The most recent mortgage rule changes have had a much smaller impact on the market than previous policy changes and there’s a simple explanation for that, according to a new report
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The most recent mortgage rule changes have had a much smaller impact on the market than previous policy changes and there’s a simple explanation for that, according to a new report.
There has been an unprecedented number of housing policy changes over the past year-and-a-half, according to TD Bank, and each has been aimed at tempering housing demand.
And while the industry viewed the last round of changes as particularly invasive, they have proven less impactful than previous iterations.
“Each successive regulation change at the federal level has left a smaller mark on home buying activity. Our estimates suggest that the most recent federal rule changes may have only shaved 2% off demand nationwide,” TD Economists Beata Caranci and Diana Petramala, wrote in their latest report, Canadian Regional Housing Outlook Navigating a Soft Landing. “In contrast, the first regulatory changes implemented in 2008 dampened home sales by roughly 10%. That policy increased the required down payment from 0% to 5% for insured borrowers and lowered the allowable amortization period from 40 years to 35 years.”
The reason for dwindling influence, according to the economists, is that each round of mortgage rule changes has specifically targeted borrowers who require mortgage insurance.
“This incented a shift away from high loan-to-value mortgages into conventional mortgages,” the economists wrote. “New loans that require homebuyer’s insurance now account for less than 20% of all new chartered bank mortgage originations, compared to 40% prior to 2008. So, each round of policy changes has targeted a shrinking share of the overall market.”
The Bank of Canada claims insured mortgage originations fell 43% in 2016 and early 2017 from the peak in late 2015.
However, that shrinking share was up by a growing number of Canadians relying on conventional mortgages.
Looking forward, it seems federal policymakers aren’t quite finished with their market tinkering.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Services (OSFI) has proposed additional rules in the form of income tests for all borrowers at a rate of 2% higher than the contracted rate.
And that policy is expected to temper housing demand even further.
“ … if the new measures are put into place, which will cause buyers in the former group to adjust their behaviour by coming up with a bigger down payment, opting for a lower priced purchase, scaling back other debt, or delaying a home purchase altogether,” the economists wrote. “In the year of implementation, we estimate that this new rule could depress demand by 5% to 10%, and shave 2% to 4% off of our current forecast for the average price level in 2018. This will be yet another force limiting price growth in the future.”
Related stories:
Brokers split on pending regulation changes
Too much tightening?
There has been an unprecedented number of housing policy changes over the past year-and-a-half, according to TD Bank, and each has been aimed at tempering housing demand.
And while the industry viewed the last round of changes as particularly invasive, they have proven less impactful than previous iterations.
“Each successive regulation change at the federal level has left a smaller mark on home buying activity. Our estimates suggest that the most recent federal rule changes may have only shaved 2% off demand nationwide,” TD Economists Beata Caranci and Diana Petramala, wrote in their latest report, Canadian Regional Housing Outlook Navigating a Soft Landing. “In contrast, the first regulatory changes implemented in 2008 dampened home sales by roughly 10%. That policy increased the required down payment from 0% to 5% for insured borrowers and lowered the allowable amortization period from 40 years to 35 years.”
The reason for dwindling influence, according to the economists, is that each round of mortgage rule changes has specifically targeted borrowers who require mortgage insurance.
“This incented a shift away from high loan-to-value mortgages into conventional mortgages,” the economists wrote. “New loans that require homebuyer’s insurance now account for less than 20% of all new chartered bank mortgage originations, compared to 40% prior to 2008. So, each round of policy changes has targeted a shrinking share of the overall market.”
The Bank of Canada claims insured mortgage originations fell 43% in 2016 and early 2017 from the peak in late 2015.
However, that shrinking share was up by a growing number of Canadians relying on conventional mortgages.
Looking forward, it seems federal policymakers aren’t quite finished with their market tinkering.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Services (OSFI) has proposed additional rules in the form of income tests for all borrowers at a rate of 2% higher than the contracted rate.
And that policy is expected to temper housing demand even further.
“ … if the new measures are put into place, which will cause buyers in the former group to adjust their behaviour by coming up with a bigger down payment, opting for a lower priced purchase, scaling back other debt, or delaying a home purchase altogether,” the economists wrote. “In the year of implementation, we estimate that this new rule could depress demand by 5% to 10%, and shave 2% to 4% off of our current forecast for the average price level in 2018. This will be yet another force limiting price growth in the future.”
Related stories:
Brokers split on pending regulation changes
Too much tightening?
