Today Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced new mortgage lending regulations for Canadians. Although he stopped short of decreasing amortizations and increasing required down payments as was rumoured, today’s changes will affect mostly affect real estate investors and those who might be on the edge of affordability. It remains to be seen how much of an impact these changes will have in the Canadian mortgage market.

Over half of $1.4 trillion in commercial mortgages in the US are reported to be underwater according to a recent report issued by the watchdog created to oversee the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). What can be done to ensure this does not trigger a new financial crisis?

I had a great meeting with local Toronto Realtor, George O’Neill about leveraging Social Media in the real estate business. George was an early adopter and has been quite successful in using New Media to market his business and reach prospective buyers and sellers.

You can’t avoid the taxman: Goods ordered early for post-July installation will still get 13% levy. With all the billboards springing up around the city, it’s hard to miss the 13% harmonized sales tax (HST) slated to become law July 1. For many, the tax is just a convenient combination of 8% provincial sales tax (PST) and 5% goods and services tax (GST). But for the home renovation industry, which contributes $20-billion and 195,000 jobs to Ontario’s economy, the HST may have some hidden challenges.

Well, the Conservative Government is now worried that Canadians are piling on too much debt while interest rates are low and will ultimately get into trouble when interest rates increase. Is their fear valid?

A summary of 8 key take-aways from CIBC’s head economist Benjamin Tal’s discussion at a mortgage industry function last week in Toronto. His outlook is primarily positive with a hint of caution. The good news is we are in better shape than the US….the bad news is we can’t help but feel the ill effects of our southern neighbours.

According to a study completed by RBC, the cost of owning a single family, detached home in Canada has increased to about 43% of a family’s before tax income. The record high was 57% which was reached in the second quarter of 1990.

Investing in multi-unit apartment buildings may not be for everyone, but for those who take the leap it can provide steady and predictable returns.

Diane Francis of the Financial Post wrote a very interesting article on how CMHC and low interest rates are contributing to a housing bubble.

A brief explanation of why the Bank of Canada is still sticking to their promise of leaving the prime lending rate where it is until June 2010. Even though we are starting to hear more good news about the economy there are still some fundamentals that need improving before we can say we are out of the woods.