The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that mortgage finance companies collectively originate close to 10 per cent of residential mortgages in Canada. Guest columnist Hanif Bayat writes, however, they rarely retain these loans on their balance sheets. Instead, they securitize or sell them, often to other institutions such as the Big Six banks. As a result, the ownership share of the six biggest banks is considerably larger than their share of originations. As of January, outstanding residential mortgage credit totalled $2.07-trillion, with more than $350-billion in additional home equity lines of credit. That brings the total residential real estate-secured lending in Canada to $2.42-trillion. Meanwhile, home equity lines of credit have gained popularity, especially among homeowners who have benefited from significant home price appreciation over the past decade. Combined, the six biggest banks control around 74 per cent of the market. Including Desjardins, the largest credit union, raises the total to 80 per cent. The remaining 20 per cent is shared among more than 20 smaller banks, hundreds of credit unions, mortgage finance companies, insurance and trust companies and mortgage investment entities.