{"id":22138,"date":"2025-10-24T11:33:54","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T11:33:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=22138"},"modified":"2025-10-24T11:33:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T11:33:54","slug":"highlights-from-mpcs-lender-panel-a-steadier-market-and-new-opportunities-for-brokers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=22138","title":{"rendered":"Highlights from MPC\u2019s lender panel: a steadier market and new opportunities for brokers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Representatives from some of Canada\u2019s largest mortgage lenders say the housing market has held up far better than expected this year. Borrowers have largely adjusted to higher rates, and lenders expect brokers to capture a growing share of the market as demand normalizes.<\/p>\n

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\"Jason
Jason Ellis, First National<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Speaking at the Mortgage Professionals Canada\u2019s National Conference in Ottawa, senior executives from First National, Scotiabank, CMLS Financial, MCAP and BMO described 2025 as a year of resilience, not retreat, marked by disciplined borrowers, balanced regional performance and early signs of renewed confidence.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s been no renewal cliff,\u201d said Jason Ellis, president and CEO of First National. \u201cNone of us up here have seen any evidence of a collapse. The housing market has held together, and arrears are less than 15 basis points.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian Carey, executive vice-president and COO of MCAP, emphasized keeping perspective. He noted that MCAP expects over $20 billion in residential mortgage activity this year, and more than $30 billion across all business lines. \u201cThe residential mortgage market in Canada is $2.7 trillion today,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we go back 10 years, it was about $1.7 trillion. So if you look over that period of time, it\u2019s grown quite nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carey added that the picture varies widely across the country, with some regions continuing to show strength while others still struggling.<\/p>\n

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\"Tracy
T<\/em><\/strong>racy Gomes, Scotiabank<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cIf I were to look at Alberta, the Prairies and the Maritimes, the market has actually been doing okay,\u201d he added. \u201cPrices have continued to go up in those markets because they didn\u2019t peak out like they did in 2021 and 2022 in Toronto and Vancouver.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tracy Gomes, senior vice-president of real estate secured lending at Scotiabank, said clients are making disciplined choices as they adjust to a higher-rate environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cAside from housing itself, the mortgage market was great,\u201d she said. \u201cWe had a lot of renewals coming up for our borrowers this year, and so that was a very healthy switch and refinance market for anybody who\u2019s in the mortgage lending business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the year\u2019s broader policy changes, moderator Mary Putnam, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at Canada Guaranty, said this year\u2019s federal mortgage rule changes have made a noticeable difference in improving affordability and giving buyers greater flexibility.<\/p>\n

Key data from Canada Guaranty\u2019s portfolio:<\/strong><\/h6>\n
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\"Mary
Mary Putnam, Canada Guaranty<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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  • 56% of new high-ratio originations this year opted for a 30-year amortization.<\/li>\n
  • 46% of those borrowers would not have qualified for the same home at 25 years.<\/li>\n
  • 3.5% of insured volume now exceeds $1 million, following the new $1.5-million cap.<\/li>\n
  • 64% of new high-ratio insured business originates through the broker channel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Putnam said the changes have helped bring more balance to the market. \u201cIt gave first-time homebuyers an opportunity to buy in a rational process where for many years it was very hard,\u201d she said, noting that many buyers previously felt pressured to waive conditions before securing approvals. \u201cSo that has made a big, big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Lenders see a maturing cycle, and a stable path ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Panelists agreed the market has entered a steadier phase, with borrowers adapting, arrears remaining low and brokers playing a central role in guiding clients through changing conditions. <\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s a look at some of the standout moments and insights from MPC\u2019s lender panel.<\/p>\n

    On arrears and borrower resilience<\/strong><\/h3>\n