Carney cries wolf again.. will it come?

Mark Carney is making new remarks about some Canadian real estate markets being “probably overvalued“.

It was the second time in recent days that Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney voiced concern about property prices, which surged after the financial crisis as borrowing costs tumbled.
“We see that in a number of real estate markets in Canada, valuations are at a minimum, firm; in others, they’re probably overvalued. So there are risks there. We’re watching it closely. We’re working with our partners, the federal government, the superintendent of financial institutions,” he said in an interview on “Question Period” on CTV.

“Measures have been taken. They’ve been effective. We’ll keep up that vigilance. If more needs to be done, I’m sure the appropriate authorities will take those measures.”
The federal government has tightened mortgage regulations several times in a bid to prevent a property bubble from forming. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on January 17 that the government is watching the housing market closely and is ready to intervene if needed, but is not about to do so now.

Yes, the federal government has tightened mortgage regulations “several times”.. Here’s a timeline of those changes courtesy of Burbs Boy:

Jan 2006 – Minority Conservative Government elected
Feb 2006 – 25 year increase to 30 year on test basis
Jul 2006 – 30 year test affirmed and also increased to 35 year
Jul 2007 – 35 year increase to 40 year
Oct 2008 – 40 year decrease to 35 year
Mar 2010 – 35 year decrease to current 30 year

This post was submitted by wreckonomics.

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96 Responses to “Carney cries wolf again.. will it come?”

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  1. 96
  2. Carney cries wolf again.. will it come? » Modern Vancouver Mortgages Says: Reply to this comment

    [...] economy, news, opinion, prices. You can follow any responses to this entry through the –>RSS 2.0 comments [...]

    Current score: 0
  3. 95
  4. jumpin in Says: Reply to this comment

    Could someone give names of RE forums where we could troll massively?

    Just for fun :)

    Realtors have been doing the same here lately.

    I only know RE talk.

    Current score: 3
  5. 94
  6. vangrl Says: Reply to this comment

    VMD "Thanks Crashcow, this is going straight to a new thread at the Chinese forum. Just trying to add some spark to the Chinese New Year holiday discussion ; )"

    that thread made me laugh, thanks for that!

    Current score: 4
  7. 93
  8. ZRH2YVR Says: Reply to this comment

    Re: My Post #83 – -

    Final sale should have said Jan 2012 and not 2011. This was a recent transaction.

    There are actually many like this out there.

    Separately – I have to say I was pretty sickened by the insert in the Vancouver Sun yesterday. The Chinese New Year insert was nothing more than a Real Estate advertising section. It was completely rediculous. I think the industry can really see that without Chinese money – this market is dead in the water now, taking on water and sinking. It was in this section that the article mentioning that the Chinese are coming was included. What a POS this section was. Anyhow – - – Tuesday is here now and we should see all the effects of the 100's of cash sales that occurred on the weekend to the HAM which arrived last week. Give me a break.

    Current score: 6
  9. 92
  10. Dan Says: Reply to this comment

    @604x

    Thanks for posting… those letters are well written. I've sent a few to the media regarding tax-evasion. But I think I'll try sending some like yours.

    Current score: 7
  11. 91
  12. Boombust Says: Reply to this comment

    “the other three offers that were declared Sunday evening have decided not to go forward.”

    That's an old realtors' trick. Don't ever fall for the "…just so you know, there ARE other interested parties" Phoney BS.

    Current score: 11
  13. 90
  14. jumpin in Says: Reply to this comment

    Interesting post on the Chinese speaking RE forum, regarding sales in Richmond:

    Year in an aircraft of migratory birds fly north, the New Year after an aircraft of migratory birds flying south again

    Current score: 1
  15. 89
  16. 604x Says: Reply to this comment

    ok, I went a little nutty. Four letter templates are now posted in the VCI Forum:

    http://vancouvercondo.info/forum/topic/letter-wri

    Current score: 5
  17. 88
  18. VMD Says: Reply to this comment

    Interesting Realtor conversations documented @ Larry's site:

    Sunday AM

    Buyer’s Realtor® – “We’d like to make an offer!”

    Seller’s Realtor® – “Ok that’s great but, I need to tell you that three others who visited the weekend open house have also declared their intent to make an offer as well,” said the listing agent.

    “Oh – well then, I will inform the buyers I’m representing to advise them that you expect multiple offers – I’ll get back to you with their decision.”

    Sunday PM

    Buyer’s Realtor® – “The buyers I’m representing have decided that they do not want to participate in a multiple offer situation.” “Thanks for your time and good luck with your multiples.”

    Monday AM

    Seller’s Realtor® phones. “Would your buyer’s reconsider their decision?”

    Buyer’s Realtor® – “Why?”

