Earlier this summer, new changes were announced for the federal mortgage stress test, shifting the ground again in terms of how much house new and seasoned home buyers are qualified to purchase. In April, Canada’s financial regulator, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), proposed an increase for the stress test’s minimum qualifying rate on uninsured mortgages. […]
It should come as no surprise that affordability in the Canadian housing market has become a key issue in the upcoming federal election. According to a recent report, 42 per cent of Canadians said the high cost of housing was preventing them from entering the housing market, and 48 per cent shared concerns over their ability […]
Home insurance is exactly what it sounds like—a type of insurance for your property and its contents that protects against damage, liability, and loss. While home insurance isn’t mandatory in Canada, buying a home is one of the largest purchases you’ll ever make, so it’s worth your time to invest in protection in the event of any sudden […]
The July Canadian housing numbers are in and it was yet another slowdown on the sales side, making four months in a row; albeit, from completely unbelievable (and certainly unsustainable) levels back in March. So, not a big surprise. That said, it was also the smallest of those four straight monthly declines, so it looks like activity […]
Canadian real estate has been one of the hottest in the world throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Virtually every region from coast to coast, from the major urban centres to cottage country and rural areas, have posted record-setting growth during what can only be described as chaotic times. The Canadian housing market has been so strong, that it […]
No one becomes a real estate investment guru overnight. Navigating the market is often a challenge because there are a litany of risks and consequences that can heavily impact an investor’s success. No one wants to make a bad investment, but when they do, they need to carefully assess their options to determine the next […]
The kitchen is the one room in the house that can be a little trickier to decorate than all the others. This is because it’s a room designed for function and where we spend most of our time cooking, cleaning and getting things done. But no rule says your kitchen can’t be both beautiful and […]
Are the U.S. and Canadian housing market in a bubble right now? Most importantly, after 15 months of skyrocketing gains, are both nations’ real estate sectors about to cool down? These questions are top of mind for real estate industry observers across North America who have been closely monitoring activity as both nations ease out of the […]
The main theme of Canadian housing markets in June 2021 was the same as in April and May—things are continuing to calm down. Activity has slowed and prices are not rising as fast as they were. Sales were down about 8.5% from May to June. Meanwhile, new listings didn’t really change on a month-over-month basis, so that took […]
Maintaining a beautiful garden and lawn can be a lot of work. There’s mowing, weeding, fertilizing, watering—the list goes on and on. If you don’t have time to putter in the yard, consider hiring a professional landscaper. Finding the right landscaping company for your needs requires some homework, so here are some things to consider when choosing a landscaper […]