I was 71 years young in 2021 I started our company over 30 years ago out of my garage. I sold my interest in the company to four of our agents, including my daughter and formed the Matthey Mortgage Team. Freed from the responsibilities of management I was able to concentrate on what I love to do and that is helping homeowners and homebuyers strategically deal with their mortgage.In mid-2021 I decided to semi-retire and turn my mainstream mortgage business over to my daughter, Karen, and my son, Chris.
My son Chris has been a mortgage agent for 9+plus. Karen's background is in International Finance and has been an agent for 7 years.Both have extensive backgrounds in mortgage financing.
You can contact Chris at chris@mtgprof.com or Karen at karen@mtgprof.com to arrange an appointment to discuss your situation.
In my semi-retirement, I am devoting my time to seniors who own their own home to help them understand the value of a Reverse Mortgage.
I am proud to have been a nationally and locally award-winning Mortgage Broker for over 30 years in the Kingston area. I have been one of the broker/owners of our company over the same time period. I have been ranked in the Top 3 as a Mortgage Broker in the Kingston This Week's Reader's Choice Awards for the past several years, and in the fall of 2013, I was proud to be inducted into the Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame with Mortgage Professionals Canada. I was also included in Canadian Mortgage Professional magazine in their Hall of Fame in 2019
There are many ways to contact us if you have a question. You can text us direct at 613-561-2719. You can email us at brian@mtgprof.com You can also access us Face2Face(F2F) through Apple Facetime by dialing 613-561-2719. The last option works well with our clients for any questions, they have on their mortgage, before, during or after closing.
It is our belief that our job does not end with your mortgage approval. We support you through changes in your life and lifestyle and we are there to guide you into the nest mortgage product that benefits you, not the lender.
We would love to hear from you.
The majority of our business comes from referrals, which is a great reinforcement that people appreciate the job that we do. Our job is not just to get you a great rate (although we do that too!) - it is to explain the home buying and mortgage process to you, clearly explain the terms and conditions of your mortgage to you (so unlike with the bank you're not suddenly hit with a shocking penalty you had no idea could happen) and keep you informed about where rates and the economy are going.
You can find Open Houses and New Listings in the Kingston area here:https://www.facebook.com/buysellshowkingstonrealestate/
You can find Waterfront Open Houses and Listings here:https://www.facebook.com/YGKWaterfrontproperty/
BMO Investment Survey: Over Half of First Time Homebuyers Plan to Use First Home Savings Account (FHSA) to Buy a Home
Canadians increasingly aware of FHSA features and benefits.
Homebuyers divided over how mortgage rate changes will affect their ability to buy a home in the next two years.
23% of parents are expected to use the FHSA to help their children save for a home.
BMOs 15th annual Investment Survey reveals more than half (56%) of potential first-time homebuyers are planning to use the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) to help purchase their first home, up from 52% from 2023. The annual survey also finds the understanding of FHSAs is increasing and that parents are finding the FHSA an effective way to help their adult children save for a home.
Mind The Knowledge Gap
The FHSA knowledge gap is narrowing, with two fifths (40%) of Canadians indicating they have at least some knowledge of the account, up from 31% from last year. Nearly half (48%) of Gen Z are knowledgeable about the FHSAs features and benefits the highest among any age group.
A (Tax-Free) Gift That Keeps on Giving
The BMO Investment Survey also explores how families across generations may be using the FHSA as a financial gift for their children. Nearly a quarter (23%) of parents will likely use the FHSA to help their adult children save for their first home.
Younger parents are also more likely to use the FHSA to help their adult children save for a home, according to the surveys findings:
Millennial Parents: 42%
Gen Z Parents: 21%
Boomer Parents: 7%
It is encouraging to see that over half of prospective buyers plan to use the First Home Savings Account to save, and we want to see that number grow because the FHSA is such a powerful tool. Benefits including the ability to make tax-deducible contributions, tax-free growth of the investments and the ability to hold various investment types make this plan the most advantageous way to save for a home. It is like an RRSP and TFSA rolled into one for first-time homebuyers, said Nicole Ow, Vice President and Head, Retail Investments, BMO. For most, buying their first home will be part of a multi-year plan, involving several savings vehicles like the FHSA, RRSP withdrawals through the Home Buyers Plan, and may also involve multiple generations, with parents and grandparents contributing financially.
https://newsroom.bmo.com/2024-12-18-BMO-Investment-Survey-Over-Half-of-First-Time-Homebuyers-Plan-to-Use-First-Home-Savings-Account-FHSA-to-Buy-a-Home
TD Provincial Economic Forecast: Lower Rates, Better Fates
2024 is playing out largely as expected across Canadas regional landscape, with most of the Prairie and Atlantic provinces leading economic growth while Ontario, B.C., and Quebec lag.
