In The Media

The fallout from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has spread to the Canadian mortgage market, with some forecasters now expecting the Bank of Canada to cut interest rates sooner than previously thought.

But some experts say that while the recent shakeup in financial markets could drive fixed-rate mortgage rates lower in the near term, whether the disruption is enough to shake the Bank of Canada off its rate path remains to be seen.

When Tamara Saeed and her husband were looking for a way to save for their children’s education a few years ago, the allure of Airbnb caught their eye.

The family bought a cottage near Grand Bend, Ont., in late 2019, with plans to host the property on the short-term rental platform. They almost second-guessed the move when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, but the waves of Canadians looking to escape the city during lockdowns proved a boon for the new cottage owners.

Shubha Dasgupta has never lost sight of the importance of service throughout his distinguished career to date

Few, if any, six-year-olds initially aspire to be mortgage brokers – and Shubha Dasgupta was no different. As a child, he harboured ambitions to become a doctor as a means of helping people, but fate works in mysterious ways and Dasgupta ultimately pursued another form of service: as a mortgage professional, assisting Canadians across the country in their efforts to realize their homebuying dreams.

The pandemic poured fuel on an already red-hot housing market in Canada and sent house prices soaring. But with interest rates rising, home prices are now showing signs of stabilizing or even dropping. And that’s generating uncertainty for prospective homebuyers.

We asked Shubha Dasgupta, CEO and founder of digital mortgage company Pineapple, to answer some of your burning questions about how to get into the home of your dreams.

The housing and mortgage markets may have cooled off substantially in recent weeks – but that’s bringing opportunities for buyers including greater choice and less competition from rival bidders, according to a prominent industry figure.

Shubha Dasgupta, CEO of the Pineapple broker network, told Canadian Mortgage Professional that the recent slowdown, which has seen home sales activity drop off across many markets, has removed some of the intensity from the purchasing process and provided some welcome respite for buyers and brokers alike – not least because supply is becoming available at last.

As interest rates continue to rise and home sales experience a marked cooldown from the barnstorming activity of the past two years, there’s been much furore of late over the prospect of a housing market crash in Canada.

Still, members of the country’s mortgage industry don’t appear convinced the bottom is about to fall out of Canada’s housing and mortgage markets. Rather, many have emphasized to Canadian Mortgage Professional in recent weeks that home buying activity across the country is experiencing an inevitable drop toward more normal levels, having witnessed an unprecedented spike throughout the low-rate environment of the early pandemic.

Ontario voters head to the polls on Thursday (June 02) to decide who will lead the province’s 43rd parliament – and it’s no surprise that housing issues have been placed front and centre as an election issue throughout the campaign.

Few parts of Canada have seen a housing affordability crisis as pronounced as Ontario, with prices shooting far beyond the reach of many would-be buyers. That’s been especially apparent in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the province’s most populous urban sprawl, where two metropolitan areas – Toronto and Hamilton – feature in the top 10 least affordable cities in North America, according to Oxford Economics.

Christa Mitchell meets with Jim Lang to discuss how Pineapple Mortgage raised $15,000 to benefit youth sports and the MLSE Foundation.

Shubha Dasgupta - President of the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association and CEO of Pineapple, Canada’s digital mortgage solution “Gifted down payments and how do they work?” The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll every weekday from 5:00 am to 9:00 am on News Talk 580 CFRA.

As Canada’s spring market ramps up, Canadian Mortgage Professional sat down with Pineapple CEO Shubha Dasgupta to hear his thoughts on market activity this year and the role technology is likely to play in the industry in the coming years, as well as checking on the latest updates at CMBA-Ontario.

Whether you have a mortgage or you’re in the market for a home right now, you’ve probably heard interest rates are rising. And you’re wondering how that may affect you.

The good news, says Shubha Dasgupta, founder and CEO of digital mortgage expert Pineapple, is that “The sky isn’t falling.” Rates are expected to rise only minimally, at least in the short term. But it’s wise to pay attention to the changes. Here’s what you need to know, depending on the type of mortgage you have, where you stand in your mortgage journey, or whether you’re simply in the market for a home:

Scaling a valuable tech innovator at an accelerated pace presents a significant challenge.

As part of the pioneering Capital Lending Centre, later rebranded into Pineapple, co-founder and chief executive officer Shubha Dasgupta (pictured) believes that the mere presence of a tech disruptor brings with it a unique set of challenges.

“The most challenging has been scaling Pineapple at a very rapid pace,” Dasgupta told Canadian Mortgage Professional.

