SIGNIFICANT PRICE INCREASES AND HIGH DEMAND IN THE GREATER TORONTO AREA DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2017 SPURRED GROWING NUMBERS OF BUYERS TO LEAVE THE DOWNTOWN CORE.These buyers, known as move-over buyers, are looking for greater affordability in markets across southern Ontario. In turn, they are driving price appreciation in Mississauga, Brampton, Durham, Barrie, Hamilton-Burlington,…
Today, the Ontario government announced 16 measures as part of Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan to address some of the challenges facing Ontario families as they look to purchase a home. You can see the full list here. While we don’t support all these measures, the government has adopted several REALTOR® recommendations and agreed to do…
Your entryway is the first part of your home that greets you upon your return. It’s also the place where your guests form their first impressions of your home, so it’s an area that deserves special attention. The entry to your home has the added challenge of acting as a landing pad for your keys,…
One of the biggest concerns when you’re moving house is loss or damage to your belongings. It’s why we carefully screen moving companies and cover our most fragile items with layers of protective padding. Yet, accidents can and do happen, which is why it’s important to consider what type of insurance coverage you’ll have on…
A loan to value ratio (LTV) is the amount of a mortgage loan compared to the value of the property that it is being used to purchase. The ratio is presented as a percentage, and is calculated by dividing the total mortgage loan amount by the total property value. Here’s an example to illustrate the…
A total of 12,077 resale transactions were recorded in the GTA in March, up by an eye- catching 17.7% versus the 10,260 units sold in March 2016. The detached home and condo apartment segments provided the greatest impetus for growth, coming in at +19.8% and +23.9% respectively. The townhome (+12.2%) and the semi-detached (+1.9%) segments…
Toronto will be the host again of 2017’s Water Docs festival, which is a small environmental film and documentary festival about all things water. Taking place in the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema on 506 Bloor Street West from March 29th until April 2nd, the festival will showcase 6 feature films and many shorts including highly…
Never touched a hammer in your life? If you’re not so handy, you may be tempted to call in for help at the slightest breakdown. But a lot of common household repairs are easier to fix than you think. Save money on repairs by learning how to remedy simple issues and equip yourself with the…
A total of 8,014 resale transactions were recorded in the GTA in February, up by a sound 5.7% versus the 7,583 units sold in February 2016. Once again, volume growth was spearheaded by the condo apartment segment – which recorded a 15.9% increase in volume versus last year. The low rise segments showed more modest…
The steepness of a property’s lot is in some ways as important as its size. Properties perched on hilltops command excellent views while some types of slopes can help reduce your home’s flood risk. But steep driveways and backyards can also pose challenges for landscaping and mobility. Here’s what you need to know about property…