Vacation Time

Hello fellow friends,


I will be gone on vacation until June18th. Hence, I will not be updating my blog.


Best Regards,
Lorena Grigore

Genworth publishes Metropolitan Housing Outlook report

There are signs of strength in the Canadian economy this year. High prices are boosting investment and production in Canada’s resource sector. Employment was also up sharply in March, and consumer confidence has picked up. 

Toronto’s push to higher home prices leads other cities in April

Toronto and Calgary led the country in rising home prices last month, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.

The Australian Broker Market

The one significant difference between the Australian and Canadian broker market is broker market share.  CMHC just reported that in Canada, broker market share is 27%.  In Australia, it’s 42%.

OSFI is taking over CMHC

If the proposed changes by OSFI to CMHC are implemented then we all better be ready to make some big adjustments to how we do business.

OECD urges Canada to raise rates

An influential international body is urging Canada’s central bank to raise interest rates in the fall, and continue doing so through 2013 to cool housing prices and contain inflation.

Rent before you buy in Mallorca, Spain

Owners of property in Mallorca unable to sell because of the current economic gloom in Spain are renting out to prospective buyers who want to try before they buy.

Wall Street Reform: Obama Pushes Reforms After JPMorgan's $2 Billion Loss

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the big trading loss at JPMorgan Chase shows the need to finally put in place banking rules he signed into law two years ago. He also is calling on Congress to stop trying to weaken the regulations.

G8 leaders meet at Camp David amid eurozone crisis

World leaders will huddle at Camp David Friday with the focus on Greece as it stumbles toward a possible eurozone exit that would hold wildly uncertain repercussions for the global economy.

Mexican economic growth accelerates

Mexico’s economy started 2012 with a bang as a pick-up in the United States lifted economic growth in Latin America’s second-largest economy to its fastest pace in 18 months.

Latest data inflate the bubble debate

OTTAWA - As home prices continue their steady ascent, the volume of debate over the 'too-hot' vs. 'just-about-right' market is also getting turned up.

Would you sell your home to lock in profits before real estate prices drop?

OTTAWA — For most Canadians their home is the biggest investment they’ll ever make — but they might be surprised to learn you can use if for more than just sleeping.

New home prices in China fall in first quarter of 2012

New home prices in 20 major Chinese cities fell 6% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with their last peak in the third quarter of 2011, according to the latest property report from Knight Frank and China based property consultancy Holdways.

Banks talk down consumer debt hysteria

The Bank of Canada may be thinking about raising interest rates but there’s apparently no need to because Canadians are hunkering down to cool debt obligations on their own.

RBC’s Gordon Nixon weighs in on housing bubble furor

The head of Canada’s biggest bank and one of the country’s leading developers said the housing market is not in a bubble, even as one economist said Toronto is caught in a “condo craze.”

Time is running out to buy your dream home in the U.S.

If you’re thinking of buying property in the United States, buy now because prices won’t stay in the basement much longer, says a BMO economist.

Canadian Banks Among Strongest In The World, Bloomberg Markets Survey Finds

Canada’s banks may have needed massive financial aid during the banking crisis of 2008, but they’ve recovered nicely -- or at least better than many banks elsewhere,according to a survey from Bloomberg Markets.

Australia the most ‘obvious’ bubble in 30 years

As far as bubbles go, they don’t get more obvious than Australia, according to one economist and noted bear.

Why smaller down payments can lead to better mortgage rates

Consumers with less than 20% down must get mortgage default insurance in Canada if they are borrowing from a federally regulated bank.

Banks got $114B from governments during recession

Canada's biggest banks accepted tens of billions in government funds during the recession, according to a report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.