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Welcome to my Wall! today's topic is Mortgage rates - discuss impacts of changes in inflation and economy

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Welcome to my Wall! today's topic is Mortgage rates - discuss impacts of changes in inflation and economy

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Today you will be learning about how changes in inflation and the economy impacts mortgage rates.

When researching this topic I set out to find answers to these questions-

"Canada mortgage rates and inflation"

"How inflation affects mortgage rates in Canada"

"Economic factors influencing Canadian mortgage rates" "Bank of Canada and interest rates explained"

Please keep these questions in mind when reading and viewing the content.

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The video discusses how interest rates and inflation are closely related. When inflation rises it lowers the value of one’s dollar, meaning that individuals purchasing power decreases and it also lowers wages and savings. The Bank of Canada has the ability to influence interest rates to influence the level of demand in the economy. When the interest rates are high the demand in the economy lowers and when the interest rates are lower the demand in the economy rises.

I chose this video because it visually explained the topic. I am a visual learner and learn better when a topic is visually explained. The video was also created by a fairly credible source and is Canadian made content.

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Inflation & interest rates: How the Bank of Canada aims to reign in prices by raising rates

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This video touched primarily on rising interest rates and the impact it has on the economy. When interest rates rise it results in less jobs, lower wages and fall in the stock market. Overall, it can lead to consumer confidence to lower as they feel less secure with their financial position in the economy. The video starts at the beginning by explaining what interest rates are, then central banks' role, and then why interest rates rise and fall and the effects it has on consumers.

Overall this video is really informative and thorough in explaining how raising interest rates control inflation. My main goal for finding good video resources was how long the video was, visual content and could anyone understand the topic. Going into this course and assignment I had a very limited understanding on this topic. I was very fortunate to have a parent that works in the financial field and majored in economics to explain things for me when I was unsure. I chose this video because it was easy for anyone at any level of knowledge to follow and understand the topic.

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How does raising interest rates control inflation?

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This video touches on how rising interest rates are making homeownership more complicated. Specifically, the home owners that have adjustable rate mortgages. The video goes on to say the homeowners are looking for areas to cut spending but face challenges as there are double digit price increases on food, gas and other essential commodities. The video then goes on to mention that if rates continue to rise there will be a new problem for the fixed-term mortgages as many people will be up for renewal and will face a significant increase in rate.

I chose this video because it provides a different perspective. One of the individuals in the video works for a bank and provides the banking side perspective. Additionally, he discusses what he is noticing with his clients and customers.

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How are higher interest lending rates affecting Canadian homeowners?

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This video is from a realtor's and rental property owner’s point of view which provides a different perspective. It touches on how property owners are finding it too expensive to keep properties. I think this influences the renting pricing as property owners are raising rent to make a profit making it harder for people to afford rent and rise in other necessary services and products.

I chose this video because it was from a different perspective, realtor and rental property owner. When learning about a new topic I believe it is important to understand the topic from as many different perspectives as possible to allow for a thorough understanding.

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Mortgage rate relief could be on the horizon for Canadians: economists

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The article touches on the connection of interest rates and mortgages. It suggests that when interest rates rise Canadian homeowners face financial challenges. These challenges may impact their ability to make their mortgage payments. Additionally the article mentions homeowners are experiencing one of the largest increases in mortgage rates in 4 decades. As someone that had very limited understanding on this topic before this assignment I would be scared seeing the increase and I would be worried about security in my home and my finances.

I chose this article because it was recently published (November 9, 2023) and it seems to be a reliable source. It also included multiple graphs and images to refer to making it easier for visual people to follow the reading. Additionally, it links to reports they used to gather information for people to read if interested. In my opinion, when people proved what they used to form their opinion or what they summarized it tends to be more reliable.

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Impact of Interest Rates and Housing Affordability

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Explore CMHC's Residential Mortgage Industry Report and learn about interest rate increases and the financial challenges for mortgage holders are facing.

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Inflation is monitored by the Bank of Canada. In result the Bank of Canada influences the mortgage rate. The article touches on the global factors that influence mortgage rates which include: commodity prices, exchange rates, economic growth, and political events. There is also a section on “How to prepare for changes in inflation and mortgage rates” which touches on a variety of ways for people to stay in a good financial situation. Some include making a budget, considering fixed-rate mortgage, pay off debt and consider long-term.

