WIth two interest rate cuts under our belt, and more promised by the Bank of Canada, how is this affecting the spending power of those wanting to buy their first home, or upgrade to a bigger property? So far, Canada has seen rates cut for two successive months, moving the cost of cash from 5%…
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Does your home make you happy? It’s a simple yet incisive question aimed at revealing whether you truly enjoy your sanctuary. If you quietly confess that, actually, you don’t love your house or apartment, then ask why not. What’s the problem? How can you change your mood towards your home? Ambivalence or disappointment are emotions…
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Parents are being called the “Sandwich Generation”, caught between helping their own children as well as their mothers and fathers, a consequence of living longer. The days when parents’ greatest concern was paying for the kids’ college education have now morphed into helping them onto the property ownership ladder. It’s amazing to think that almost…
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A jump of 30% in the value of investor loans has buoyed the real estate market as it prepares for a huge spring selling season. Loans for owner-occupiers are also higher, rising 13.2% compared with the corresponding period 12 months ago. The total value of new housing loans rose 1.3% in June to $29.2 billion…
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For months now, owners have been keeping a keen eye on the falling rate of inflation in the hope it would signal cheaper mortgage costs and boost the property market. Now Canada’s inflation is 2.5%. It doesn’t mean anything is any cheaper, but it signals the fast pace of price rises, which most global economies…
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Affordable property is hard to find these days and more people are being forced to make tough home choices when buying. Such as, is it worth buying an affordable home if it means living in a high-crime area? This issue is reinforced with more people compelled to live in cheaper, outer-ring areas where crime can…
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It’s the calm before the storm – two interest rate cuts are now complete but the housing market remains stubbornly poised for growth as buyers and owners wait to see the impact. Home sales fell 0.7% in July, compared with the June numbers, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). June had recorded a…
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Springtime is the favourite moment to get the duster flying around the home and banish all those cobwebs that gathered silently in dark corners during the winter months. For those of you preparing to sell your home this spring, it’s important to spend time on a deep clean strategy to offer potential buyers a great…
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Are you looking at your small backyard this summer and wondering how you can transform it into a space you can enjoy? If your home isn’t blessed with a lot of space, it’s easy to think it’s just too hard to turn it into a haven from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.…
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With our summer now in full swing, it’s the perfect time to enjoy your garden or lounge around on your deck or patio. The idea of ice-cold drinks and basking in the sunshine is perfect – but there can be one small and persistent problem: mosquitoes. Did you know there are more than 3,500 different…
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