Buy fire insurance

Because the place is on fire!  The CMHC "has recently received an unexpected level of requests for large amounts of CMHC portfolio insurance."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/01/31/cmhc-mortgage-limit.html

Don't worry, the stupid corrupt government will sell it to them.  They'll raise the cap if necessary. Anything to loot the taxpayer. Privatized profit and socialized loss. That is why it's good to be a bank.  But what's this?  CIBC may actually require you to prove your income. That's a big step up from simply making an 'X'.

http://www.thestar.com/article/1124551--mortgage-cmhc-firstline-ottawa-self-employed-new-immigrants-housing-market

In the United States these stated income loans were called "liar's loans", and they were widely used by realtors, mortgage brokers, construction workers, and the poor to speculate on housing. But Canada doesn't have any of those "subprime" lending practices, right?  So says our national media, over and over again.  But the Americans know this game:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-30/canada-s-subprime-crisis-seen-with-u-s-styled-loans-mortgages.html

Hat tip to AG Sage, for recording these for posterity.  Here's your prudent Canadian banks.  I wonder if anyone got a cash back mortgage with no job.  I might have tried, but I have a job.

http://worldhousingbubble.blogspot.com/2012/01/canadian-subprime-mortgage-offers.html

I'm curious, what subprime practices did the US have that we don't have?  We have liar loans, cash back loans, and the entire country is on a teaser rate.  One thing I do not recall from the US is taxpayer gifted down payments (hat tip http://saskatoonhousingbubble.blogspot.com/).

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Program+aims+help+with+down+payment/6075811/story.html

I think it's interesting that the City of Saskatoon is willing to spend precious tax dollars to help put the working poor under an unrepayable mountain of debt.  Privatized profit, socialized loss.  The banks won't lose anything if these people default.  It's all insured by your old age pensions and medical care.  What's this?

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Stephen+Harper+says+major+changes+coming+Canada+pension+system/6058217/story.html

And that's why it's good to be a Canadian bank.