Skip to main content

Featured

The Mortgage Renewal Wave Just Peaked — Here's What the Data Actually Shows

Published August 30, 2026 For three years, "the mortgage renewal wall" has been the scariest phrase in Canadian personal finance — the idea that a flood of ultra-cheap, pandemic-era mortgages would come due at much higher rates and trigger a wave of forced sales. That wall is now mostly behind us. Two new 2026 surveys, one from Royal LePage and one from Rates.ca, show what actually happened when it hit. The short version: it hurt, budgets tightened hard for a lot of people, but the mass default many feared simply didn't show up. The last big group is renewing right now Royal LePage's 2026 Mortgage Renewal Survey, released August 19 and based on a Leger poll of 1,127 Canadians renewing this year, pins down where things stand: about 12% of all outstanding Canadian mortgages are five-year, fixed-payment loans taken out during the 2020–2022 ultra-low-rate window, and this is their last major renewal wave. The Bank of Canada's overnight rate sat at just 0.25% through m...

article

Hot, Humid Air Fuels Thunderstorm Risk in Southern Ontario

 

As the intense heat and humidity persist, southern Ontario remains under the threat of thunderstorms. High temperatures and moisture create favorable conditions for storm development, with the risk extending into the weekend.

Heat and Humidity: Key Drivers

  • Heat Dome: The Great Lakes region is currently enveloped by a heat dome, amplifying the risk of thunderstorms.
  • Unstable Atmosphere: Thursday will see an unstable atmosphere, allowing for additional thunderstorm activity.
  • Uneven Heating: Pockets of uneven heating throughout the day, along with convergence, will determine localized storm activity.

Potential Impacts

  • Severe Storms: Some thunderstorms could become severe due to torrential rainfall and locally gusty winds.
  • Heavy Rainfall: Ample moisture in the atmosphere means heavy rain, especially if storms linger over the same location.
  • Localized Flooding: Urban areas are at risk of flash flooding as storms move slowly across.

Stay Prepared

  • Widespread Heat Warnings: Temperatures soar into the 30s, feeling even hotter with the humidex.
  • Evening and Overnight Storms: Another round of thunderstorm activity is possible during these hours.


Comments