Carney promises faster, cheaper homes

In a move designed to tackle housing affordability, Prime Minister Mark Carney has launched a new, multi-billion-dollar agency, Build Canada Homes, to increase the supply of affordable family properties. Build Canada Homes will directly intervene in the housing market by partnering with the private sector. The new strategy aims to increase the supply of affordable…
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Market recovery hits turbulence despite positive outlook

With the strongest September sales numbers for four years, the real estate market has started its fall season with a sense of optimism.  While many headlines have pointed to deals dipping 1.7% compared with August, the reality is that our market is susceptible to the occasional surprise. Lower sales numbers were recorded in the key…
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Seven ways sellers can strike their best deal in today’s market

Our real estate market is entering its next phase with cautious optimism, driven by factors such as cooling interest rates, strong supply and deal numbers in the past three months that have been the best for four years. Yet, the recovery is not uniform with regional differences and lingering affordability concerns influencing buyer behaviour.  The…
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What’s the difference between an agent appraisal and formal valuation?

When you decide to sell your most valuable asset, the first question is always: “What is my home really worth?” Most sellers start by checking online estimators or looking at municipal tax assessments. But if you’re serious about maximising your sale price, you have two distinct ways to value your property – and both are…
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Seven tips for styling your shed before selling

In this winter market, Canadian sellers have got to become so competitive to attract buyers that many in the mid-tier and luxury segments are investing in styling their homes to make a big impression. Even an average four-bedroom family home can comfortably cost $5,000 or more to style. Most of the cost is from renting…
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Easy way to remove grease from kitchen cabinets

When preparing your home for sale, there’s probably no more important focal point than the bathrooms and the kitchen. Sometimes, a little regrouting around the taps works wonders from an aesthetic perspective. Transparent and white silicone will often turn black with continued exposure to water. If you attempt to do the job yourself, don’t neglect…
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Eight super-fast ways to prepare your home for sale

Maximising the value of their home should be the goal of any owner planning to enter the market. A well-maintained and beautifully presented home will always attract interest, leading to multiple offers and a higher final sale price.  Today’s buyers are usually more willing to pay a premium for a turn-key property that requires no…
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Rake or leaf blower – which camp are you in?

As the leaves continue to descend, and fall enters its last month, it’s been interesting to see how the leaf blower has taken over from the humble rake to clear away nature’s debris in many of our neighbourhoods. Is this a good adoption of technology? Is trading a little physical effort for battery-powered convenience the…
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Ten tips to get your home ready for a winter sale

If you want to sell your home quickly and efficiently, there’s no better time than winter. Even though days are starting to turn chilly, there are a number of factors in your favour. There will be fewer new properties coming onto the market to compete with you. And as an experienced agency, we can testify…
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Investors are back, seeking bargains before rebound

For a property market in which buyers are staying away in the belief prices may fall further, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest it’s time to stop standing on the sidelines. A new survey from the industry researcher Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) says so-called “mum and dad” investors are back, quickly becoming 25% of all buyers.…
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