Our Scans · (FS.6.06) Personal Finance · Weekly Summary

• [New] Financial services institutions that approach mortgage lending with embedded risk intelligence, cross-border awareness, and strong governance will not only reduce exposure to scam activity and fraud - they will position themselves as trusted partners in an increasingly interconnected global economy. FinExtra
• [New] The experiences of markets as diverse as New Zealand, Panama, Ireland, Italy, and South Africa demonstrate that while regulatory structures differ, the underlying challenge is universal: how to enable growth in mortgage lending while mitigating evolving fraud risk. FinExtra
• [New] Homeowners insurance premiums are up 21% nationally over the past three years, and are expected to rise another 8% in 2026, making them the fastest-growing component of monthly payments (mortgage, taxes, and insurance). housingwire
• [New] The Bank of England is monitoring wage settlements closely as it assesses whether inflation pressures will allow it to lower interest rates further. RTE
• [New] Consumer confidence, mortgage rate trends and shifts in federal policy could play a key role in shaping housing demand and pricing in 2026. Florida Realtors
• [New] Financial advisors in 2026 are expected to focus heavily on personalized retirement income strategies rather than simple age-based rules. districtlounge.ca
• [New] The new retirement system will gradually move away from the set age of 65, which is in line with Canada's goals for a stable economy and an ageing population. Taifu Judo Club
• [New] The baby boomer generation had a record-breaking 11,000 people per day reach retirement age in 2024 - a trend that is expected to continue through 2027. STI/SPFA
• [New] With the second Trump administration signaling a looser federal mortgage regulatory environment, 41% of respondents expect overall policy softening. Success Focused Real Estate License Classes and More
• [New] Finding efficiencies in the mortgage process will be key for lenders in 2026. nCino
• [New] Many international investors are used to adjustable-rate mortgages, but with a fixed-rate mortgage in the U.S., they might prefer to lock in a consistent payment so they can more easily predict cash flow. housingwire
• [New] If the Fed cuts rates or holds steady in 2026, that could support small declines in mortgage costs. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Even if the Fed holds its benchmark rate steady, mortgage rates could still move as rates are more directly tied by 10-year Treasury bond yields. Bankrate
• [New] By 2026, insurers will shift from treating longevity as a retirement funding problem to enabling ageing gracefully, supporting financial security, health resilience, and independence across longer lives. Insurance Blog | Accenture
• Fannie Mae forecasts mortgage rates will decline to 5.9% by year-end 2026, from 6.4% at the close of 2025. Passle
• Mortgage rates surged to a 23-year high in 2023, cooled modestly in 2024 and 2025, and are now expected to remain relatively stable throughout 2026. Josh Mettle
• The United States is in a retirement crisis, while 41% believe retirement will be possible for the typical American in 25 years. Starwest Mortgage Corporation
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation projected real GDP growth of just 0.7% in 2026, one of the weakest non-recession years in recent decades, as trade tensions, slower population growth and softer labour markets weigh on demand. Mortgage Professional
• Substantial load growth coupled with the retirement of firm power capacity could increase the risk of power outages by 100 times by 2030. POWER Magazine
• In Japan, investors will assess December wage data, with nominal pay growth forecast to accelerate to 3% from 0.5%. Trading Economics
• 40% of adults worry they will not have enough money to last through retirement. CNBC

Last updated: 23 February 2026