Before and after B-20

IT’S BEEN almost a year and a half since new B-20 guidelines were implemented, and the effects of the measures continue to reverberate. The tighter qualification rules have raised the barrier to entry for would-be homebuyers, especially those purchasing their first home. That’s had a knock-on effect in several areas of the market, from an ongoing preference for lower-priced condos to a proclivity among renters to stay put longer.

B-20’s effects have also been felt on the supply side of housing; both housing starts and new listings have seen a decline since the new rules went into effect at the beginning of 2018. One beneficiary of B-20 has been the alternative lending segment, which has seen a noticeable boost in its market share over the past 18 months.

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