VANCOUVER – Canada’s housing market is entering overheated territory and many Canadians could be financially hurt once interest rates begin to rise, Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is warning. The central banker on took his case for moderation on Wednesday to Vancouver, the epicentre of Canada’s hot housing market where he says home prices […]

The European sovereign debt crisis, a potential hard landing in China, weak U.S. economic data, and the U.S. debt ceiling debate have provided investors with plenty to worry about. Since none of these problems look like they will be resolved in the immediate future, don’t be surprised if global financial markets continue to be in […]

Statistics Canada says Canadian households slid deeper into debt in the first quarter as the use of credit outpaced income growth. The ratio of household debt to disposable income rose to 149.47 per cent from 147.64 a year earlier. That means Canadians owe $1.49 for every after-tax dollar they earn. Credit market debt grew by […]

1. Moncton, N.B. For the second year running, Moncton tops our list as the best place in Canada to buy real estate. Not only are houses here very affordable — with an average price of $163,000 — but household incomes average a respectable $72,093. This year, it was the only city out of 35 that […]

OTTAWA – Canada’s economy expanded an impressive 3.9 per cent in the first three months of this year, but there was little cheering in markets with the performance. Not only was the number slightly below the four per cent consensus expectation, but the elements of growth clearly signalled a sharp braking in the economy ahead. […]

Buying a house in the city or suburbs can be complicated enough, but buying a cottage or vacation property outside of town requires even more due diligence. In town, you probably wouldn’t ask if the water coming out of the tap is drinkable. Nor would you wonder if the plumbing was hooked up to the […]

Housing starts and sales will fall more into line with “demographic fundamentals” this year and next, according to the latest housing outlook from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The crown agency said it expects housing starts will range between 166,600 to 192,200 units in 2011, with a point forecast of 179,500. That’s a slight […]

This week on an abbreviated Big Picture podcast (co-host John Shmuel is off in parts unknown): If you’ve been in the market looking for a home the past few years, you’ve likely griped about how seemingly far out of whack prices have become. This is especially true if you happen to live — or want […]

Some 22 years after writing The Wealthy Barber, which became easily the bestselling personal finance book in Canadian history, David Chilton has a dire warning in The Wealthy Barber Returns, to be released this fall. “The worst thing that’s happening to Canadians in the last 20 years has been lines of credit,” said Chilton, speaking […]

More Canadians are living closer to the edge as consumer debt loads continued to climb in the first three months of the year, a study shows. Already at record levels, Canadians now owe just under $26,000 on average on their lines of credit, credit cards and auto loans, according to credit rating agency, TransUnion. That’s […]