Housing starts: After an active 2011, multiple starts are expected to moderate while single starts will level off. For 2011, housing starts came in at 193,950 units. Looking ahead, starts are forecast to be 190,000 for 2012 and 193,800 for 2013.

Responses to the BoC winter survey suggest that the global economic outlook and concerns about demand continue to weigh on firms’ expectations for business activity. While the indicator of past sales activity has held up, the balance of opinion on future sales has turned slightly negative, as firms in Western Canada expect sales growth to slow from the recent strong pace and those elsewhere gener- ally expect growth to remain modest. Firms still expect to increase investment and employment, although the balances of opinion remain below the high levels reached earlier in the year.

Waterloo – Manulife Bank of Canada’s most recent consumer debt survey found that, despite a record number of Canadian homeowners putting a high priority on becoming debt-free (77%), many Canadians continue to miss a variety of easy-to-implement opportunities to pay down their debts faster. These missed opportunities have led, in part, to more than six in 10 (61%) Canadians struggling to reduce their debt over the past year -- either increasing their debt (25%), seeing no change in their debt (15%), or reducing their debt, but by less than they expected (21%).

Existing-home sales improved in October while the number of homes on the market continued to decline, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the market has been fairly steady but at a lower than desired level. “Home sales have been stuck in a narrow range despite several improving factors that generally lead to higher home sales such as job creation, rising rents and high affordability conditions. Many people who are attempting to buy homes are thwarted in the process,” he said.

Canadian real estate markets remain the most stable in North America. Institutions hold on to the best properties and avoid boom/bust frenzies over pricing, while conservative fiscal policies discourage lax underwriting and licentious lending. A resource-rich economy does not hurt either. Interviewees expect these markets to weather world economic turmoil, particularly U.S. contagion, but anticipate a slowdown in 2012 as consumers and homebuyers back off a recent wave of uncharacteristic splurging.

OTTAWA, Oct. 17, 2011 /CNW/ - According to statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national resale housing activity picked up in September 2011. Sales activity rose 2.7 per cent in September from the previous month. Holding in line with the ten-year average, activity during the first nine months of this year pulled ahead of sales over the same period last year.

Canadian private companies are optimistic about growth opportunities and are investing in mobile computing and social media to help them achieve their growth aspirations, according to findings from a PwC survey.

OTTAWA, Sept. 28, 2011 /CNW/ - Fall is always a great time to get your house in order to prepare for the coming winter. And there is no better time for Canadians to get their finances in shape and strengthen their financial literacy. To help Canadians find the resources they need, the Financial Literacy Action Group (FLAG), in collaboration with theFinancial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), announced today that it is organizing Financial Literacy Month (FLM) this November.

Housing market data for the month of August released by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) showed that the housing market in Canada, while moderating, continued to exhibit resilience in the face of increased financial market and economic uncertainty. With anxiety about sovereign-debt levels in Europe flaring up again and global financial markets weakening sharply, Canada’s housing market was presented with a tough test in August

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent.

The volatility in the stock market during the past month has had little impact on consumers' investment patterns, but could potentially change consumers' spending habits, according to the September RBC Consumer Outlook Index. Among those who say they own stocks, bonds or mutual funds, 77 per cent say they have made no changes to their holdings.

TORONTO, Aug. 25, 2011 /CNW/ - Canadian banks are expected to continue doing well relative to their global peers but aren't necessarily shielded from the challenges plaguing the world's financial institutions, including concerns about growth, capital, data and regulatory issues, says Ernst & Young. "As third-quarter reporting season gets under way, we're likely to see that Canadian banks are holding up comparatively well despite the volatility at home and tumult abroad," explains Paul Battista, Ernst & Young's Canadian Financial Services Advisory Leader. "But the burning question for Canadian banks right now is: how do we grow from here?"

The Fed acknowledged that the economy was growing more slowly than it anticipated and that downside risks have increased. It is customary for the Fed statement to refrain from providing a specific forecast outside its scheduled release, which occurred at the last meeting; however, the tone of the statement was decidedly more downbeat than in June.

A new PwC report found Canadian deal-making was surprising strong amidst a backdrop of confused capital markets and global financial turmoil, especially in the United States and Europe. The second quarter saw 836 Canadian mergers and acquisitions (M&A) announcements worth close to US$57 billion—the strongest deal quarter in Canada since the credit crisis.