    Seller’s Realtor® somewhat embarrassed – “the other three offers that were declared Sunday evening have decided not to go forward.”

    http://www.yattermatters.com/2012/01/vancouver-ho

    Current score: 13
  19. 87
  20. VMD Says: Reply to this comment

    @zrh2yvr:

    Thank you Zrh2yvr, this went straight to another new thread to the Chinese forum. I'm such a troll.

    Did a quick summary,

    -70,000 from reno

    -3,132 from property tax

    -43,950 (5%) from realtor fees/closing costs (does 5% sound right?)

    Total~ – 117,000 or -13.3% (not including mortgage interest/insurance payments)

    <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2 Fwww.westca.com%2FForums%2Fviewtopic%2Fp%3D3869974%2Flang%3Dschinese.html%233869974&act=url” target=”_blank”>http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&amp…” target=”_blank”>Fwww.westca.com%2FForums%2Fviewtopic%2Fp%3D3869974%2Flang%3Dschinese.html%233869974&act=url

    Current score: 10
  21. 86
  22. Guy Smiley Says: Reply to this comment

    @ #82 That is a really nice place. But $20M???? Absolutely nutty. Much nicer available in a thousand locations around the globe. Carribean. South France. You might be able to purchase Arizona for that.

    Current score: 9
  23. 85
  24. 604x Says: Reply to this comment

    A couple of nights ago @WTF! submitted enough comments about tax evasion of speculators that I got pissed off and wrote a letter. I've posted the letter to the VCI FORUM under its own section "Letters" (keyword "elbowing back"). The strategy of the letters: hit them where it hurts – m-o-n-e-y.

    Copy, update and mail if you get bored. It needs follow-up parallel letters to other departments. Let's try to get to those in coming days.

    Vive la revolution!

    Current score: 8
  25. 84
  26. Brainburst Says: Reply to this comment

    @Brainburst:

    Actually, the entire website looks like The Little Shop of Horrors .

    http://www.manyeelui.com/index.php

    Current score: 3
  27. 83
  28. zrh2yvr Says: Reply to this comment

    Richmond sale today – - Failed Flip

    10160 Dennis –

    Sold Feb 2011 – $879,000

    listed Aug 2011 – $1,098,000

    Sold Jan 2011 – $879,000

    one year, no gain, out of pocket for costs – and, listing says that seller spent $70,000 on repairs and renos.

    Current score: 20
  29. 82
  30. Brainburst Says: Reply to this comment

    @zrh2yvr:

    It could be this one, staged with Chinese furniture.

    http://www.manyeelui.com/Properties.php/Details/8

    Current score: 1
  31. 81
  32. VMD Says: Reply to this comment

    @crashcow:

    Thanks Crashcow, this is going straight to a new thread at the Chinese forum. Just trying to add some spark to the Chinese New Year holiday discussion ; )

    <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2 Fwww.westca.com%2FForums%2Fviewtopic%2Ft%3D422633%2Flang%3Dschinese.html&act=url” target=”_blank”>http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&amp…” target=”_blank”>Fwww.westca.com%2FForums%2Fviewtopic%2Ft%3D422633%2Flang%3Dschinese.html&act=url

    Current score: 11
  33. 80
  34. Gromit Says: Reply to this comment

    Larry's numbers

    Vancouver East & West*

    New Listings – 115

    Back On Market Listings – 1

    Price Changes – 15

    Sold Listings – 27

    Vancouver All Areas*

    New Listings – 307

    Back On Market Listings – 2

    Price Changes – 53

    Sold Listings – 73

    *Attached & Detached – Date: 01/23/2012 Time: 20:55 Pacific YatterMatters.com: Courtesy REBGV. Data believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed.

    Current score: 28
  35. 79
  36. mac Says: Reply to this comment

    @Makaya:

    Exactomundo.

    Current score: 2
  37. 78
  38. zrh2yvr Says: Reply to this comment

    Well – - House on Belmont sold today for pretty much $20M.

    This is just one thing to remember that in this month of record low sales volume, we had a house that sold for an amount that will bring the average across the whole market up by $45,000 – So – Don't expect the Larry and REBGV graph to show as much of a decrease this month (we would have been down likely another 3-4% but this may counter-balance it to keep it flat).

    Current score: 12
  39. 77
  40. Makaya Makaya Says: Reply to this comment

    @Makaya: On that same article, they're running a poll with the question "will the market crash"?

    So far, 70% of the people answered yes…

    Current score: 6
  41. 76
  42. Makaya Makaya Says: Reply to this comment

    And here is another MSM bearish article…

    Prediction: The Canadian housing market will crash

    Here is an interesting quote from the article:

    This puts the housing market in a precarious position: a large gap between prices and incomes, worsening affordability, and an indebted nation of homeowners less able to withstand economic shocks. None of these conditions has improved over the past 12 months. “The bubble has become worse,” says George Athanassakos, a finance professor at the Richard Ivey School of Business. Athanassakos argues the market is headed for a severe correction. Like many, he thought it would be showing more signs of strain by now. Instead, “house prices continue to go up, and debt continues to go up.”

