Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney’s plans to raise interest rates this fall have been put on hold as a result of the continued financial struggles in both the U.S. and Europe. It was originally believed that the bank would be raising rates this September, but recent indications suggest that we could be looking at rates dropping again before we begin to see increases. Home owners concerned about mortgage rate increases will be happy as it now looks like we can expect to see low rates possibly into 2012.
“I think it’s clear that there are a lot of serious problems still in the world and it’s more likely that we’re setting the stage for a sustainably low level of interest rates for a very long time. In fact, the possibility of rates being lowered is now more realistic than before.”
What does this mean for you?
If you have a variable mortgage on your existing property, you can expect to see the rates remain low for at least the rest of this year and probably into next year. If you have a mortgage that will need to be renewed soon, discuss your options with your lender. It may be in your best interests to look at variable interest rate mortgages. If you are looking for a new home or plan on upgrading in the near future, this might be the time to look a little more closely at your options.
For any questions you may have about mortgage rates, current market trends or neighbourhood property values, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.