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As predicted, the Bank of Canada increased the Overnight Lending Rate by 0.25 per cent on Wednesday.
The overnight rate determines what rate banks lend money to each other and any changes in this rate gets passed along to consumers by changing the rates on some of their lending products.
Variable rate mortgages, Home Equity Lines of Credit (Heloc), unsecured lines of credit and student loans all have interest rates that are based on a lenders prime lending rate.
When this happens, it typically means that your rate is going to increase as well, but not always by the same amount.
It can also mean that not every lender will adjust their prime rate the same way — even now we have one of the major banks prime rate being 0.15 per cent higher than everyone else's on a variable rate mortgage.
By the time you read this, many lenders will have already announced an increase in their prime lending rate so keep an eye out for further updates on your lenders’ prime rate and what date any rate changes will affect your mortgage rate.
The best advice I can give if you currently have a variable rate mortgage . . .
Don’t panic!
Get some independent advice from your mortgage broker (not your lender), on what this increase means for you and your personal situation. Lenders and the media can create a panicked frenzy which might encourage you to think about locking in now in fear of rates going up even further.
This could mean more profit for the lender, a longer commitment from you and difficultly breaking that mortgage later.
Make a plan
You need to do a financial benefit analysis based on what your short and long-term plans are.
If you are planning to move in the next few years then a variable rate might still be a better option with the lowest penalty, but if you are in your forever home and have a key focus on being mortgage free by a specific timeline such as retirement or sooner, then a fixed term mortgage may be more suitable.
Everyone’s situation is different so having a customized mortgage that meets your needs, and not the lenders’, is always the way to go!
Do the math
A lender might be calling you to get you to lock in your amazing variable rate so don’t base your decision on fear. Let’s review the math, the facts and then decide what is right for you!
It’s important to note that the prime rate and in turn your variable rate mortgage and fixed term mortgage rates are impacted by two different sets of economic drivers.
Therefore, increases in fixed rates don’t mean the same increase in prime rates and vice versa.
Please reach out if you would like an independent complimentary consultation.
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