I chose this article because it was written in 2023, which means it touches on Canada’s current economic situation. This article is not as reputable as the first one but I liked it as it was almost like a blog but it was written for the everyday person to read and understand. It is clearly laid out and explains each section very well. I think articles like this are important because when it comes to government involvement in explaining economic situations people can tend to not trust the government. For this reason I believe it's important to have outside sources (the average person) to explain topics.

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Get Mortgage News Canada | Latest Updates | RateTrade Blog

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How does inflation affect mortgage rates in Canada?

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Finding How does inflation affect mortgage rates in Canada? So in this article you can read all about the inflation affect mortgage rates.

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The article touches on how The Bank of Canada controls inflation. One of the main tools used discussed in this article is overnight rates. The Bank of Canada basically sets the rates in which other financial institutions follow.  The article goes on to explain how overnight rates influence a wide variety of interest rates in the economy which then influences businesses and individuals buying and borrowing.

I chose this website because it seemed to be a very reputable source. The article also provides a comprehensive overview of my topic in a way that is easy to understand. Overall, it is a great resource for people trying to further their understanding on this topic.

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At the heart of the Bank of Canada's monetary policy is the target for the overnight rate. See what it is-and what it means for you.

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This article touches on how the rising interest rates and inflations are impacting Canadians. The higher interest rates and inflation are leading to increased stress. Specifically, those are renewing fixed-rate mortgages and those with variable rate mortgages. The article mentions a survey conducted by Angus Reid that highlighted that 80% of the Canadian participants' mortgages are a significant household stress.

I chose this article because it involved Canadian peoples perspectives (first-hand accounts) of the financial implications of rising interest rates. Additionally, it highlights personal stories that make the topic more meaningful and impactful as it makes the topic a real-life problem.

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Many people renewing their mortgage or on variable rates are feeling a sharp pain in their wallets right now due to higher interest rates and inflation.

Paula Gioino, a 40-year-old mother of three, started working as a microbiologist at the University of Saskatchewan, bringing her family income to $60,000 from $30,000 a year, just before the Bank of Canada began rapidly raising interest rates last year to lower inflation.

"We didn't know this was coming and I think that we're only staying afloat because I have that job now. I don't think we would be in a good position at this moment without my income," she said.

Gioino and her family got a $250,000 mortgage in August 2021. She said her monthly payments didn't increase because they were amortized to a longer term instead, but that means she could be making payments until she's 80 years old.

Despite the Bank of Canada holding the interest rate at five per cent, a recent survey by Angus Reid Institute revealed that 80 per cent of responding Canadians with a mortgage said their household debt is a major source of stress. Angus Reid surveyed 1,878 Canadians for a national margin of error of plus or minus two per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Meanwhile, 15 per cent of mortgage holders said it was "very difficult" to keep up with their monthly payments, up from eight per cent in March.

"The [fixed mortgage holders] were locked into a fixed term that was a bit more favourable four to five years ago, and now they're faced with much higher interest rates, which is causing a lot of pressure on them," Jon Roe, one of the researchers on the survey, said.

Roe said people with variable mortgages might've thought interest rates would be lower by now when they signed on.

"Now you're dealing with mortgage rates that have gone up significantly over time and perhaps you bought a house that maybe you wouldn't have bought if you knew that interest rates were going to be this high," he said.

The survey also found that the rising cost of living is a more prominent issue for respondents in Manitoba (74 per cent), Saskatchewan (73 per cent) and Alberta (60 per cent) than elsewhere in the country.

"People in Saskatchewan have kind of consistently fallen in the struggling category a lot more than in other provinces," he said.

Chris Kolinski, a mortgage broker in Saskatoon, said interest rates have risen extremely fast.

"Nothing that we've seen over the last 30 years," he said.

"[People are] struggling, right? And they need some relief and want their monthly payments to be lower. And so they're asking, how can I get my payment lower? If that's even an option right now," Kolinski said.

He said that people with fixed mortgages are feeling delayed anxiety, and those coming up for renewal are afraid that they are not going to qualify when it's time for renewal.

