Government land-use regulations a principal source of this inequality
Canada’s housing affordability crisis is a matter of considerable concern, especially for young people trying to buy a house. The worst problems are in the Vancouver and Toronto markets with their excessive land-use regulation. Extensive international research associates stronger land-use regulation with diminished housing affordability. Vancouver and Toronto are experiencing substantial net migration of people…
It’s unclear if the feds are doing higher-risk, lower-income mortgage debtors any real favours
Just a few months ago, a regular national discussion was about house prices and a lack of affordability. No longer. With house, townhouse and condominium prices cresting, imminent data may likely confirm serious price declines. Mortgage carrying costs are rising as interest rates and debt servicing costs climb. The mortgage qualifying threshold is receding rapidly…
The next few months may only bring stagnation but a full-blown recession is more likely
‘Financial repression’ refers to governments or central banks, such as the Bank of Canada or the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, intervening in financial markets to suppress interest rates. Central banks have been intervening for nearly two years, causing a serious disruption in the financial markets. The official rates of the Bank of Canada and the Federal…
Housing regulations often limit people to Tesla-level homes or nothing
I’m an economist, so I’m not flattered by those who say you could teach a parrot to be an economist. The bird would need to know only two words, the joke goes: supply and demand. When the supply of any good or service increases, its price goes down. If the supply decreases or is less…
The $493 billion in oil and gas revenues paid to governments since 2000 is more than family allowance and children’s benefits since 1970
By Mark Milke and Lennie Kaplan Canadian Energy Centre Humans are wired to respond to stories that paint a relatable picture of an issue at hand. And those stories are easier to remember. If we repeat a Rex Murphy story about how out-of-work cod fishery workers from Newfoundland saved their homes and marriages by moving…
Construction and design features matter more to buyers than price or age of properties, engineering researchers find
Physical features such as construction materials, interior finishes and air conditioning are better determinants of how well a condo sells than price or building age, according to a University of Alberta study looking to pinpoint design-related features that increase the probability of a condo’s sale. “We’re trying to provide a framework through which builders can evaluate…
Creating a space that is a reflection of your tastes and personalities may take some time, but it’s important to plan early, especially when taking into account getting a return on your investment.
Sponsored Content: One of my favourite quotes is “leave it better than you found it”. This saying certainly rings true with a new home purchase and will inspire a multitude of possibilities for renovations, upgrades and minor changes that you can make to your home. Creating a space that is a reflection of your tastes…
RBC Economics’ data showed that both Alberta cities had much lower shares of income that a household would need to cover ownership costs
Calgary and Edmonton continue to be the most affordable housing markets for major Canadian cities. In its first quarter report, Housing Trends and Affordability, RBC Economics’ data showed that both Alberta cities had much lower shares of income that a household would need to cover ownership costs. For Calgary the percentage was 38.1 per cent…
Investment in building construction plunged 45.9 per cent to $8.4 billion in April compared with the previous month, says StatsCan
Investment in building construction plunged 45.9 per cent to $8.4 billion in April compared with the previous month, reported Statistics Canada on Monday. Previously, the largest national decline on record for the current series (which dates back to 2010) was a 3.9 per cent decrease in August 2017, said the federal agency. “Both the residential…
Almost half (44 per cent) of Canadians believe that the real estate market will bounce back to the strength it was before COVID-19 by 2021
A new survey says 56 per cent of Canadians who are planning to engage in the real estate market expect to do so in less than a year, showing an eagerness to get back to buying and selling, reported RE/MAX Canada on Tuesday. The survey, conducted by Leger, found: Almost half (44 per cent) of…
Canada’s housing affordability crisis is a matter of considerable concern, especially for young people trying to buy a house. The worst problems are in the Vancouver and Toronto markets with their excessive land-use regulation. Extensive international research associates stronger land-use regulation with diminished housing affordability. Vancouver and Toronto are experiencing substantial net migration of people…
