apartments led the rise in new construction, as all provinces and territories, except Prince Edward Island, post a rise in housing starts.

Investment in non-residential structures fell sharply, as did spending on machinery and equipment, especially on aircraft and other transportation equipment. Even government spending declined.

Bottom Line

This is the last major economic release before the Bank of Canada meets again on March 6. The central bank will hold interest rates steady at next week’s meeting, and while some are suggesting the first rate cut this cycle will be as soon as the April confab, the consensus remains at June. With the uptick in growth in Q4, there is no urgency for the Bank to ease.

Policymakers will wait for their favourite core inflation measures to fall within the 1%-to-3% target band. They know that GDP per capita is falling and that mortgage renewals at higher interest rates will dampen household discretionary income. That’s why a June rate cut is widely expected.

(Article courtesy of Dr. Sherry Cooper, Chief Economist, DLC)

 


Angela Calla is an 19-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. 

BoC Holds Rates Steady Waiting To See Further Declines In Core Inflation

General Angela Calla 6 Mar

The Bank of Canada Holds Rates Steady Until Core Inflation Falls Further

Today, the Bank of Canada held the overnight rate at 5% for the fifth consecutive meeting and pledged to continue normalizing the Bank’s balance sheet. Policymakers remain concerned about risks to the outlook for inflation. The latest data show that CPI inflation fell to 2.9% in January, but year-over-year and three-month measures of core inflation were in the 3% to 3.5% range. The Governing Council projects that inflation will remain around 3% over the first half of this year but also suggests that wage pressure may be diminishing. The likelihood is that inflation will slow more rapidly, allowing for a rate cut by mid-year. 

The Bank also noted that Q4 GDP growth came in stronger than expected at 1.0% but was well below potential growth, confirming excess supply in the economy.

Employment continues to rise more slowly than population growth. During the press conference, Governor Macklem said it was too early to consider lowering rates as more time is needed to ensure inflation falls towards the 2% target.

 

 

 

 

 

Bottom Line

The Bank of Canada expects that progress on inflation will be ‘gradual and uneven.’ “Today’s decision reflects the governing council’s assessment that a policy rate of 5% remains appropriate. It’s still too early to consider lowering the policy interest rate,” Macklem said in the prepared text of his opening statement. The Bank is pushing back on the idea that rate cuts are imminent.

High interest rates are dampening discretionary spending for households renewing mortgages at much higher monthly payments. As the economy slows in the first half of this year, the BoC will signal a shift towards easing. This could happen at the next meeting on April 10, when policymakers update their economic projections. This could prepare markets for a June rate cut.

“We don’t want to keep monetary policy this restrictive longer than we have to,” Macklem said. “But nor do we want to jeopardize the progress we’ve made in bringing down inflation.”

(Article courtesy of Dr. Sherry Cooper, Chief Economist, DLC)


Angela Calla is an 19-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. 

Spring Market Update: Bank of Canada Holds Rates, Fixed Rates Drop, Optimism Ahead

General Angela Calla 6 Mar

As we step into the vibrant season of spring, it’s time for a quick update on the latest in the housing market and economic landscape.

Bank of Canada Maintains Rates:

In a recent announcement, the Bank of Canada has decided to maintain its key interest rate. For detailed insights, you can read the full report here.

Spring Market Buzz:

The arrival of spring has brought a flurry of activity in the housing market, with both sellers and buyers eager to make their moves. Fixed rates have seen a dip from their previous highs, sparking optimism among homeowners and prospective buyers alike. This drop in fixed rates has added an extra layer of excitement to the already bustling market.

Time-Sensitive Updates:

Also included on our social media @angelacallamortgageteam – give us a follow

First-Time Homebuyer Incentive:

Act fast! First-time homebuyers have a golden opportunity to save up to $8,000 if they have a purchase in place and can change to complete their purchase on or after April 1st 2024 if possible. Learn more about this time-sensitive offer here.  We have already viewed all of our existing clients with purchases in place to see who can benefit

Maximize Your Savings:

If you’re currently renting and dreaming of homeownership, don’t miss out on our blog post detailing how you can claim up to a $400 tax credit by filling out the form with your income tax filing. Check out the full details here.

Looking Ahead:

With fixed rates on the decline and optimism brewing about the possibility of even lower rates in the near future, it’s an exciting time for those considering entering the housing market. Additionally, with approximately 3 million mortgage renewals upcoming, it’s crucial not to settle for the wrong terms. Choosing the right mortgage terms can save you thousands and impact future cash flow.  If you or a loved one have a mortgage renewal upcoming, contact us directly to start planning today.

 


Angela Calla is an 19-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. 

B.C. Renter’s Tax Credit

General Angela Calla 5 Mar

Are you getting prepared to do your income taxes? If you are a renter and make under $80,000 there is a tax credit waiting for you.

The nitty gritty is that if you make less than $60,000 you will get a $400 tax credit by filling out Form BC479 2023. This is the same form that you use for UCCB, UCCB, the Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Disabilities, training tax and renter’s tax credit.

If you (you being the entire family) make between $60,000 to $80,000 you will receive a reduced amount. Still, it is worth filling out a form!

Criteria are:

  • You occupied an eligible rental unit in BC under a tenancy agreement, license, sublease or similar arrangement for at least 6 one-month periods.
  • Rent was paid for the unit.
  • You are 19 year or older, a parent or cohabitating with a spouse or common law partner.

Eligible Rental units are house, apartment, condo, townhouse, basement suite, detached suite, carriage house, co-housing, dormitories, long-term care facility, shared housing (roommates), subsidized and employer-owned housing.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/income-taxes/personal/credits/renters-tax-credit


Angela Calla is an 19-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.