This stemmed from “ensuring that our infrastructure and resources were able to handle the growth and that we did not allow that growth to impact our service levels,” Dasgupta added. “We always ask ourselves about purpose and intent and having a clear insight into these areas for all aspects of our business. When you understand the goal, you can work back to create the roadmap.”

Pineapple CEO Shubha Dasgupta explains how to choose the right mortgage broker, and why it matters.

You’ve found the home of your dreams. But that’s just the beginning. Your choice of a mortgage product is almost as important as your property, according to Shubha Dasgupta, CEO and founder of the digital mortgage company, Pineapple. The right mortgage broker can guide you through the entire process, saving you time and reducing stress, and can help you pick the product and provider that are best for your circumstances.

Where to find the right broker

Digital mortgage platforms with brokers at the helm, such as Pineapple, are changing the game when it comes to finding a mortgage. “We have over 450 highly experienced and well-trained mortgage agents in our Canada-wide network, available through our tech platform,” said Dasgupta. “They all go through a rigorous interview process as well as validation and background checks before they can be listed. We provide more than 45 hours of live training every month, as well as a fully digital platform to ensure they deliver best-in-class and proactive service.”

While modernizing mortgages is no easy feat, this new consumer-facing brokerage holds the keys to success—and your new home.

In the same way that technology has changed how we shop for clothes, catch up on news and communicate on a daily basis—the way we manage our financial lives has evolved as well. And for homebuyers, the experience of accessing a mortgage is no exception to this much-needed evolution. More than 400 mortgage brokers and agents, AI-driven systems and cloud-based tools make up Pineapple Financial, a digital-first brokerage reimaging the home buying experience.

The company’s forward-thinking approach has established itself as a destination for all types of homebuyers seeking secure and trustworthy expertise to enhance their purchasing power. Dedicated to providing mortgage-seeking Canadians with the best service on the market, Pineapple’s smart software makes communication easy, while a flexible range of products make every client experience custom fit. Thinking about the possibility of homeownership for yourself? Meet some of Pineapple’s clients who’ve made the most of their means with the brand transforming the way Canadians access mortgages. 

The innovative brokerage is on a mission to guide all of Canada into a new age of mortgages.

Accelerated by the pandemic, tech integration has shifted nearly every industry into the future, and the financial sector is no exception. Pineapple Financial has secured its role in kick-starting that shift with an integrated network of more than 400 mortgage brokers and agents, AI-driven systems and cloud-based tools to make the home buying experience seamless and transparent. The digital-first brokerage believes the road to homeownership, a major milestone in your financial journey, ought to be a process inspired by the brand’s namesake—a symbol of warmth and hospitality. 

Whether you need a clear assessment of your buying power or find yourself in a time-crunch to secure a mortgage, Pineapple takes on the heavy lifting to save you time and money, acting as an expert advisor throughout your entire mortgage process. Start with an online application, explore the intelligent MyPineapple platform and gain full insight into deals and optimal offers based on their needs. Many Canadians have successfully secured their dream homes by working with a Pineapple broker. If you’ve begun to think about homeownership or are actively searching for a property, let their stories inspire you.

Say ‘home sweet home’ with Pineapple’s personalized mortgage brokerage model.

It’s no secret that Canada’s housing market is having a moment. With housing prices on a continual rise, especially in urban areas, plus new and ever-changing mortgage rules, it’s a challenging market to navigate, especially for those looking to buy their first home. Many first-time buyers looking to get a mortgage – or those looking to renew, refinance or tap into their home equity – go straight to the bank. But what if going through a mortgage broker could save you time, and even money?

Working with a mortgage broker can help homebuyers understand the market dynamics. With a strong focus on client service, a great broker will help you secure not just the best mortgage rate, but one that is the best fit for your specific financial situation.

This, at least, is the goal of Pineapple, a Toronto-based mortgage brokerage that is setting itself apart from traditional mortgage brokerages in Canada. With a growing network of more than 400 highly trained agents and brokers and with cutting-edge technology embedded into their processes, they have extensive knowledge of the Canadian housing industry, a focus on exceptional service and a diverse range of mortgage products at their fingertips.

It's a lesson that every mortgage professional could take to heart.

As co-founder and chief executive officer of mortgage industry innovator Pineapple, Shubha Dasgupta (pictured) leans on a fundamental lesson that every mortgage professional should take to heart.

“Look at the first few years of your career as a paid internship,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to try things; succeed and fail, but be patient with yourself. There is no such thing as overnight success, and everything comes to those who wait. Remember that patience is not about waiting but the attitude and work you put in while waiting.”

The mindset of patience and perseverance came naturally to Dasgupta, despite the mortgage space not being his first choice of vocation.