WATCH| Rising interest rates and inflation have Canadians stressing about mortgage payments, survey suggests:

David Burlock, a Regina homeowner who saw a 40 per cent increase in his monthly mortgage payments, called it "absurd."

Burlock said he moved to Regina from Toronto so that he could buy a house for half a million dollars instead of a million, and even then had to settle for something less than than he would have liked due to the competitive market.

"It actually ended up working in our favour because then as interest rates increased, we were able to swallow it, and if we had bought a more expensive house, we're already being pushed pretty good right now. We would have been over the limit," he said.

Burlock said it was shocking to find out the monthly mortgage payments ended up being more than what they paid in rent for a house in Toronto.

Gerry Schiltroth, another mortgage associate, said there are better ways to go about buying a home, such as looking at a house or condo that costs less than your maximum budget.

"Maybe an adjustment of expectations of what you're actually buying," he said.

Both mortgage brokers agreed that it's never too late to reach out to a seek financial advice - whether you are young and trying to get your credit established or already struggling to make mortgage payments.

Gioino said that she continues to make frugal choices: being selective with activities for her kids, looking for the best deals at the grocery store and finding the cheapest phone plan.

"We are going through some rough times, and I think that especially for people that were not used to making smart choices with groceries and stuff like that, this is a learning time," she said.

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Rising interest rates and inflation have Canadians stressing about mortgage payments, survey suggests | CBC News

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Many people are having a tough time paying their monthly mortgage payments, according to a recent survey by Angus Reid Institute.

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This picture shows how the cost of a lot of the essentials are rising. For many when groceries rise it is an indicator that everything is going to rise if they haven’t already. This leads many to consider downsizing or moving further away from big cities. Another result is that people stop buying fresh produce (price inflated food). For example if a head of lettuce goes from $1 to $10 most people will stop buying the lettuce then the farmers start to get involved saying we need to lower the price because no one is buying the lettuce. Then the government will adjust the price to help the farmers repeat the cycle.

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There are many factors that impact mortgage rates. This picture reflects the factors perfectly, as it is simple and clear to understand. As mentioned in the first picture inflation has a huge impact on mortgage rates. When the economy grows people buy things or borrow money, this demand can lead to higher interest rates. In contrast, in a recession people stop buying or borrowing resulting in lower interest rates to re-encourage buying and borrowing. The Federal reserve (Canadian version- Bank of Canada) influences short-term rates and is the supply of money. They have the ability to adjust their rates to help influence the economy based on the current economic situation. The bond market is heavily connected to mortgage rates. Specifically, the yield on government bonds. The government bonds are like a benchmark for interest rates. When the yield rises mortgage rates will increase and when the yield lowers the mortgages rates will lower. The housing market condition also influences the mortgage rates. If there is a high demand for housing this can lead to higher interest rates, when there is a low demand this can lead to lower mortgage rates. Overall there are alot of factors that all influence each other and the mortgage rate.

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I wanted to include a video from the Youtube channel 'The Diary Of A CEO'. His channel and videos are really well done. He interviews a variety of different people that are at the top and/or experts in their field. This video talks about how buying a house is not as great as many believe it is and how many are finding renting is better for the long term. I thought this might be a channel you would enjoy listening to. This video relates to my chosen topic but he has a wide variety of videos touching on variety of topics that are really enjoyable.

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The Savings Expert: “Do Not Buy A House!” Do THIS Instead! - Morgan Housel

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1. What did you learn about your topic that surprised you the most?

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1. What did you learn about your topic that surprised you the most?

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The thing that surprised me most is that both fixed-rate and variable rate mortgages can be impacted by the inflation rate. What was most surprising was that if your fixed-rate mortgage needs to be renewed during a rise your rate can be increased at an insane rate.

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2. Provide a real-life example of how this topic is relevant or interesting for you.

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2. Provide a real-life example of how this topic is relevant or interesting for you.

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This topic impacts everyone as everyone needs a space to live and everyone needs to eat food. My parents also have a mortgage that will be impacted by the changes in rate.

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3. If you could pass on your knowledge to a family member or friend, what do you think is the most important thing to pass on?

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3. If you could pass on your knowledge to a family member or friend, what do you think is the most important thing to pass on?

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Research is everything. Fixed rate is the best when lower and explore the options when choosing a mortgage. Also stay within a budget that fits within your lifestyle.