Loophole may help banks to lend to first-time buyers

Financial Post- There is a small loophole in the new federal mortgage rules that could make it easier for the banks to lend out money to first-time buyers.

The federal government announced last month new requirements for anyone borrowing money for a house and needing mortgage insurance. If you have less than a 20% down payment and are borrowing from a financial institution covered by the Bank Act, you have to take out mortgage default insurance, which ensures the banks are covered for any losses resulting from payment defaults.

For principal residences, the new rules force consumers to qualify for a loan based on being able to make payments on a five-year fixed-rate mortgage, which has a much higher interest rate than variable mortgages, now as low 1.85%…

Loophole may help banks to lend to first-time buyers

Citizens Bank stops taking deposits, sells loans to TD

 Vancouver Sun – Citizens will become a non-deposit-taking bank, and as a result is selling the majority of its residential mortgages, personal loans and lines of credit secured by real estate to the Toronto Dominion Bank for an undisclosed amount. Depositers, including those with registered savings plans, will have to transfer their accounts to another financial institution…

Citizens Bank stops taking deposits, sells loans to TD