    David Madani, an economist with Capital Economics, says that the reason prices keep rising, despite fundamentals that indicate they should be moderating, is because a bubble mentality is driving the Canadian market. “It’s this belief that prices are going to continue to go up, which becomes a self-perpetuating force,” he says. He explains that in good times, rising prices create a sense of urgency among home buyers who don’t want to miss out on the chance to benefit from soaring prices. So people pile in, pushing prices higher. This creates the appearance that housing is an asset that can only rise in value, and even more pile in.

    But this line of thinking can reverse, and people can overreact to a declining market too. The greed that previously drove buying behaviour turns into fear that prices will fall indefinitely. This can be a self-perpetuating force. The result is that prices can dip farther than where economic fundamentals suggest they should be.

    (…)

    An argument sometimes used to defend the strength of the housing market is that foreign investors, predominantly wealthy Chinese citizens, are buying property here because Canada is a safe haven in a turbulent global economy. There are no actual data to support this claim, however. Even assuming it’s true, the presence of financially motivated buyers helping to prop up the market doesn't inspire confidence. “They’ll just liquidate their positions,” Madani says. “They’re a much greater flight risk.” Any listings they dump on the market will only serve to drive prices down further.

    When prices do start to fall, don’t expect a quick rebound like we saw three years ago.

    Current score: 15
  43. 75
  44. Apocarypse Mao Says: Reply to this comment

    @crashcow Says: What a gutsy magazine cover that Canadian Business just put out!

    Yes. I was shopping at Safeway on the weekend, made sure I spread four or five all over the magazine rack at eye level. Quite catchy.

    Got to keep the agitprop up, with what little we have.

    Current score: 13
  45. 74
  46. Anonymous Says: Reply to this comment

    @longorshort: "I don’t have real time data but can say that there is limited supply of reasonable priced detached in better areas"

    There has been NO supply of reasonable priced detached in ANY areas of the lower mainland for 8 or 9 years. However there will be lots coming soon.

    Current score: 7
  47. 73
  48. frank Says: Reply to this comment

    Did I miss Paul's numbers tonight?

    Current score: 8
  49. 72
  50. crashcow Says: Reply to this comment

    What a gutsy magazine cover that Canadian Business just put out!
    http://www.canadianbusiness.com/issue/66623–issu

    And here's the article:

    "Prediction: The Canadian housing market will crash"
    http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/65694–pr

    Current score: 16
  51. 71
  52. Makaya Makaya Says: Reply to this comment

    @mac: Some people (realtor I guess) are still bullish…

    I bet the rain slowed open houses this weekend. That said, I suspect that post CNY will cause a veritable flood of bidding wars over the coming weeks, watch out for new record high prices and sales volumes!

    lol…

    Current score: 1
  53. 70
  54. Anonymous Says: Reply to this comment

    @DEFAULT NAME: Can you say: CMHC (Chinese Mainlanders Hose Canadians)

    Current score: -2
  55. 69
  56. Anonymous Says: Reply to this comment

    @mac: Saying that there's a 'flow of free money from banks to morons' suggests the banks have something to loose. They don't, but you do!

    Current score: 4
  57. 68
  58. jumpin in Says: Reply to this comment

    I have always been convinced that Tsur invested a lot of his money in RE, since he is always pumping so hard. By the way, he is hired by UBC, who is also having a vested interest in RE.

    After the ghosts at the hospice, we are believing in dragons for our economic forecasts:
    http://eedition.vancouver.24hrs.ca/epaper/viewer….

    and in Feng Shui for RE forecasts:
    http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Savvy+buyers+f

    We are walking on the head. I see two possible outcomes: the RE market implodes, or racial tensions explode. It happened before in many other countries. I could never understand why us Canadians believe "it is different here." Everyone is entitled to learn from history books.

    Current score: 8
  59. 67
  60. Apocarypse Mao Says: Reply to this comment

    @ vangrl Says: "oh man, and Global just announced they are launching a mandarin news channel "

    Funny, I read a few days ago that Global was applying for a 'local BC' 24 hour news channel. I guess that now 'local' means Mandarin.

    Current score: 8
  61. 66
  62. mac Says: Reply to this comment

    @Makaya:

    This guy drives me nuts. Like every other sales agent he holds both opinions simultaneously. He loves to tease bears and then accuse them of getting ahead of themselves. I hope he's right but if he's not he'll just refer back 3 posts ago and say he called it when he said planeloads of rich buyers were coming to his Marine Dr. listings.

    Current score: 4
  63. 65
  64. mac Says: Reply to this comment

    @RippedtoShit:

    Unfortunately, unbelievably, I don't think it will happen until the flow of free money from banks to morons is stopped.

