Fergal McAlinden

Toronto

News Editor at Canadian Mortgage Professional

Irish journalist in Toronto, currently covering the US and Canadian mortgage and housing markets.

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Articles

NAMB calls for mortgage rule changes as Fannie-Freddie shakeup continues

22 hours ago | mpamag.com | Fergal McAlinden

Association puts forward proposals after FHFA's Pulte calls for fresh ideas By 24 Apr 2025 An overhaul at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is gathering pace, with Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) director Bill Pulte issuing a call on X for input on “ideas on what to do differently” at the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) – and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) already has a few suggestions.
Variable mortgage rates stall above fixed rates - what should borrowers choose?

23 hours ago | mpamag.com | Fergal McAlinden

Fixed rates ticked slightly upwards but are down compared with two weeks ago. Which rate type are borrowers choosing? By 24 Apr. 2025 The Bank of Canada brought its rate-cutting path to a shuddering halt last week, ending a run of seven straight reductions on Wednesday by leaving its benchmark rate unchanged.
New US home sales see surprising jump in boost to mortgage market

1 day ago | mpamag.com | Fergal McAlinden

March sales unexpectedly jumped – but how will tariff volatility affect the outlook for the months ahead? By 23 Apr 2025 The US housing market shook off tariff-induced fears about the economy’s future by posting an unexpected increase in March new home sales, getting the spring homebuying season off to a good start.
The road to becoming a $6 billion broker

2 days ago | mpamag.com | Fergal McAlinden

Carving out a niche in the commercial space has helped this mortgage exec forge a multibillion-dollar career, with $1 billion funded in 2024 alone By 23 Apr. 2025 Few, if any, sectors of the mortgage industry have been completely immune to the rising-interest rate environment of the past few years, with climbing borrowing costs pushing many clients to the sideline and weighing against funded volume.
Trump's trade war casts a 'deep chill' over Canada's housing market

3 days ago | mpamag.com | Fergal McAlinden

Expectations for a market recovery are fading fast as the economy braces for coming shock. When will the outlook improve? By 22 Apr. 2025 The national housing market appeared poised for a rebound at the beginning of the year in Canada as hopes rose that lower interest rates would nudge homebuyers off the sidelines and see activity heat up by spring.
Plunging rents boost first-time buyers - but big challenges remain

4 days ago | mpamag.com | Fergal McAlinden

Lower rents could make it easier for new buyers to afford a downpayment, but home prices aren't exactly nosediving By 21 Apr. 2025 Rental prices continue to fall across Canada, sliding for a sixth straight month in March in a boost to beleaguered renters who’ve faced an alarming spike in costs since 2020.
Trump: 'Powell's termination cannot come fast enough'

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Fergal McAlinden

President blasts Fed chair, again demands lower rates By 17 Apr 2025 Image from Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons President Trump has launched another broadside against Jerome Powell, urging the Federal Reserve chair’s “termination” from his post and once again demanding the central bank cut interest rates.
Don't expect the Bank of Canada to keep rate cuts on ice for the rest of 2025

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Fergal McAlinden

The central bank has paused its spate of rate reductions – but Trump’s tariffs are keeping further cuts firmly on the agenda By 17 Apr. 2025 The Bank of Canada tapped the brakes on a run of seven straight interest rate cuts in yesterday’s decision – but further reductions are by no means off the table for 2025 as global economic chaos triggered by US president Donald Trump’s tariff wave continues.
Fed's Powell sounds the alarm on potential Trump tariff shock

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Fergal McAlinden

Inflation is likely to jump amid an economic slowdown – but the Fed chair ruled out a swift rate cut By 16 Apr 2025 Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said the Trump administration’s tariff war will likely drive inflation higher and slow the US economy, but dismissed the prospect of an imminent interest rate cut as those risks grow.
Non-QM could be a big winner from cuts to federal housing programs

1 week ago | mpamag.com | Fergal McAlinden

Could further program culls push more borrowers towards the non-agency space? By 16 Apr 2025 Federal housing agencies have set about implementing policy changes in the opening months of the second Trump presidency aimed at narrowing access to government-backed mortgage programs, raising speculation about a possible surge toward the non-agency space if that pullback continues.