Purchasing a condo is one of the most exciting decisions you will ever make. You do your research, choose a knowledgeable realtor who specializes in condos, make an offer and sign on the dotted line, work with lenders to fund the most important investment of your life and then, on closing day, you get the key to your new home. You insert this tiny piece of cut metal into the lock of your new...
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Many Canadians are curious as to how our nation’s hotter than ever real estate market and new mortgage qualifying rules have affected individuals entering the Canadian real estate market for the first time. Is buying a home in Canada’s amped up real estate market an unhealthy financial risk for first time buyers? Are less Canadians able to buy their first homes? Recent research done by...
Recently, government officials representing the Ministry of Natural Resources, attended the capping ceremony for the cutting edge condo development, Origine, in Quebec City's Pointe-aux-Lièvres eco-district. Origine is the tallest wood-constructed condominium in North America consisting of a 12-storey wood structure on top of a one-storey concrete podium. The use of Canadian wood as the primary...
In today’s hot housing market, we are used to seeing bidding wars on single-family homes in Toronto, the GTA and Ontario. Indeed, any such dwellings on the open market reap an onslaught of multiple offers, jacking the final sale price up by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many of us have become used to this real estate reality, but did you know that condos in Ontario have now begun to be valued...
Homeowners in smaller living spaces are often tempted to create a living environment using modern fixtures, clean lines and discreet storage solutions in the hopes of giving the illusion of more space. Nowhere is this tendency towards sterile lines and clutter free living more evident than in the homes of big city condo dwellers. Where square footage is going for a premium and space is limited,...
Bubble, Bust or Boom: Why Buying a Condo Right Now in Toronto Is the Right Choice for Young Families
Ah, the Toronto real estate market. The buzz around home buying in the 416 is absolutely electrifying…or terrifying, depending on whether you are the home owner who has seen their dilapidated two bedroom semi climb in value by 23% (Source: Teranet-National Bank) in one year or the young, hard working couple trying to find a starter family home. Everywhere you turn, there is someone...
Family day was yesterday and it still has us in a family mood. I mean when it comes down to it what is better than a loving family? What lifts you up more than a supportive family? Families are the best, and spending quality time with your loved ones does not require sitting in the living room of a 3500 sq. ft. house. You can also spend quality time in your smaller sized condo. A...
With the increasing prices of real estate in Toronto, the refund of up to $4,000 for first time home buyers, which is effective by Jan. 1, 2017, is a move by the government to help young members of the community to purchase a home. This is a small step towards easing the hesitation felt by many regarding whether or not they can afford their first real estate purchase. The refund, slated to be up to...
Toronto is considered to have the largest real-estate market in all of Canada. Ending 2016 with record-high sales figures, according to the Toronto Real Estate Board, only solidifies this claim. This is in stark contrast to Vancouver’s market behavior, which slowed down as the year ended. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver reported a decline in sales versus 2015 at 5.6 percent. The...
A new year is upon us and with it comes a sense of hope and the feeling that this is the year that your goals will see fruition. While this feeling is great, the only way to make it last is to be clear and disciplined. You want to save money, then put together a budget with the help of a financial professional. You want to lose weight (I’m not talking to you, you look great!)...