    Current score: -2
  65. 64
  66. Makaya Makaya Says: Reply to this comment

    Interesting predictions from Larry:

    At this precise moment we really don’t know if there will be a substantial change in our local Vancouver market. Going out on a limb, my take on what I’m seeing says the numbers for January are not going to be pretty. That said, I anticipate that should the expected visitors fail to materialize the adjustment will start on the west side and quickly filter east, south and up valley. By Feb/March if the market has as some suspect, crossed the line into negative territory, we’ll begin to see a picture developing. How big and what that picture will look like be may not be known until we get some hindsight by May or June.

    It is an interesting change that where we were once viewed as the tail on the American dog we now seem to be the tail on the Chinese dragon. Let’s hope he’s a good dragon.

    Current score: 11
  67. 63
  68. RippedtoShit Says: Reply to this comment

    haha, that's true (mac)!:-)

    I do so want this market to fucking crap out. It's been a long wait. I have a masters in finance, and to be the greater fool who did not buy into this (soon to be) mess has been wearing on me. Other parts of life have been great, but fuck this shit, I bet the farm on fundamentals and now I want to harvest my crop!!

    Bring it on.

    Current score: 5
  69. 62
  70. mac Says: Reply to this comment

    @RippedtoShit:

    RJ,

    You see for sale signs in your sleep.

    Current score: 0
  71. 61
  72. RippedtoShit Says: Reply to this comment

    this country should not be a dumping ground for rich/corrupt criminals to hide in.

    so what, maybe he wants some ethnic diversity.

    what is wrong with that, you xenophobic mantangoe?

    let's just hope this crash drives back the worst of the worse in a hurry.

    Current score: -3
  73. 60
  74. fifi Says: Reply to this comment

    "oh man, and Global just announced they are launching a mandarin news channel starting tonight at 7"

    i bet in a few years mandarin will be mandatory in the schools in Van

    Current score: 3
  75. 59
  76. pq Says: Reply to this comment

    "I hadn’t been to Oakridge Mall for one year.

    I went today, and found it pretty traumatizing."

    what happend? Did Dragon scared you from the window displays?

    Current score: 1
  77. 58
  78. jumpin in Says: Reply to this comment

    I hadn't been to Oakridge Mall for one year.

    I went today, and found it pretty traumatizing.

    I kept saying to myself: I want to move back East, I want to move back East, etc.

    Current score: 5
  79. 57
  80. vangrl Says: Reply to this comment

    oh man, and Global just announced they are launching a mandarin news channel starting tonight at 7….can only imagine the pumping that's going to happen on that show.

    Current score: 8
  81. 56
  82. RippedtoShit Says: Reply to this comment

    Meth:

    Incredible.

    I'm noticing more and more For Sale signs on lawns on the west side, and few ugly orange stickers.

    That said, I've been excited this time of year before and the orange stickers had babies.

    Here's hoping that this year is the one that goes down in history as the year reality struck back.

    Current score: 3
  83. 55
  84. Here's to hopin Says: Reply to this comment

    @vangrl:

    This is all so funny to me. Global running stories on Vancouver being the 2nd most unaffordable city in the world. Story on ultra-low rates driving another RE boom. At the same time.. Prices dropping like stones in Okanagen and Whistler and Van Isle. Sales, lists and inventories running at the worst we've seen in a decade here in Vancouver. Anyone running into the market today to lock in these "promo" rates is basically standing naked on the train tracks. It looks like any faint hope of a soft landing is being quickly eliminated, and a full scale crash is an inevitability.

    And for that, I'd like to thank (in no particular order): the federal govt., CMHC, the RE cartel, the big 5 banks, MSM, mortgage brokers, and the delusional populace of Canada. You have all conspired to bring about one of the largest transfers of wealth we may ever see in our lifetime. It is now a fait accomplis, just a matter of how soon and how bad. The lemmings shall be crushed, and the liquid will reap the rewards.

    Current score: 17
  85. 54
  86. Anonymous Says: Reply to this comment

    @vangrl:

    I think Realtors know that unless the next couple months are relatively hot, it's going to get ugly…hence their desperation to help things along

    Current score: 10
  87. 53
  88. Best place on meth Says: Reply to this comment

    @vangrl:

    >>>Had a realtor on saying it was her busiest January yet!<<<

    It was. Listings are on a record pace.

    Current score: 31
  89. 52
  90. paradox Says: Reply to this comment

    And the award for the best article and best journalist of 2012 so far goes to…
    http://eedition.vancouver.24hrs.ca/epaper/viewer….

    Current score: 1
  91. 51
  92. vangrl Says: Reply to this comment

    seriously can't believe that Global just pushed Van real estate again after all of these warning signs lately. Had a realtor on saying it was her busiest January yet!

    so irresponsible

    Current score: 20

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