Craig Alexander

The odds clearly favor the Bank of Canada raising the overnight rate by a quarter point on May 24 to read more

The odds clearly favor the Bank of Canada raising the overnight rate by a quarter point on May 24 to 4.25 percent.

Based on long-term factors, including demographics and income growth, the average annual increase in national home prices is likely to read more

Based on long-term factors, including demographics and income growth, the average annual increase in national home prices is likely to be around four per cent in the coming decade, so the recent high single- digit and low double-digit gains cannot persist indefinitely. But, the key issue is whether the adjustment to a more sustainable trend is gradual. The good news is that this is what appears to be happening in Central and Atlantic Canada.

Canada's housing markets remained robust in early 2006, despite slightly higher mortgage rates. However, the dominant theme lurking beneath the read more

Canada's housing markets remained robust in early 2006, despite slightly higher mortgage rates. However, the dominant theme lurking beneath the national average results is clear signs that speculation has picked up in Western Canada, while housing markets in Central Canada appear to be coming in for a soft-landing.

We estimate that only Winnipeg and the Atlantic are more affordable than Calgary and Edmonton, but only because home prices read more

We estimate that only Winnipeg and the Atlantic are more affordable than Calgary and Edmonton, but only because home prices in the former two are considerably cheaper than their Alberta counterparts.