steady as she goes

interest rates are holding relatively steady - but the major lenders are playing games. they will give you a pre-approval which is generally a higher interest rate than if you were actually purchasing or refinancing.
then they will give you a better rate 30-45 days prior to closing for 'real' transactions.
what is the downside ? - if you are renewing or looking to lock into a fixed rate from a variable or floating rate - you will likely get a higher interest rate than the lenders very best rate because they are keeping their' 'posted discount rates' higher.....instead of 5.15-5.29 you would likely get 5.39-5.49% - oh the games they play to try and take advantage of the consumer....

down down down..but for how long ?

the bank of canada dropped their target rate by .50% this week - but the major chartered banks took approx 8 hours to follow suit. It would appear the major banks are trying to signal to the bank of canada - they do not want to drop rates any further - which tends to go along with my conspiracy theory - which says banks hate lending money below 6%.
the spreads on the bankers acceptance puts the current variable rate mortgages into a negative position - and the lenders are saying they must cut the spreads on the variable product.
they have already dropped from prime less .90 to prime less .60 as an average and it will likely drop further to prime less .25 - 40....which is likely a more reasonable spread. The banks got themselves into this mess by constantly trying to out do each other and increasing the discounts until they werent making any money...at least thats what they say.
now is likely still the time to take a variable product with a front end load over 6-12 months - but keep your eyes on the 5 year mortgage rates - currently around 5.50%..if they start moving up lock in and as they say in the movies.....forget about it......

rates come down - update since March

Well we returned from the Masters - won by Trevor Immelman - as usual it was a great week.
we returned to see that most of the mounds of snow had disappeared - it looks like we will fall approximately 8cm short of the record.
interest rates are still softening on the short end - bank prime is 5.25 and likely to fall another quarter to one half of one percent this week.
the 5 year money is 5,29-5,49
lenders are playing interesting games by giving a bigger discount within the last 30 days - thus mortgage approvals are being switched between lenders 120 -90 - 45 - 30 days prior to closing.
never a dull moment.
it still appears we are heading for a recession - i still think the average consumer has far to much debt and will be forced to consolidate to survive within the next year.
time will tell
greygoose out.

long time no blog

its been approximately a month since my last blog.
interest rates have continued to soften
currently lenders a giving bigger discounts for quicker closings - which reduces their costs of hedging any positions.
5 year money closing within 45 days - currently 5.39
5 year money closing within 30 days - currently 5.25
5 year money closing within 120 days - currently 5.69-5.74
prime has dropped 1/2 and will likely drop another half - inflation continues to pick up - eventually rates will bounce back - but for now - ride the wave

greygoose out

bed race complete

as this year's 90th President of the Kiwanis club of Ottawa - i was participating in the Bedzz race on the Rideau Canal yesterday - it was a great day with 39 teams pushing modified hospital beds down a 100 metre course on the frozen Rideau Canal. it would appear we raised over 40K for the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa - sponsored youth programs like our Read a thon which in 6 short years has reached 223 schools world wide in 11 countries and over 50,000 children per year.
Interest rates are dropping the cracks are forming in the wall posted by the major lenders - they are now starting to compete for business by dropping their rates - but is it interesting many are refusing to provide the best rates for their pre-approvals, why ?...because there is work involved and many do not become solid transactions - so they are only providing the best rates when people actually have a property to finance...rates are as low now as 5.49% for 5 years...and i still think they will continue down into the spring...
call us if you want to purchase or refinance
greygoose out....613-563-5083

roller coaster ride

isn't it amazing how one headline can change the perception of 'so called' investors
The US data comes out and once again a report outlines 'US heading for a Recession'
the stock market tanks and people panic.....welcome to reality - as Tim McGraw says in his song..i'm already there..take a look around......
the recession is upon us - the markets are slowing - rates will drop - and the world will not come to an end.
For now - take the floating rate
the 5 year dropped today below 5.79 - we actually have a quick close of 5.65%
and 4 year money below 5.50%.....stay the course unless you are nervous....rates will come down some more .....

greygoose out

groundhog day -2008

tomorrow morning it will be groundhog day. the snow keeps coming down and it looks like we will be under a blanket of 30cm by the time its over. But it reminds me of the movie.....
it will be deja vue all over again as yogi berra would say.

interest rates are dropping slightly - the press is becoming slightly less negative - i still believe its time to take a floating interest rate of say prime less 1% for a year and ride the wave until we hit bottom on the 5 year term - which i believe will be below 5.50
time will tell - in the mean time - the best option is refinance the equity in your home and eliminate credit card and other debts - cash is king- but cashflow is checkmate......

greygoose out