OSFI will now put Stress Test to All Buyers

The government (OSFI: Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) has decided to extend the " Stress Test" to include buyers with more than 20% down, as of January 1, 2018. What does this really mean? A small example would be that if today you qualified for a $600,000 mortgage plus your downpayment, after January 1st you would qualify for about $500,000 plus your downpayment. So if you are thinking of buying a bigger home, now is the time to do it. If you are thinking of selling your larger home and downsizing, run, now is the time to do it and you barely qualify for an area that you want to live in, run because you won't qualify after January 1, 2018. Call me for me if you have any questions or if I can help you achieve your real estate goals.

http://www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca/Eng/osfi-bsif/med/Pages/B20_dft_nr.aspx

Banks Drop Prime Rate

Banks started dropping their prime rate, great for variable rate mortgages and lines of credits attached to the prime rate.

Oshawa Real Estate Still Booming

Multiple offers and over asking sales, look  like will be the norm in Oshawa. There seems to be a huge pent up demand, waiting for what ever comes on the market. This will only get stronger as we get closer to the Spring Real Estate market. Most markets are very active but the Oshawa Market seems to be standing out. 

Landlords in Ontario can increase the rent as much as they like!

If you unit (house, condo, basement apartment etc.) was built and occupied after June 18, 1998, it would mean that you are except from the provincial guideline, which for 2011 is 0.7 % percent. Most people don't know this, therefore you be end up at the tribunal proving your point. The information is available on line at the ministry's web site, but also review with the ministry to make sure that your unit falls in this catagory.

Ontario Residential Tenancies Act, 2006

Rules relating to rent

(2) Sections 104, 111, 112, 120, 121, 122, 126 to 133, 165 and 167 do not apply with respect to a rental unit if,

a) it was not occupied for any purpose before June 17, 1998

(b) it is a rental unit no part of which has been previously rented since July 29, 1975; or

(c) no part of the building, mobile home park or land lease community was occupied for residential purposes before November 1, 1991. 2006, c. 17, s. 6 (2).
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Guideline increase

120. (1) No landlord may increase the rent charged to a tenant, or to an assignee under section 95, during the term of their tenancy by more than the guideline, except in accordance with section 126 or 127 or an agreement under section 121 or 123. 2006, c. 17, s. 120 (1).

Guideline

(2) The guideline for a calendar year is the percentage change from year to year in the Consumer Price Index for Ontario for prices of goods and services as reported monthly by Statistics Canada, averaged over the 12-month period that ends at the end of May of the previous calendar year, rounded to the first decimal point. 2006, c. 17, s. 120 (2).

Publication of guideline

(3) The Minister shall determine the guideline for each year in accordance with subsection (2) and shall have the guideline published in The Ontario Gazette not later than August 31 of the preceding year. 2006, c. 17, s. 120 (3).

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