How the Mortgage Market Works
In Canada, mortgage rates are set by the major financial institutions, in a “follow-the-leader” manner, with one of them, usually a major bank, taking the “leader” role. All major financial institutions earn a large part of their income on the “spread”, which is the difference between loan/ mortgage rates they charge to borrowers and the rates they pay to depositors/ investors for an equivalent term. In this section, the basic “cause and effect” factors behind these mortgage rate movements are discussed in greater depth. How the Bond Market Affects Mortgage Rates The Government of Canada, and all major nations, finance their activities and accumulated deficits, by issuing “bonds”. In the US they are known as “Treasuries” and in the UK “Gilts”. The duration and interest rate paid on new issues of these bonds depends upon the financial strategy of the Government in power. The accumulated outstanding amounts of these bond issues, past and present, is known as “the National Deb...