🏡 Daily Mortgage & Peterborough/Kawarthas Housing Market Briefing | Sept 28, 2026

Welcome to your Monday market breakdown! 📊 Whether you are keeping an eye on fixed mortgage rates, planning your next move, or tracking Peterborough and Kawartha's property values, here is everything you need to know heading into the final week of September.

📈 Bank of Canada & Bond Yield Snapshot

• Monday Opening Yield Baseline (~3.63%–3.68%): Government of Canada 5-year benchmark bond yields open trading near 3.63%–3.64%. While yields pulled back slightly from last week's highs (~3.69%–3.72%), they remain 30–40 bps higher than the late-August lows (~3.25%).

• Macro Driver & Policy Realignment: Money markets entering Q4 are pricing in zero likelihood of Bank of Canada rate cuts for the remainder of 2026. Following the September 2 decision to hold the policy rate at 2.25%(Prime at 4.45%), persistent global energy friction and core CPI inflation (~2.3%) are keeping fixed wholesale funding costs firm heading toward the October 28 BoC decision.

💳 True North Mortgage & Major Lender Rates

Here is where standard high-ratio (insured) and conventional (uninsured) rates stand today:

Term / Option	High-Ratio (Insured)	Conventional (Uninsured)	Market Trend
3-Year Fixed	3.99% – 4.14%	4.39% – 4.64%	Primary borrower choice; sub-3.90% promotional holds are fully removed 🛑
5-Year Fixed	4.19% – 4.29%	4.49% – 4.74%	Elevated bond yield floor limits discretionary discounting 📉
5-Year Variable	3.30% – 3.35% (Prime - 1.10% to 1.15%)	3.65% – 3.85%	Holds steady; offers the widest spread against fixed options 💡

⚠️ Broker Channel Alert: Monolines and broker-exclusive desks open Monday with zero yield buffer. Discretionary rate-buydown budgets are tightly restricted as 5-year bond yields hover above 3.60%. Action item: If you have an active pre-approval pipeline with a sub-4.00% 3-year fixed rate hold, verify your expiry date today so it doesn't lapse unutilized!

📍 Peterborough & Kawarthas Regional Pulse

• Price Benchmarks: In-city Peterborough median sold prices remain steady between $545,750 – $560,000 (average $573,919). Peterborough County overall (including rural residential and waterfront properties) averages $708,800.

• Inventory & Absorption: Active listings across the region remain balanced at ~329 to 385 active listings, with average days on market holding steady at 33 days.

• Buyer Strategy: Balanced conditions favour thoughtful, structured buyers over aggressive bidding wars. Standard detached homes are closing a median of $14,000 to $20,000 below original list price, giving buyers room to keep full conditional protections in place! 🤝

💡 Key Advice for Buyers & Homeowners

1. Audit Your Pre-Approval Expiration Dates: If you are shopping or facing a fall/winter renewal, double-check your 120-day rate holds. If you hold a rate under 4.00%, keeping it active is essential—re-qualifying under October rate sheets could mean paying 10 to 20 bps more.

2. Use Conditional Bidding to Your Advantage: With local properties taking over a month on average to sell (~33 DOM), sellers are open to conditional offers. You do not need to waive essential financing, appraisal, or home inspection clauses to secure a home in Peterborough or the Kawarthas.

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Questions about anything REAL ESTATE?? Call me for a consultation to help you get to the path of YOUR success….

📞 705-927-6236

👤 Brad Sinclair | Realtor® Re/Max Professionals North

📍 Might as well have the BEST to accomplish your goals.

Families love the Kawarthas/Highlands. Let’s find your place in it. 🌲🏠✨