Vlad Khazov - Mortgage Broker - Dominion Lending Centres A Better Way

Vlad Khazov - Mortgage Broker - Dominion Lending Centres A Better Way Licensed Mortgage Broker at A Better Way Mortgage Group (Dominion Lending Centres)

09/16/2026

Fixed mortgage rates are moving higher, and this week the bond market is sending a pretty clear warning.

After months of debating when rates might fall, the conversation has shifted.

Here’s what I’m watching:

📈 𝗙𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Global bond yields moved sharply higher last week, and more than a dozen Canadian lenders have already announced fixed-rate increases of approximately 0.10%–0.15%.

With Canada's fixed mortgage rates closely tied to bond yields, further increases remain possible if this trend continues.

🛢️ 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲.

WTI oil has climbed above $100/barrel amid continued geopolitical tensions.

That matters because higher energy prices feed into inflation expectations, which can push bond yields and fixed mortgage rates higher.

📊 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝟯.𝟬% 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁.

Much of that increase continues to come from energy, while the Bank of Canada's preferred core inflation measures remain around 2%.

That's an important distinction.

Inflation isn't accelerating everywhere, but $100+ oil makes the Bank of Canada's job considerably more complicated.

🏦 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲-𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

Markets are increasingly pricing the possibility of future Bank of Canada increases if inflation pressures persist.

That doesn't guarantee hikes are coming, but it does mean I wouldn't build a mortgage strategy around the assumption that rates will automatically be lower six or twelve months from now.

🇺🇸 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲.

Its rate decision and commentary could move global bond markets again, with potential consequences for Canadian fixed mortgage pricing.

My takeaway?

If you're planning to 𝗯𝘂𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀, now is the time to check whether you can secure a rate hold.

The strategy is simple:

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱.

If rates continue rising, you've protected yourself against at least some of that increase.

If rates improve before your mortgage closes, we can review the lower options available and determine whether you can take advantage of them.

A rate hold doesn't mean you're predicting that rates will rise. It means you're protecting an option while the market is volatile.

And if you're currently pre-approved but haven't reviewed your rate recently, 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. Don't assume your original pre-approval automatically protects you from today's increases.

For borrowers deciding between fixed and variable, this also isn't simply about which rate is cheaper today.

It's about how much volatility you're comfortable carrying if the rate environment moves against you.

After a relatively calm summer, the mortgage market is getting interesting again.

And right now, the bond market is speaking louder than the Bank of Canada.

09/09/2026

The Bank of Canada is talking tougher on inflation, but the latest Canadian economic data is telling a different story.

That makes this week's mortgage outlook particularly interesting.

Here’s what stood out:

🏦 The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25%, but its message became noticeably more hawkish.

The Bank warned that upside risks to inflation have increased, and markets are now pricing in the possibility of a rate hike before year-end.

But there’s another side to the story.

📉 Canada lost approximately 42,000 jobs in August, significantly missing expectations.

Even more interesting, wage growth slowed to just 2.0% year-over-year, while the economy showed little momentum heading into Q3.

Slower wage growth generally means less underlying inflation pressure, which raises an important question:

Will the Bank actually need to raise rates, or will a weakening economy give it reason to remain patient?

📊 The next major clue will be Canada's August inflation report.

If core inflation remains contained, the argument for immediate rate hikes becomes more difficult. If inflation accelerates, markets could quickly become more convinced that another hike is coming.

🏠 Meanwhile, 30-year amortizations are becoming increasingly common among insured homebuyers.

According to CMHC's latest numbers, nearly 59% of insured homeowner transactions now use a 30-year amortization, up from 51% a year ago.

That's a significant shift.

For many buyers, particularly first-time buyers, the conversation is increasingly about balancing the lower monthly payment of a longer amortization against the additional borrowing cost over time.

My takeaway?

The Bank of Canada may sound more concerned about inflation, but the economic data isn't giving us a simple story.

Inflation, employment, wages and economic growth are pulling expectations in different directions.

For borrowers deciding between fixed and variable right now, this is exactly why I wouldn't base the decision solely on predictions about the Bank of Canada's next move.

Your mortgage should make sense if rates go down, stay where they are, or move higher.

Next up: Canada's inflation numbers. Those could make the rate conversation considerably more interesting.

09/02/2026

September is here, and we're starting the fall mortgage market with an important Bank of Canada decision.

