Author Archive

Author Archive

Elan Weintraub Quoted in The Globe and Mail – Liberals’ proposed cut to federal mortgage insurance rates won’t make housing more affordable, experts say

Posted on August 28th, 2021 by Leahs Mortgages

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-liberals-proposed-cut-to-federal-mortgage-insurance-rates-wont-make/ A Liberal Party promise to cut federal mortgage insurance rates by 25 per cent is unlikely to make housing more affordable, but will increase risks for taxpayers, industry experts say. The proposed cut to the cost of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) insurance is one of a number of election campaign promises announced […]

Michelle Farrugia and Shabnam Gill – CMP Rising Stars 2021

Posted on July 26th, 2021 by Leahs Mortgages

https://www.mpamag.com/ca/best-in-mortgage/rankings/rising-stars-2021/288849 THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW CMP spotlights 63 up-and-coming young professionals who are making waves in the Canadian mortgage industry. Starting out in the mortgage industry can be daunting for young professionals at the best of times. While potentially hugely rewarding, the industry can also be intense and demanding, with an often-heavy work-load and a […]

Canadian mortgage debt grew by $18 billion in April, biggest monthly gain ever, StatsCan says

Posted on July 11th, 2021 by Leahs Mortgages

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mortgage-debt-1.6071190 Leah Zlatkin, a housing market expert with Lowestrates.ca and principal broker at Brite Mortgage in Toronto, says growing mortgage debt makes perfect sense considering what’s happening in the housing market right now. Home prices continue to climb to an average of just over $688,000 last month — a figure that has increased by 38 […]

Shawn Stillman Quoted on Mortgage Broker News – Is the housing market slowing down?

Posted on June 21st, 2021 by Leahs Mortgages

https://www.mpamag.com/ca/news/general/is-the-housing-market-slowing-down/287535 Speaking with Mortgage Broker News, Shawn Stillman (pictured), principal broker and co-founder at Mortgage Outlet, said that an eventual cooling off in the market was inevitable, with prospective homebuyers repeatedly frozen out in the hyperactive bidding process. “What I think is happening is that buyers have gotten frustrated with the market because they were […]

Banks Find Ways Around the New Stress Test – Video

Posted on June 8th, 2021 by Leahs Mortgages

Leah Zlatkin, LowestRates.ca expert and Principal broker at Brite Mortgage speaks to Financial Post’s Larysa Harapyn about the mortgage stress test that came into effect June 1. 

Will the New Mortgage Rules Tame Canada’s Overheated Housing Market

Posted on June 5th, 2021 by Leahs Mortgages

Will the new mortgage rules tame Canada’s overheated housing market? Experts surveyed by the Star say they doubt it | The Star Asked if the stress tests and federal bank concerns would help slow home-price growth, mortgage industry expert Leah Zlatkin was much more dismissive. “My quick answer is absolutely not,” says Zlatkin, a consultant […]

Leah Zlatkin quoted in Mortgage Broker News, “Stricter Qualification Requirements could provoke more fraud”

Posted on May 21st, 2021 by Leahs Mortgages

https://www.mortgagebrokernews.ca/news/lowestrates-ca-stricter-qualification-requirements-could-provoke-more-fraud-356395.aspx With the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions raising the qualifying rate for borrowers who have at least a 20% down payment from 4.79% to 5.25%, the new regulatory environment might become an excuse for some would-be borrowers to cheat a bit. Misrepresentations might prove especially appealing among those refinancing from new lenders, […]

Leah Zlatkin quoted in Canadian Real Estate Magazine: ‘Expect rise in attempted mortgage fraud: broker’

Posted on May 12th, 2021 by Leahs Mortgages

https://www.canadianrealestatemagazine.ca/news/expect-rise-in-attempted-mortgage-fraud-broker-334647.aspx The confluence of exorbitant housing prices and the incoming mortgage stress test could encourage some Canadians to misrepresent their earnings on mortgage applications, warns a broker. “I do foresee instances of fraud for shelter becoming more prevalent because the market has heated up so much that housing is out of grasp for a lot […]

Shabnam Gill Winner Canadian Mortgage Award – Young Achiever of the Year

Posted on April 28th, 2021 by Leahs Mortgages

https://canadianmortgageawards.com/winners-finalists/2021#s For 15 years now, the annual Canadian Mortgage Awards (CMAs) has been recognized as the leading independent awards program in the mortgage industry. The awards showcase the leading brokers, brokerages, lenders, BDMs, underwriters and service providers for their outstanding achievements, best practices and leadership in the mortgage business over the past 12 months. We’re […]

Elan Weintraub Quoted in The Globe and Mail – Many Canadians made additional mortgage payments during the pandemic

Posted on April 22nd, 2021 by Leahs Mortgages

Canadian homeowners haveincreased their additional mortgage payments during the pandemic, taking advantage of savings built up during the lockdowns to pay down their home loans. A total of $34-billion of additional or unscheduled mortgage payments were made last year, compared with $31-billion in 2019, according to a new report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. […]