A rule already in place for insured mortgage borrowers (those that purchase with typically less than 20% as a down payment) could soon be coming to all mortgage borrowers. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) is contemplating brining in changes that will make it mandatory that all mortgage borrowers go through a “Stress […]

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NOTE: I originally published this in May 2014. With recent talk of Mandatory Designated Representation being potentially introduced to the Ontario Real Estate industry, below is an example by me on why we need this in the Toronto marketplace. A few weeks back an extreme example of a multiple bid scenario played out on a […]

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To anyone who follows Toronto’s real estate market, it will come as no surprise that sales transactions are down when tracked over the comparable month of July’s sales last year. Down by a whopping 40% on the other hand, can lead one to wonder if Toronto’s sizzling hot real estate market is starting to crumble! […]

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You may have heard that in the month of May, sales activity across the GTA was down. This is true. When compared to year-over-year sales comparisons in which the Toronto Real Estate Board utilizes, sales are down a staggering 20% from those recorded in May 2016. Wait! Wasn’t May 2016 the busiest year ever for […]

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With all the talk of the heated real estate market we are starting to hear more and more about the options of renting a home or condo, instead of owning one. With Canadian Home ownership rates around 66.50% roughly two-thirds of Canadians are Homeowners. My thoughts about renting for those who have the option of […]

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Finally, it looks like Toronto’s red-hot real estate market seems to have subsided. Or has it? Much of the news of late has spoken to the “cooling” of Toronto’s housing market, which on the surface seems to be the case. In April, the Toronto Real Estate Board started to see a surge in new listings […]

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With all the talk of late of the government’s recent request to change the provincial rent control laws to include buildings built after 1991 to the existing cap program*, it has some wondering what the outcome of the rental market in Toronto and its impact might be? A few months back there were a few […]

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The provincial government has announced a 16 point plan intended to improve housing affordability, including a Non-Resident Speculations Tax, and a commitment to review the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002.   The provincial plan includes the following actions: Introduction of a 15 per cent Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST) on the price of homes in […]

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The provincial government has announced a 16 point plan intended to improve housing affordability, including a Non-Resident Speculations Tax, and a commitment to review the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002. So what should we expect the impact will be on our current hot housing market? I don’t see much of anything changing with regards […]

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Almost everyone knows the Toronto real estate market has gone mad as of late, although many would like to have you believe for the most part; that all is okay and the madness is justified. Governments manipulate interest rates to mask affordability. Banks either prop up or speak down housing depending on how it currently […]

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