Matthew Leslie Mortgage Broker Associate

03/21/2022

Hello Friends! Please help me in raising funds for Alzheimers research and to support those effected by the disease by making a small donation on my donation page, link below. Funds raised will be going to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories.
My goal is to raise at least $1,500 and I'm half way there. Any amount you'd be able to donate would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

Please join me in supporting 2022 Alzheimer's Face Off. It is a great way to make a difference.

11/30/2021

Bank Of Canada Rate Increase Forecast Update.....

The new Covid variant bringing potential increased restrictions to travel and social activity may slow economic growth and has effectively pushed back the expectation of a rate increase from June to September, with only one further hike expected for the remainder of 2022.

There are some great variable rate specials still currently available and if your mortgage is up for renewal within the next couple years, now is a great time for a FREE MORTGAGE EVALUATION.

Money markets are offloading bets on central bank interest-rate hikes in a hurry, as inflation fears give way to concerns that a new coronavirus strain may spread globally and slow economic growth.

10/21/2021

Key takeaways from the last Consumer Price Index and how it relates to upcoming increases in interest rates....
Bank Of Canada (BOC) overnight target rate could begin to increase earlier than previously expected and is forecasted to increase 3 times from .25% to 1%, which will likely see the prime rate go from 2.45% to 3.20% before the end of 2022.
The BOC is also expected to decrease its bond-buying again from $2 billion to $1billion, which could continue to push the 5 year fixed mortgage rates even higher.
Give me a shout if you're curious how this could effect your current mortgage or HELOC within the next year or so and if you could possibly benefit from capitalizing on the current lower rates.

Prices at the gas pump rose 32.8% compared with September last year. The contributors to the year-over-year gain include lower price levels in 2020 and reduced crude output by major oil-producing countries compared with pre-pandemic levels.

10/13/2021

Is your Mortgage up for renewal within the next couple years? If so, now's a great time for a FREE MORTGAGE EVALUATION. Bond yields have steadily increased for the last month which has lead to one substantial increase in rates with more forecasted in the near future. Give me a shout with any questions or if you're curious if you could capitalize on the low rates while they're still here.

A growing number of lenders have been raising interest rates over the past week in response to rising bond yields, including the RBC, BMO and National Bank of Canada.

05/21/2021

Now is a great time for a free mortgage evaluation to see if you could capitalize on the current low rates.
Confirmation of both insured and uninsured mortgages having to qualify at 5.25%, up from 4.79% starting June 1. This could be another sign pointing to more increases in rates on the horizon. Especially with the rapid increase we're seeing in vaccinations, bringing us closer to the easing of restrictions which will lead to a boost of confidence in our economy. Give me a shout if you're curious in seeing how your current mortgage scenario stacks up with what it could look like at a lower rate.

Starting June 1, both insured and uninsured mortgage borrowers will be subject to a stricter stress test when qualifying for their mortgage.

02/23/2021

Great time for a Free Mortgage Evaluation. Contact me for more info.

"Good news on the pandemic front inevitably means higher mortgage rates in 2022-23--if not sooner."

Further insight from Dominion Lending Centre's Chief Economist, Sherry Cooper, on the recent increases to the 5 Year Canada Bond and it's impact to fixed mortgage rates.

https://mailchi.mp/dominionlending/market-interest-rates-are-rising-almost-everywhere?e=3e1d419674

02/23/2021

Big jump in the Canada 5 year Government Bond over the last few days which has already caused increases to fixed rates. Forecast pointing towards fixed rates looking a lot different in a years time. If you have any questions about your current mortgage and if you could capitalize while rates are still low, I'd be more than happy to help in any way I can.
https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/bond/tmbmkca-05y?countrycode=bx&fbclid=IwAR3bc3s5TCr1qyzDkIstMfUgHgyvwAjI5O0An0qPlW3i_RErmjGgIPJIziw

TMBMKCA-05Y | A complete Canada 5 Year Government Bond bond overview by MarketWatch. View the latest bond prices, bond market news and bond rates.

01/20/2021

Great news for variable rate mortgage holders and anyone else looking to buy a home over the next couple years.

The Bank of Canada, this morning, released its January Monetary Policy Report (MPR), showing they expect to keep overnight interest rates at its “effective lower bound” of 0.25% until 2023 (see chart below). To reinforce this commitment and keep interest rates low across the yield curve, the Ban...

01/20/2021

https://www.mortgagebrokernews.ca/news/boc-stands-by-0-25-rate-in-first-policy-announcement-for-2021-337068.aspx?utm_source=Pinpointe&utm_medium=20210120&utm_campaign=&utm_content=F848D071-6E96-4FE9-9CEF-DA4B953EE9E9&tu=F848D071-6E96-4FE9-9CEF-DA4B953EE9E9

The economic impact of second-wave infections has been offset by further fiscal and monetary support

01/12/2021

https://www.reuters.com/article/canada-cenbank-rate-cut/bank-of-canada-micro-rate-cut-bets-in-play-as-lockdowns-weigh-idUSL1N2JJ2FD

Money markets see an increased chance of the Bank of Canada cutting interest rates closer to zero, as tightening economic restrictions to contain a second wave of COVID-19 cases offset optimism that activity will rebound later this year.

02/11/2019

It's not rare to find errors on your credit bureau or to have accounts on there that haven't been updated properly. If you're considering applying for a mortgage even if it could be a year or two from now take advantage of you yearly free copy of your credit bureau. It could save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run. Links are in this article.

Think of your credit score as a report card on how you’ve handled your finances in the past. A credit score is a number that lenders use to determine the risk of lending money to a given borrower. There is always someone willing to lend you money however, higher risk = higher rates! Step 1 Read Mo...

01/10/2019

The BOC's decision to not raise interest rates yesterday seems to be heavily impacted by the drop in oil prices. I think it's an understatement to say there isn't a lot of confidence on this side of the country that that will turn around anytime soon. Sounds like we could see even less rate hikes this year than previously predicted which makes the current record low variable rates even more attractive. We still have a 5 year Variable Rate Mortgage @ Prime -1.20% available so spread the good word! It probably won't be around for too much longer.

Governor Stephen Poloz makes first policy call of 2019 amid concerns over oil prices