Canada's residential real estate market saw sizable year-over-year price increases in the second quarter of 2011, but high house prices are concealing early signs of a moderating market, according to the Royal LePage House Price Survey and Market Survey Forecast released today. The market has seen its near-term peak in house price appreciation, and a slower second half of the year is expected. Still, by the end of 2011, the national average house price is expected to be 7.7 per cent higher than it was at the end of 2010.

OTTAWA, June 29, 2011 /CNW/ - Some of Canada's largest construction owners have developed a national strategy to address the critical need for a skilled workforce that is capable of building and maintaining the country's roads, bridges, electrical power plants and other large-scale industrial projects.

June issue of CAAMP Stats. Click here to see a summary of this month's real estate and mortgage stats.

From 2010 to 2015, Canadian infrastructure will grow at over two and a half times the growth rate seen over the previous five years, a new PwC-sponsored report by Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics found. By 2020, Canada is expected to be the fifth largest construction market behind India and Japan—a jump from its current position in seventh place.

Early this year, CAAMP commissioned a survey of its members and the borrowing public regarding their perceptions about the Canada Mortgage Broker Channel.

TORONTO, April 15 /CNW/ - For Hire: A Prime Minister for Canada who has vision and leadership, is an excellent communicator and a strong role model, is results-driven, and has a track record of success. Political experience is important. Being a good person to share a beer with, nice to have, but not a requirement.

TORONTO, April 11 /CNW/ - If sustained, the near 25 per cent hike in gasoline prices since late 2010 will cost Canadian households an extra $12 billion at the pumps in 2011, finds a new report from CIBC World Markets Inc. In his latest Consumer Watch Canada report, Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist at CIBC, notes that as of 2010, total spending on energy by Canadian households was just over $88 billion

Just after 5:00pm PDT on April 11, a communication was sent from INVIS stating that the organization has rejected the purchase offer from Pacific Mortgage Group and is not in negotiations.

The communication was signed by Cameron Strong, Executive Vice President and CFO of INVIS MI.

This follows a press release sent via CNW at 1:30 pm PDT from Pacific Mortgage Group announcing that a binding offer to acquire INVIS was delivered a month ago on March 11.

Scotiabank's Commodity Price Index, which measures price trends for 32 of Canada's major exports, rose by 1.1 per cent month over month (m/m) in February - the eighth consecutive monthly gain - to a level 49 per cent above the April 2009 cyclical low. While the tragic March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japantook a toll on some commodity prices in mid-March, the negative fallout is likely to prove temporary, with Japan quickly gearing up its economy again.

TORONTO, March 21 /CNW/ - Revenue Minister Sophia Aggelonitis and Ontario Real Estate Association Immediate Past President, Dorothy Mason, today released a video explaining to prospective buyers the facts about the HST and the housing market. The video highlights the fact that there is no HST on the purchase price of resale homes. Sales tax did not apply to the purchase price of resale homes under the previous PST, and it does not apply under the HST.

Mexicans and Koreans worry more about their environment than people in the Netherlands. And many Australians and Norwegians say their own actions can make a difference. These are some of the findings of a survey of 10 000 people across 10 countries. OECD’s new Greening Household Behaviour looks at policies that can encourage people to make sound environmental choices.

Bank of Canada released its winter review entitled Competition in the Canadian Mortgage Market. This article is a brief examination of the Canadian mortgage market, focusing on the market’s evolution following changes to the Bank Act in 1992, which allowed chartered banks to enter the trust business, and the subsequent entrance of virtual banks and mortgage brokers.

What do the mortgage changes mean for you and your clients? Read comments from Merix, MCAP, VERICO Canada and others.

We ask lenders 'What innovative marketing strategies have you seen from brokers?'

2010 was a successful year for National Bank and Mark Squire, Director of Broker Services and Virtual Banking shares some impressive stats with us as well as his take on the big issues facing the industry and his forecast for 2011.

Jan Rice, one of three CAAMP Hall of Fame inductees, talks to JAC News about her career over the past 30 years and her current role as CMHC’s National Manager of Insurance Business Development.