The Bank announces its next interest rate decision Wednesday, and while markets overwhelmingly expect another hold at **2.25%**, what the Bank says may be more important than what it does.

Here's what I'm watching:

🏦 **Bank of Canada: likely hold, but watch the tone**

Core inflation is sitting around the Bank's 2% target, wage growth has slowed, and ongoing U.S. trade uncertainty continues to create risks for the Canadian economy.

That makes the accompanying statement particularly important. Any indication that the Bank is becoming more concerned about economic growth could change expectations for where rates go next.

🛢️ **Oil is back above $90**

Renewed tensions in the Middle East have pushed energy prices higher again.

Higher oil can increase headline inflation, but Canada's inflation excluding energy has remained much more contained. The question is whether the Bank continues looking through energy-driven inflation rather than responding with higher rates.

📈 **Canada's economy surprised to the upside**

Q2 GDP grew at a 3.3% annualized pace, stronger than the Bank of Canada's forecast.

That's encouraging.

But early estimates suggest growth may already be slowing again as trade uncertainty weighs on businesses and consumers.

🏠 **What does all of this mean for mortgage borrowers?**

For variable-rate borrowers, Wednesday's announcement should provide another important clue about the Bank's direction heading into the end of 2026.

For fixed-rate borrowers, remember that the Bank of Canada doesn't directly set fixed mortgage rates. Bond yields remain the bigger driver, and they're still being influenced heavily by oil, inflation, trade and global markets.

My takeaway heading into Wednesday:

Don't focus only on whether the Bank holds or changes its rate.

**Pay attention to why.**

The language around inflation, economic growth and trade could tell us considerably more about the future direction of Canadian mortgage rates than Wednesday's rate decision itself.

I'll be watching the announcement closely and sharing the key takeaways afterward.

The backpacks are packed and the morning chaos is officially back. 😄🎒Wishing all students, parents and teachers a succes...
08/31/2026

The backpacks are packed and the morning chaos is officially back. 😄🎒

Wishing all students, parents and teachers a successful school year filled with new opportunities and big accomplishments.

Here’s to a great start to September!

08/26/2026

The Canada-U.S. trade dispute just took a significant turn, and it could have real implications for Canadian mortgage rates.

After trade negotiations broke down, the U.S. imposed new 50% tariffs on billions of dollars of Canadian goods, with Canada announcing plans for retaliatory tariffs.

Markets reacted quickly.

📉 Canada’s 5-year bond yield dropped approximately 8–10 basis points as investors reacted to the increased economic uncertainty.

That could eventually provide some relief for fixed mortgage rates, but I wouldn’t expect lenders to immediately start cutting rates. Bond markets remain extremely volatile, and yields had actually been trending higher before the latest trade developments.

🏦 The bigger question now is what the Bank of Canada does next.

And this is where things get complicated.

Tariffs can push prices higher, creating inflation.

At the same time, a prolonged trade war could reduce Canadian exports, slow business investment, weaken employment and potentially push the economy toward recession.

So the Bank of Canada could find itself choosing between fighting inflation and supporting economic growth.

Interestingly, the Bank has previously indicated that additional U.S. trade restrictions could create conditions where lower interest rates are needed to support the Canadian economy.

That possibility just became much more relevant.

🏠 What does this mean for mortgage borrowers?

For variable-rate borrowers, the outlook has become less predictable, but economic weakness caused by a prolonged trade dispute could ultimately increase the case for future Bank of Canada rate cuts.

For fixed-rate borrowers, bond yields remain the number to watch. The recent decline is encouraging, but one or two days of movement isn’t enough to establish a trend.

My takeaway?

This probably isn’t the week to make major mortgage decisions based on one headline or one prediction.

The situation is moving quickly, and both governments have left time for negotiations to potentially restart before further measures take effect.

For anyone buying, renewing or refinancing, having flexibility and understanding the different scenarios matters more than trying to perfectly predict what happens next.

Right now, uncertainty isn’t just background noise.

It’s one of the biggest factors driving the mortgage market.

Платежи только по процентам и минимальные платежи могут казаться вполне приемлемыми.И именно поэтому они могут стать опа...
08/20/2026

Платежи только по процентам и минимальные платежи могут казаться вполне приемлемыми.

И именно поэтому они могут стать опасной ловушкой.

