Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Ottawa may make millions on CMHC plan for banks

The federal government stands to make hundreds of millions of dollars off of its new program to buy mortgages from banks.

The government today is launching the first purchase of $5-billion of mortgages from Canada's banks as part of a program to buy $25-billion of home loans from banks to give them cash to make new loans.

It is taking advantage of its ability to borrow cheaply to buy the mortgages, which will pay a higher rate of interest. The difference will be the government's profit.

Ottawa doesn't have a forecast of its likely take, but given current market prices and the guidance that the Finance Department has provided to bankers on the prices to be paid, the federal government may expect to earn about $250-million a year. That could rise to $1-billion if the government increases the size of the mortgage purchases to $100-billion, as some in the banking sector suggest could be done.

Those potential profits are significant at a time when Ottawa projects its surplus will fall to $1.3-billion for the year ended March, 2010.

While government officials say any profit isn't the point, earning money on the program does drive home the message that Ottawa has been sending: The program isn't a bailout at taxpayers' expense.

“The goal is not to make money for the government,” said a Finance Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity. While the program is an efficient way to support lending in Canada by providing reliable funding to banks, it is important that the banks pay a competitive rate to tap into the funds, the official said.

“This is not a subsidy for banks.”

The credit crunch, which first erupted more than a year ago, has made it more expensive for banks to raise long-term funding to finance mortgages.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced the initiative last Friday to have government-owned Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. buy up loans from banks. The loans are solid, but by taking them off bank balance sheets in return for cash, the banks will theoretically be able to make new loans.

Ottawa has committed to buy up to $25-billion in total, but has not yet set the dates for the remaining purchases. Participants expect the government to carry out four more purchases of $5-billion each.

The purchases will be conducted by so-called reverse auction, where banks will essentially have to tell the government how much they will pay in the form of interest to move the loans off their balance sheets. The government will accept the most profitable bids.

Mortgage lenders can submit up to three bids for various amounts, but no one lender can sell more than $1.25-billion of loans to the government.

The government will establish a minimum acceptable yield, or interest rate. That minimum is expected to be above the yield on comparable five-year Canada Mortgage Bonds that CMHC sells to investors.

Banks are expected to place bids somewhere above the minimum, with more-stressed banks giving the government a better deal as they try to ensure they can raise cash.

John Manley, a former deputy prime minister and finance minister, said he was surprised Ottawa didn't pick up the program earlier.

“They make money on it, it increases liquidity in the system – why don't you answer the phone when people suggest things?” he said, pointing out that banks had been suggesting the program for some time.

One bank chief executive officer said that, even as the financial crisis worsens, Canada is in a unique position where it can establish programs to ease the flow of funds that don't put taxpayers on the hook. A shortage of government bonds and an excess of mortgages sitting on the banks' books make this an easy program to increase if necessary, he said.


Source: TARA PERKINS AND BOYD ERMAN, Globe and Mail

Monday, October 20, 2008

Changing GTA Resale Housing Market Reflects Economic Times

Activity in the Greater Toronto Area resale housing market
moderated considerably during the first half of October with 2,700 homes changing hands,
Toronto Real Estate Board President Maureen O’Neill announced today.

Sales volumes in the GTA decreased 18 per cent compared to the first half of October 2007,
when 3,297 transactions were recorded and are down 10 per cent compared to the same period
in 2006 when 3,007 sales took place.

In the City of Toronto 1,140 sales took place in the first half of this month. This represents a 21
per cent decline from the 1,446 sales that took place in the same period a year ago and a 13 per
cent decrease from the 1,312 transactions recorded in the first half of October 2006.

In the 905 Region there were 1,560 sales in the first two weeks of this month, a 16 per cent
decrease from the 1,851 transactions that took place during the same timeframe in 2007 and
down eight per cent from the 1,695 homes sold during the first half of October 2006.

House prices declined throughout the GTA during the first half of the month. The average price
of a GTA home is currently $353,772, down 11 per cent from $399,013 recorded the comparable
period in 2007.

In the City of Toronto the current average price $375,804, a 15 per cent decrease from the
$441,878 average recorded at mid-October 2007.

In the 905 Region the average price of a home is currently $337,671. This represents an eight
per cent decline from the $365,527 average recorded during the first half of October 2007.
With 27,559 properties currently listed on the TorontoMLS system, there is now 30 per cent
more available stock from which to choose as compared to a year ago when 21,182 homes were
listed.