JAC News speaks to Boris Bozic, CAAMP Vice Chair. Mr. Bozic offers comments on the issues facing the industry as well as his forecast for the 2011 market. As the CAAMP conference chair, Mr. Bozic also discusses the aim of the Mortgage Forum this year.

JAC News speaks to Bruno Valko, ResMor Director of National Sales, about the lender’s growth strategies, the future of the Ally brand and new products currently in development. “The insight I’ve gained from my experience as both a lender and a mortgage agent has been invaluable in gaining a better perspective of the business, a working knowledge of what mortgage brokers require to grow their businesses and an understanding of what’s required to strengthen mortgage broker loyalty through products and services. I look forward to utilizing this insight to better serve the broker community,” says Mr. Valko.

Canada Real Estate Magazine talks to Wayne Proctor, MC of the Fraud Summit in Vancouver. Mr. Proctor is a Mortgage Fraud Consultant and talks about the incidence of fraud in Canada and how brokers and lenders can protect themselves and their clients.

Canada Real Estate Magazine talks to Jim Murphy, President and CEO of CAMMP at the Fraud Summit in Vancouver last week. With the CAAMP Mortgage Forum is just a few short weeks away, Mr. Murphy gives us a glimpse of what to expect. He also offers an overview of the changes to the AMP designation that will go into effect next year.

Ajay Soni, CAMMP Director of BC and Yukon, talks to Canada Real Estate Magazine during the Fraud Summit in Vancouver on October 8. Mr. Soni discusses the unique conditions of the BC and Vancouver real estate market, the effect of HST and his forecast of 2011.

President of VERICO Dreyer Group Mortgages discusses Greater Vancouver market conditions, the HST, TD’s collateral based mortgage and his company efforts in providing safe housing for youth in an exclusive video interview.

MCAP, a leading Canadian mortgage company, together with Habitat for Humanity Canada, have launched the Key to Hope program where consumers can make an ongoing charitable donation to Habitat for Humanity Canada by adding any amount to a MCAP mortgage.

Paradigm Quest Inc. President and CEO, Kathy Gregory, talks to JAC News about the launch of RUBI systems, the organization’s new technology platform that aims to streamline the application and underwriting process.

JAC News recently spent time with Joanne Vickery, business woman, successful mortgage broker, and the current President of the Mortgage Brokers Association of British Columbia. From her goals and aspirations as the MBABC President to the state of the union in the mortgage and lending industry, Joanne offers thoughtful insight into the challenges facing the industry combined with a unique ambition to embrace change head on.

Mike Linehan, President and CEO of Canadiana Financial Corp, talks to Canada Mortgage Magazine about their broker centric objectives, overcoming the challenges brought on by the global financial crisis and his view on the future of the Canadian mortgage landscape.

JAC: Congratulations on your new entry to the market, Canadiana Financial. What stage are you at in terms of launching? Website? Staffing? Office location? Regional and/or National representation?

CFC: Thanks for your kind comments; the employees at Canadiana Financial Corp (CFC) are excited to have the opportunity to serve our loyal brokers. The launch is complete and CFC is fully operational in all Provinces excluding Quebec. We are planning future expansion into Quebec. CFC is a Vancouver based residential mortgage lender with business development professionals located in BC, Alberta and Ontario.

Remarks by Superintendent Julie Dickson, Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI), to the Financial Services Invitational Forum, Cambridge, Ontario, May 6, 2010.

Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada, 24 March 2010 -

It is either brave or foolhardy of the Ottawa Economics Association to organize another conference around Canada's perennial challenges of demographics, productivity, and potential growth. The cognoscenti wearily deride these shortcomings even while they acknowledge their importance. After all, who really wants to talk about getting old? Similarly, the subject of productivity is described as too dull, or worse, too threatening for Canadians. It is said to imply working harder, not smarter, or to promote job losses rather than income gains. These debates are thus thought best confined to the policy wonks, in order that our diagnoses and prescriptions can occur in a parallel, forgotten universe.

Washington, DC, April 24, 2010 - The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Thanks to the extraordinary and highly coordinated policy actions of governments and multilateral financial institutions over the past 20 months, the global economy has stabilized and modest growth has emerged. This recovery remains fragile, however, particularly in advanced economies, and many shared global challenges remain.