Когда вы вносите только минимальный платеж, значительная его часть может уходить на проценты, а сам долг уменьшается мучительно медленно. Вы платите каждый месяц, но создается ощущение, что баланс почти не меняется.

Решение не обязательно должно быть сложным.

Выберите ОДИН долг и сосредоточьтесь на нем.

💳 Добавляйте дополнительные $20, $50 или $100 в месяц, если позволяет бюджет.
⚙️ Автоматизируйте этот дополнительный платеж.
❄️ Перестаньте пользоваться кредитной картой, пока погашаете долг.

Есть и другой вариант.

Найдите одну привычку стоимостью примерно $15 в день, от которой можно отказаться всего 2–3 раза в неделю.

Это может быть обед вне дома, кофе, доставка, подписки, импульсивные покупки или что-то другое, без чего вы вполне можете обойтись.

$15 × 3 раза в неделю = $45 в неделю
Это примерно $2,340 в год, которые можно направить на погашение долга с высокой процентной ставкой.

Не обязательно отказываться от всего, что приносит вам удовольствие.

Нужно найти небольшое изменение, которого вы действительно сможете придерживаться.

Маленькое изменение в поведении. Огромный результат.

Сохраните этот пост на тот случай, когда в следующий раз захочется внести только минимальный платеж.

#ФинансоваяГрамотность #ЛичныеФинансы #Кредит #Долги #Ипотека

Interest-only and minimum payments can feel manageable.That’s exactly why they can become dangerous.When you’re only mak...
08/19/2026

Interest-only and minimum payments can feel manageable.

That’s exactly why they can become dangerous.

When you’re only making the minimum payment, a large portion of your payment may be going toward interest while the balance comes down painfully slowly. You’re making payments every month, but it can feel like the debt barely moves.

The solution doesn’t necessarily need to be complicated.

Pick ONE debt and attack it.

💳 Add an extra $20, $50 or $100/month if your budget allows.
⚙️ Automate the extra payment.
❄️ Stop using the card while you’re paying it down.

Another approach?

Find one $15/day habit you can cut just 2–3 times per week.

That could be eating out, coffee, delivery, subscriptions, convenience purchases, or something else you won’t really miss.

$15 × 3 times/week = $45/week
That’s roughly $2,340/year that could be redirected toward high-interest debt.

You don’t necessarily need to eliminate everything you enjoy.

You need a small change you can actually stick with.

Small behavior. Massive result.

Save this one for the next time you’re tempted to just make the minimum payment.

08/19/2026

The Bank of Canada may be on hold, but that doesn’t mean mortgage rates are standing still.

This week, the bigger story is happening in the bond market.

Here’s what I’m watching:

📈 Long-term bond yields remain under pressure.

The U.S. 30-year Treasury yield recently reached its highest level in 25 years. Rising government borrowing, persistent inflation concerns, and heavy bond issuance are keeping upward pressure on yields globally.

Why does that matter in Canada?

Canadian bond yields tend to follow movements in the U.S., and our fixed mortgage rates are directly influenced by the bond market.

🏦 The Bank of Canada is expected to stay put for now.

Canada’s economy has shown surprising resilience, including several months of employment gains. Current expectations point toward the possibility of modest rate increases in 2027 rather than immediate cuts.

That doesn’t mean a major hiking cycle is coming. It simply means borrowers shouldn’t build their mortgage strategy around the assumption that rates are about to fall.

🏠 There are also signs the housing market may be finding a floor.

Entry-level activity is picking up in some markets, while national home prices have recovered modestly from their spring lows. But Canada remains very regional, with some markets strengthening while others continue to struggle.

🌎 And then there’s trade.

The August 19 tariff deadline could become the next major economic wildcard. A significant escalation in U.S.-Canada trade tensions could affect employment, economic growth, the Canadian dollar and ultimately Bank of Canada policy.

My takeaway?

We’re in an interesting environment.

The Bank of Canada is stable, inflation has improved, and parts of the housing market are showing signs of life.

But longer-term bond yields are reminding us that fixed mortgage rates don’t move solely because of what the Bank of Canada does.

For anyone buying, renewing or refinancing, I wouldn’t make a decision based on waiting for the “perfect” rate.

Understand your options, protect a rate when appropriate, and choose a mortgage strategy that works even if the market doesn’t move the way everyone expects.

There’s plenty happening beneath the surface right now.

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Medicine Hat, AB

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