Category: General

#Throwback to this article on adding some pizzazz to your home’s exterior this summer. Seven Ways to Revive Your Home’s Exterior (for Selling, or Just for Summer) Whether or not you’re putting your house on the market, May is a perfect...

While it’s true the housing market has been slower this spring compared to years past, Toronto’s condo sector is thriving. “Prices have moderated to some extent and the condo markets are actually going up,” said Liz Smith, a REMAX Hallmark Realty...

The appetite of wealthy Chinese for Toronto’s real estate might now be recovering after “dropping like a bowling bowl” upon the implementation of the foreign buyers’ tax last year, according to the latest study conducted by international property portal Juwai.com. The...

A new study has found that retirees were the main driving factors of activity in 91% of Canada’s recreational property markets. According to the latest RE/MAX nationwide survey, a growing number of retired and would-be retiring consumers in British Columbia, Ontario,...

Victoria, B.C. has landed the top spot on Christie’s global list of hottest luxury housing markets. The real estate arm of the famed auction company says strong year-over-year sales growth and high domestic demand for housing catapulted the Vancouver Island community...

With this handy chart you’ll be prepared for the hidden costs that come with buying a home! Infographic: Costs You’ll Encounter when You Buy a Home Down payment? Check. Mortgage pre-approval? Check. But are you ready for all the extra costs...

As cannabis production facilities are on the verge of proliferating across the country, efficiency—and, by extension, sustainability—is going to be a pressing issue. According to Sony Rai, the architecture lead at SvN—which is building a 280,000 square foot cannabis production facility,...

Fuelled by a booming tech industry, Toronto’s economy has produced an all-too-familiar problem: soaring housing prices beyond the reach of the middle class. That’s also plagued Vancouver where prices have gone even higher than in Toronto. Now, Canada is embarking on...

The VillaNova project by Les Développements Lachine Est Inc. has recently announced the construction of three 10-storey towers in Montreal. The structures will add a total of 177 new condos and a 22,000 square-foot commercial ground floor to the bustling Montreal...

According to this article, “The Canadian Real Estate Association says national home sales sank to the lowest level in more than five years in April, falling by 13.9 per cent year-over-year.” National home sales fall 14% to lowest level in 5...

Vancouver housing restrictions dramatically increase prices Greater Vancouver gap between building cost and market price largest in Canada Source...

Episode 9 of Mortgagenomics Podcast… PODCAST: Vancouver real estate…a perfect storm? | Home Financing Solutions We discuss current market conditions with the author of Vancouver’s leading real estate blog, Steve Saretsky. Steve produces monthly analysis reports and has made several television...

Not all strata corporations welcome short-term or even long-term renters. Find out more in this article. Offline for Maintenance It’s a brave new world when it comes to leasing opportunities… but not all strata corporations welcome short-term or even long-term renters...

When should you renew, and when should you refinance your mortgage? Find out in this article. Renewing vs. Refinancing Your Mortgage: When Does Each Make Sense? Is mortgage renewal time your only chance to shop around for a lower rate? Mortgage...

Despite rising interest and qualifying rates, the luxury sector of the housing market should remain largely unaffected. “The luxury market tends to be much more a function of consumer confidence, which is a function of business confidence, which is a function...

About $8.4bn-worth of building permits were issued by municipalities across Canada last March, Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported Wednesday. The figure marks a 3.1% rise from February. According to the government bureau, the rise came on the heels of higher construction intentions...

Canadians are spending more than 30% their income on rent, according to this Vancouver Courier article. Overspending on rent has become the ‘new normal’ Canadian Rental Housing Index confirms Vancouver renters spending too much of their income on housing Source...

Here’s a fun infographic that shows us three different ways to save on mortgages! Infographic: Three Ways to Save on your Mortgage There are three easy steps to follow which could help save you thousands over the term of your mortgage,...

Vancouver was ranked 31st out of 43 global cities for price growth in high-end real estate, according to this article. Metro Vancouver is North America’s ‘worst performer’ in luxury real estate Latest prime real estate rankings by Knight Frank place Metro...

This article outlines the process of using home equity to unlock tax deductions. How to Use Home Equity to Unlock Tax Deductions If you have enough savings to pay off your mortgage, you can use your home for a loan that...

According to this article, “Council approved first reading for three projects Monday night that will add a total of 650 housing units to the city’s residential stock”. Towers aplenty get early OK from Coquitlam Hundreds of new condos and rental units...

Turn your home into an investment property by following these tips. How to Turn Your Home into an Investment Property If you can afford not to sell your original home when you buy a new one, but keep it as an...

Interested in real estate investing? This article breaks down what a “capitalization rate” is for you. Real Estate Investing: What is a Cap Rate, Anyhow? In the first of his exclusive articles for REW.ca on high-level real estate investing, industry veteran...

Buying an investment property near a school is one of the surest ways to maximize returns on investments. “They go hand-in-hand,” said Rosie Gimeno, a sales representative with REMAX Specialists Estate Group, of real estate and schools. “Typically, the better the...

