Interest Rates Taking a Huge Jump?
Here's is an article that was just released by the Globe and Mail talking about Royal Bank raising rates starting tomorrow as much as 0.60% for a 5-year fixed rate mortgage:
Tara Perkins
Toronto — Globe and Mail Update Published on Monday, Mar. 29, 2010 9:03AM EDT Last updated on Monday, Mar. 29, 2010 12:36PM EDT
Two of Canada's largest banks are raising rates on some fixed-rate mortgages, a reminder that mortgage rates can go up before the central bank's key interest rate does.
The move comes as many Canadians with variable-rate mortgages have been anxiously watching for signs of exactly when the Bank of Canada will begin hiking interest rates, in a bid to wait and lock into a fixed-rate
Royal Bank of Canada (RY-T59.30-0.52-0.87%) , the country's largest bank, said Monday morning that it is raising the rate on three-year closed fixed-rate mortgage by 0.20 percentage points to 4.35 per cent. The four-year closed rate will increase by 0.40 to 5.34 per cent, and the five-year closed rate will rise by 0.60 percentage points to 5.85 per cent.
RBC's Canadian mortgage portfolio amounted to about $148.5-billion in the latest quarter.
A short time later Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD-T75.15-0.85-1.12%) followed suit, saying it is raising its three-year closed fixed-rate mortgage rate by 0.40 percentage points to 4.70 per cent, its four-year rate by 0.40 percentage points to 5.34 per cent and its five-year rate by 0.60 to 5.85 per cent.
A spokeswoman for Royal Bank said that fixed-rate mortgages tend to move when bond yields move.
“The rates are tied to our funding costs, which change day to day,” she said. “Our long-term funding cost has gone up significantly since December.”
Sal Guatieri, a senior economist at Bank of Montreal, said the driving force behind the change in Canada's bond market is the notion that the Bank of
Mr. Guatieri still believes the central bank is on track to raise rates in July, but he acknowledges that further strong economic reports could cause the bank to move sooner.
However, today's activity shows that mortgage rates can be influenced by expectations alone.
This should really inspire anyone looking to purchase a home in the next 120 days to talk to a mortgage professional and get a rate hold as soon as possible. If you'd like to discuss how a rate hold can save you thousands of dollars or if you know anyone that is looking ot buy or sell real estate in the next 120 days, please feel free to contact me at info@mattanddoug.com .
Have a great day,
Matt.