Original Source: Mortgage Broker News
With the rate of homebuying in Canada cooling in recent weeks and house prices having declined nationally for two consecutive months, there’s been much conversation around the questions of whether bidding wars will die down and prices will continue moderating.
While some believe that the federal government’s action on the mortgage stress test rate has had its desired effect – easing the trend of frenetic bidding far above list price – others in the mortgage industry have seen little evidence of that change in their markets.
Tracy Valko (pictured), principal mortgage broker and owner of the Kitchener, ON-based Valko Financial, told Mortgage Broker News that the pace of bidding remained relentless in that region, continuing to expose what she said was a significant supply issue in the housing market.
“What the government was looking to do in slowing down the market, and in trying to lower house prices – that has not happened,” she said. “The problem is a lack of inventory – and there’s no relief in sight, because they’re not building enough to accommodate that.”
