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Why Interest Rates Matter for Canadians

Interest rates are the single most powerful lever in Canada's economy.  When the Bank of Canada adjusts its policy rate, the effects reach every household—from the cost of carrying a mortgage to the return on a savings account. With rates currently at 2.25% and significant uncertainty ahead, understanding how rates work has never been more important for your finances. What Is the Bank of Canada's Policy Rate? The Bank of Canada sets the overnight policy rate—the interest rate at which major banks lend money to each other. This rate serves as a benchmark that influences borrowing and lending costs across the entire economy. When the Bank raises or lowers this rate, commercial banks adjust their prime rates accordingly, which directly affects the rates you pay on mortgages, lines of credit, and other loans. The Bank's primary goal is to keep inflation near its 2% target. When inflation runs too hot, the Bank raises rates to cool spending. When the economy slows, it cuts rates...
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Toronto housing market cools down as prices fall for fourth month in a row

 


The Toronto housing market showed signs of slowing down in November, as home sales rose slightly but prices continued to decline for the fourth consecutive month. 

According to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, the average selling price for all home types in the Greater Toronto Area was $1,051,000 in November, down 0.6 per cent from October and 5.3 per cent from July, when it reached a record high of $1,108,000. 

The number of home sales increased by 2.1 per cent month-over-month and 13.5 per cent year-over-year, reaching 8,766 transactions in November. However, the sales growth was mainly driven by low-rise segments such as detached and semi-detached houses, while condo sales declined by 8.8 per cent from October and 2.4 per cent from November 2020. 

The board attributed the cooling of the market to a combination of factors, including the end of the pandemic-induced surge in demand, the increase in new listings, the tightening of mortgage rules, and the anticipation of higher interest rates. “The GTA housing market has moved to a more balanced position compared to earlier this year and last year,” said TRREB president Kevin Crigger in a statement. “This could mark the start of a period of more moderate price growth, which would be healthy and sustainable over the long term.”

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