This Week's Mortgage Market Update Contains:

• Mortgage lending tightens for self-employed, immigrants
• Limit on CMHC mortgages could tighten lending and slow housing market
• US construction spending rose 1.5 pct. in December with housing and government both up

This Week's Quotation:

“Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.” - King Whitney Jr.

This Week's Highlights:

• Housing starts show strong increase in December
• Employment rises in December: unemployment rate also rises
• Inflation rate held at 2.9% in November

This Week's Mortgage Market Update Contains:

• Central bank stands pat with 1% rate
• Moderate growth eases concern of crash in housing market
• Why are mortgage rates hitting record lows?

This Week's Quotation:

“When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less.” - Paul Brown (1908 - 1991)

This Week's Highlights:

• Housing starts show strong increase in December
• Employment rises in December: unemployment rate also rises
• Inflation rate held at 2.9% in November

This Week's Mortgage Market Update Contains:

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says housing starts rose in December
• Consumer debt still rising, but at slower pace
• Fed officials push more stimulus for U.S. housing

This Week's Quotation:

“Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” - William James (1842 - 1910)

This Week's Highlights:

• Using CMHC Programs to Help You Build Equity in Your Home

This Week's Mortgage Market Update Contains:

• How Being Self Employed Impacts Your Mortgage Qualification
• Aging baby boomers helping change face of Canada's housing market: CMHC
• Construction spending increased 1.2 per cent in November, led by gains in housing

This Week's Quotation:

“Mach-S, the speed at which stress can't keep up, is simply forward motion. But it has to be self- propelled. Note that people in cars are still stressed.” - Jef Mallett, Frazz, 08-26-05

This Week's Highlights:

• Housing starts decline in November
• Labour market drops
• Inflation rate held at 2.9% in November

This Week's Mortgage Market Update Contains:

• Canadian economy 'vulnerable' to overheated housing market, IMF warns
• Surrey tops real estate investment list
• U.S. new-home sales up 1.6 per cent in November, but 2011 worst year on record

This Week's Quotation:

“There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.” -  Aldous Huxley (1894 - 1963)

This Week's Highlights:

• Housing starts decline in November
• Labour market drops
• Inflation rate held at 2.9% in November

This Week's Mortgage Market Update Contains:

• How the rich are investing in real estate right now
• Record high household debt in Canada triggers alarm
• What's Behind Scotia's Rental Changes

This Week's Quotation:

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” -  Christopher Reeve, From speech at Democratic National Convention, August 1996

This Week's Highlights:

• Housing starts decline slightly in October
• Employment tumbled in October
• Annual headline and core inflation rates up in September