How will the Bank of Canada's interest rate decision impact real estate?

Real estate experts say many potential homebuyers are waiting for rate cuts before entering the real estate market following the Bank of Canada’s latest decision to hold rates, but demand remains high for some properties.

Victor Tran, mortgage and real estate expert at Ratesdotca, said in a statement to BNNBloomberg.ca Wednesday that the housing market “continues to be in a holding pattern” characterized by tight supply and “stiff competition for desirable properties.”

“While some consumers are willing to take on higher interest rates now to avoid the expected frothy market when rates drop, others are tired of waiting for rate drops and are losing faith that rates will decline as far and as fast as previously predicted and are stepping back from the search,” Tran said. 

According to Tran, the average down payment for a home fell 12 per cent in March on an annual basis, potentially signifying the impact of high interest rates on the amount of mortgage debt consumers can take on.