“More choice can mean slightly longer wait times for sellers whose homes are now on average,
selling after 34 days on the market as compared to 29 days a year ago,” said Ms. O’Neill. “The
list to sales ratio is 97 per cent of the list price.”

Increased sales activity was noted in specific pockets located throughout the GTA.

Sales in Oshawa (E16) increased 15 per cent compared to the first half of October 2007, based
mainly on solid sales of detached homes.

In Brampton West (W24) sales in the first half of October increased 21 per cent compared to the
same period a year ago mainly due to strong attached row house sales.

Downtown East (C08) experienced a 16 per cent overall increase in activity compared to mid-
October 2007 primarily as a result of condominium apartment sales.

Newmarket saw a 17 per cent increase in sales compared to the first half of October 2007 as a
result of strong condominium apartment and semi-detached home sales.

Previous news releases have incorporated 2006 comparisons. This was necessary in order to
place the market statistics in a broader context. We will be referencing 2006 in its entirety at the
end of the month when it will be more relevant.

“While we continue to watch the economic picture globally, it is the local real estate climate that
will determine our market place,” said Ms. O’Neill. “After the 2007 record highs, 2008 is an
encouraging market for buyers.”

Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They adhere to a strict
Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Serving over 28,000
Members in the Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest
real estate board. Greater Toronto Area open house listings are now available on
www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com

Source : Toronto Real Estate Board

Friday, October 03, 2008

GTA Resale Housing Market Measured in September

The Greater Toronto Area resale housing market continued at a measured pace through September, Toronto Real Estate Board President Maureen O’Neill announced today.

With 6,424 homes changing hands last month, activity in the GTA declined six per cent compared to the 6,866 sales that took place in September 2007 and declined three per cent compared to the 6,622 transactions that were recorded two years ago.

In the City of Toronto sales were less robust. The 2,546 transactions recorded last month declined 11 per cent from the 2,854 sales in September 2007 and declined five per cent from the 2,680 sales recorded in September 2006. Sales increased six per cent between September 2006 and September 2007.

“We remain concerned about the Land Transfer Tax in the City of Toronto,” said Ms. O’Neill.

In the 905 Region, the 3,878 sales recorded last month were within three per cent of September 2007’s 4,012 transactions, and within two per cent of September 2006’s 3,942 sales. Sales in this region increased two per cent between September 2006 and September 2007.

From a year-to-date perspective, the GTA resale housing market has declined 14 per cent from the 73,827 transactions recorded a year ago. To date, there have been 63,595 sales through the TorontoMLS system this year. In the City of Toronto year-to-date sales have declined 16 per cent from last year’s figure of 30,059 to 25,257 transactions this year. In the 905 Region year-todate sales have declined 12 per cent. So far this year there have been 38,338 sales in the 905

Region compared to 43,768 last year. Prices throughout the GTA however, have remained fairly stable. At $368,549, the average price of a GTA home in September has declined three per cent from $380,132 recorded a year ago.

In the City of Toronto, the current average price of $393,647 declined six per cent from the September 2007 average of $420,182. Compared to the September 2006 average of $371,682 though, prices in Toronto for September 2008 have increased six per cent.

In the 905 Region, the average price of $352,071, increased marginally from the $351,641 recorded in September 2007, and was up five per cent from 2006 September average of $333,818.

“Although the market is not as robust as it was a year ago, homeowners are continuing to see strong returns on their investment,” said Ms. O’Neill. “On average, Sellers are achieving 97 per cent of their asking price.

With the average number of days on market increasing to 36 days from to 31 days a year ago, it is taking slightly longer for homeowners to achieve a sale.

“Even with respect to sales activity, each month we continue to see a handful of neighbourhoods reporting increases compared to a year ago.”

In Scarborough East (E08) transactions increased 22 per cent compared to September 2007 based on strong sales of all housing types.

Streetsville (W19) saw an 11 per cent sales increase due primarily to strong detached home sales.

In Newmarket (N07) transactions increased 11 per cent compared to a year ago, driven mainly by strong condominium townhouse sales.

“Given that these are trying times for the world economy, in context, the Greater Toronto Area resale housing market continues to fare quite well,” said Ms. O’Neill. “From a long-term perspective, buying a home remains a sound financial decision.”




Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Serving over 28,000 Members in the Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest real estate board. Greater Toronto Area open house listings are now available on www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com.


Source: Toronto Real Estate Board