Hey Mike, I got an email from Ubank during the week asking if I wanted to lock-in my interest rate at its current level for one year. We also have Canada's RBC talking about raising its interest rate.
"RBC is looking for an interest rate increase of as much as 50 basis points, which means the current 1 percent rate could rise to 1.5 percent. While this may appear insignificant, a one half percentage point rate increase would cost an extra $1,000 every year on a typical mortgage – an additional expense that could break the budget of cash-strapped households.
RBC Head of Fixed Income Mark Chandler says the increase would only be justified if the Canadian economy continues to improve. December employment numbers saw Canada add 40,000 new full time jobs to the economy, and lowered the national unemployment rate to its lowest level since before the beginning of the recession. Chandler credits economic advancements south of the border for the better job numbers, and says industries associated with the US housing market will notice significant improvements throughout the year – which should continue adding new jobs to Canada’s economy.
Chandler says Canada is the only developed country that should even consider raising interest rates. “We see Canada as a bit of a canary in the coal mine for developed fixed income markets, and that means we think it'll be important to watch.”
If the bank’s projections prove accurate, mortgages will be much more expensive by the end of the year."