The Québec Federation of Real Estate Boards (QFREB) joined the provinces three other major consumer protection bureaus in calling for the withdrawal of Bill 141, which aims to introduce further regulations in the province’s financial sector. Although the QFREB acknowledges the...

Realtors, developers brace for crash ‘Perception and fear trump fundamentals’ in pre-sale condo market Source...

Find out why it’s important to look beyond the mere rates and look at the bigger picture surrounding what is significant when it comes to your specific mortgage needs. How Much Does Mortgage Rate Really Matter? A great discounted rate on...

Did you know? The Bosa family of companies is proud to offer rental opportunities in some of Vancouver’s most livable neighbourhoods. Our latest, brand new building on Pendrell offers lots of cool amenities, move in dates this summer, and our #Bosa4Rent...

What is a reverse mortgage? Find out the benefits of reverse mortgages in this article. Exploring the Benefits of Reverse Mortgages Most Canadian seniors have 80 per cent of assets tied up in their house – and they can access that...

Find out the best time to hire a home inspector in this article. When is the Best Time to Hire a Home Inspector? If you’re buying – or selling – a home, you’ll need to hire a home inspector at some...

Ottawa is experiencing a rental shortage, and savvy foreign investors are swooping in. “There’s a shortage of inventory in the rental market here, so there’s a need for rental properties,” said Chris Lacharity, a sales representative with Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties,...

An economic revival in Canada’s second-biggest city is fuelling accelerated real estate sales and shrinking inventories, all the while luring in foreign buyers. More stringent lending rules have curbed transactions and slowed price growth in Toronto but have had little effect...

Bombardier Inc.’s drive to bolster its cash reserves is getting a lift from the booming real estate market in Canada’s biggest city. The aerospace and transportation leader has agreed to sell its Downsview facility in Toronto to Canada’s Public Sector Pension...

According to this poll, a “vast majority of British Columbians support measures to curb foreign and/or speculative investment in B.C. real estate”. www.vancourier.com Source...

Here are several factors to take into consideration when converting your garage into a rental suite. Ask The Expert: Should I Convert My Garage into a Rental Suite? Owners planning to sell their homes will often make major changes to increase...

There are effective ways to pay off your mortgage sooner, build equity faster and save thousands in interest– find out how in this article. Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster With “The Java Factor” There are small ways in which you can...

“This tax is an attempt to steal from my equity and also my dignity. My wife and I have collectively worked 70 years to be debt-free. Their solution is to put us back into debt.” House rich, tax poor: How a...

Although purchasing a self-managed building may be attractive due to its lower fees, you should know what the risks are. Find out in this article. Mortgage Risks in Buying in a Self-Managed Building Strata-run buildings and their low fees can be...

Find out what exactly a builders’ lien is and what it does in this article. Had a Reno Nightmare? A Home Owners’ Guide to Builders’ Liens If you withhold payment for building works on your property, it may become subject to...

Market Score, an online platform that provides users accurate real estate valuations, could make determining the viability of property investments a breeze—especially if used in tandem with its sister platform, Rent Score, to ascertain monthly returns. By entering an address, square...

The results of a new study conducted by Nanos Research Corporation for the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) showed that despite the provincial government’s plan to help make residential properties more affordable, 68.5% of young Ontarians agree or somewhat agree that...

A succession of government policies has tried to regulate Vancouver’s housing prices, to little avail. Now Amazon.com Inc. may give Canada’s costliest market another push towards ever-dwindling affordability. The Seattle-based company is planning to increase its Vancouver workforce five-fold to 5,000...

“Canada’s real estate industry organization is calling for a moratorium on growing recreational marijuana at home until the government sets out nationwide regulations for the practice”, according to this article. Real estate association calls for moratorium on homegrown recreational cannabis Canada’s...

How can a home appraisal help you with your renovation? Find out here. Appraisals—a Key Home Renovation Tool Is that renovation you’re planning worth the money? Could you spend your reno dollars more effectively? Consider getting a home appraisal before you...

According to this article, “More than seven in 10 Canadian first-time home buyers (71 per cent) are afraid that they’ll be hit by unanticipated costs during the process, according to a new survey by TD Bank”. First-timers plagued by fears over...

Is it better to buy a move-in-ready home, or to buy a place with “potential” and renovate it? Find out in this article. The Pros and Cons of Buying a Fixer-Upper Vs. Finished Home Is it better to buy a move-in-ready...

The Toronto Real Estate Board released April sales figures, and they’re down 32.1% year-over-year, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “It’s been slower in the sense of comparing this April to April 2017—and, of course, April 2017 was absolutely insane—but...

Under-the-table transactions between developers, speculators, and a secretive faction of real estate professionals are playing a major role in the continuous upward pressure on condo prices in Vancouver, according to an investigation by The Globe and Mail. In the six new...

In a newly released study, Altus Group and the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) reported that current government fees, taxes, and charges comprise a major portion of what new home buyers in the Greater Toronto Area pay for in...

Here are eight factors to consider when working out the right budget for your new home. Eight Great Tips to Set the Right Home-Buying Budget You want to buy a home, but do you know how much home you can afford?...