Carolyn McIntire Smyth

05/27/2019

Two years since the Fair Housing Plan was introduced, home prices in markets throughout Ontario have seen significant ups and downs, according to a new Zoocasa analysis.

Rent controls, speculator taxes have had the greatest effects

05/24/2019

Sellers have mixed feelings about staging. On the one hand, they want the best price possible for their home. On the other, they think their home is beautiful as is. It is often left to the real estate agent to help them understand that the best way to market their listing is to remove the things that make it their home and add the things that turn it into a buyer’s home.

The most significant action a seller can take? Staging

05/22/2019

There’s been a lot of hype about the next-generation urban lifestyle in a fully integrated, tech-saturated world. It’s a life where phones and sensors manage everything from music and appliances, control sidewalk temperatures, traffic flow and even arrange autonomous transport.

But how close to reality is it? Closer than some may think...

Connectivity is expected to be a growing trend in the future. And, not just in your home, but also in your surroundings

05/16/2019

Research shows that 6,000 government-owned properties could be used for housing development opportunities and the development community is urging the Ontario government to leverage them.

New research shows that although some government-owned properties are already being used for the development of new rental, affordable housing and market value units, thousands of other properties with prime potential are currently sitting underutilized. The report, Governments in Ontario Making Hea...

05/13/2019

April’s housing market results clearly demonstrated that the Toronto and area resale market is strong and robust. Our President and CEO,Chris Kapches, provided a full commentary and video detailing the market changes, available here:

April’s housing market results clearly demonstrated that the Toronto and area resale market is strong and robust. As indicated in previous monthly reports, any sluggish behaviour by the resale market was due to a lack of inventory, and not to a decline in buyer demand.     In Apr.

05/09/2019

Should you buy a home now, or wait until later? When is the best time to buy a home? These are common questions that potential homebuyers have when faced with making what could possibly be the largest purchase of their lives.

Should you buy a home now, or wait until later? When is the best time to buy a home? What market conditions are ideal for home purchases? While there are no easy answers to these questions, there are some important factors to consider when thinking about the timing of a home purchase.

05/06/2019

Condos are no longer mere starter homes. Once the domain of twentysomething professionals on the first rung of the real estate ladder, baby boomers are now scooping up them up for their golden years — driving demand for luxury, turnkey developments.

If the market here follows the trends in cities like New York and London, we may soon see even more extravagant amenities geared towards downsizers

05/02/2019

Every community in is unique. But no matter where you go, one thing is the same – people are looking for housing that meets their needs and their budget. See the Ontario government's action plan for the housing supply issue here:

Read our comprehensive plan to address the different housing challenges people are facing across the province. Download PDF

05/01/2019

The Canadian government should consider being flexible on its new mortgage lending rules because the impact has been longer-lasting and more significant than originally intended, Toronto-Dominion Bank says.

TD says impact of rules have been longer-lasting and more significant than originally intended and government should consider flexibility

04/29/2019

The advent of the farm-to-table movement has inspired many homeowners to try their hand at growing their own food. From the Garden of England to Oregon wine country, these rural retreats give farming a glamorous appeal 🌎

04/26/2019

Home sales across Canada are expected to drop by nearly 2% this year. What does the future hold for this Spring?

Home sales across Canada are expected to drop by nearly 2% this year. This slowdown has come just two years after the country’s housing market went through a massive spring boom. During that time, prices in areas like Ontario and BC increased at a substantial rate. Now, it seems, experts have diff...

04/23/2019

There’s really no downside to getting a mortgage pre-approval and if you’re house hunting in a competitive city, it can be a huge leg up. Here are some of the advantages of getting pre-approved for a mortgage:

There’s really no downside to getting a mortgage preapproval—and if you’re house hunting in a competitive city like Toronto, having one can be a huge leg up. So, what is a pre-approval? Put simply, it’s confirmation from a lender that you qualify for a mortgage loan. But unlike pre-qualifica...