A number of regions are capping off this year displaying moderately stronger momentum in economic growth and job creation than we had envisaged in September. However, any upgrades to 2025 provincial growth forecasts reflecting this positive hand-off have been neutralized by downside growth risks on Canada owing to the imposition of tariffs by the new U.S. administration.
The president-elect has threatened to impose a 25% across-the-board tariff on Canadian exports. We assume that Canada will manage to avert this outcome, partly reflecting the energy-heavy nature of its exports to the U.S. Still, this regional forecast incorporates some chill to investment and hiring due to the tariff threat that is likely to linger.
Importantly, no province would escape the fallout from a Canada/U.S. trade skirmish, with U.S. export exposure ranging from about 80-90% in Alberta, New Brunswick, and Ontario to a still-lofty 50-60% in B.C and Saskatchewan. Beyond the first-order effects from tariffs on exports, provinces would also feel the hit through damage to other trading partners. PEI, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba source a comparatively large share of their imports from the U.S., potentially leaving them exposed to inflation pressures should Canada impose tariffs of its own.
The countrys population growth is set to stall over the next two years through planned reductions in both the pool of non-permanent residents (NPRs) and a scaling back in its annual permanent immigration targets. Ontario, B.C. and Quebec will likely see population growth pull back the fastest. Meanwhile, ongoing affordability advantages in the Prairies and some Maritime provinces will remain a lure for interprovincial migrants.
A wave of federal government stimulus is set to reach Canadian consumers in the coming months, with Ontario set to roll out its own measure in the new year. Combined with ongoing interest rate reductions, we expect consumer spending growth to pick up across the provinces despite slower population growth. Provinces with the highest debt burdens, namely B.C., Ontario, and Alberta, should disproportionately benefit from easing conditions. Housing markets across the country are also poised to benefit from supportive federal measures, and gradually falling short-term interest rates.
https://economics.td.com/provincial-economic-forecast
NBC BoC Policy Monitor: It’s beginning to look a lot like neutral
The Bank of Canada lowered the target for the overnight rate by 50 basis points for the second straight meeting, a decision in line with consensus and market expectations. This is the fifth rate reduction in as many meetings and brings the policy rate to 3.25%, or the upper end of the BoCs estimated neutral range (2.25% to 3.25%). The move also pushes the BoCs policy rate 150 bps below the Federal Reserves upper bound target, the most since 1997 (although that gap will likely narrow next week). Meanwhile, balance sheet normalization will continue as expected. Here are additional highlights from the communique and the opening statement to the press conference:
Driving the decision to cut 50 bps was inflation around 2%, excess supply and softer growth ahead relative to earlier expectations. Macklem added in the opening statement to the press conference that monetary policy no longer needs to be clearly in restrictive territory.
As for forward rate guidance, the press release notes we will be evaluating the need for further reductions in the policy rate one decision at a time. In the presser, Macklem said they expect a more gradual approach to monetary policy if the economy evolves broadly as expected. Note they no longer explicitly say they expect to cut their policy rate further.
The statement notes that Q3 growth was somewhat below the Banks projection and Q4 growth looks weaker than projected. Slower immigration will ease growth in 2025 while proposed fiscal measures will support demand. They will look through temporary demand effects.
The press release highlights that job growth continues to grow slower than labour supply. Wage growth showed some signs of easing, but remains elevated relative to productivity.
As for inflation, they still expect CPI to hover around 2% for the next couple of years. They note that the GST holiday will temporarily lower inflation but that will be unwound once the holiday ends. Therefore, watching core inflation will be critical to see underlying trends.
The Bank didnt have much to say on tariff threats other than noting that these have increased uncertainty and clouded the economic outlook. \
https://www.nbc.ca/content/dam/bnc/taux-analyses/analyse-eco/boc-policy-monitor.pdf
