Author: homegoal.ca

This article was written and submitted by Evan Pawliuk, AVP Commercial Mortgages, First National Financial LP.The real estate market is dramatically different now than what we have seen over the last 15 years. The condo markets in Toronto and Vancouver that performed incredibly well have slowed dramatically with thousands of unsold units now flooding the market. Purchasers are struggling with financing units purchased at the market peak and project launches are grinding to a halt. As a result, many condo developers are attempting to pivot towards purpose-built rental. But they are also faced with immediate challenges either due to upfront…

Homebuyers in Vancouver may finally have an opportunity to be choosy, as inventory accumulates and prices flatten out.  May saw inventory levels across Metro Vancouver reach another 10-year high, while home sales remained muted, according to Greater Vancouver Realtors.  GVR reported that residential sales in the region totalled 2,228 in May 2025, a 18.5 per cent decrease from May 2024, and a 30.5 per cent decline below the 10-year seasonal average. “While there are emerging signs that sales activity might be turning a corner, sales in May were below the ten-year seasonal average, which suggests that some buyers are still…

Toronto-based developers Achille Developments and DBS Developments are joining forces to deliver a 33-storey mixed-use tower just minutes from the Scarborough GO station. The development would add nearly 400 new dwelling units and 3,465 sq. ft of retail space to the Clairlea-Birchmount neighbourhood. Plans were filed in early May in support of a Zoning By-law Amendment application to demolish the existing single-storey auto body shop and replace it with a much taller built form. Following feedback from City staff, Achille and DBS will move forward with a Site Plan Approval application, according to the planning documents. The site in question…

Suze Cumming, founder of The Nature of Real Estate and Canada’s Real Estate Negotiation guru, answers Realtors’ questions on the first Friday of the month about negotiation tactics and working through tricky situations. Have a question for Suze? Send her an email. An offer arrives significantly below asking. The buyer’s agent seems reluctant to cooperate, and your seller client, frustrated and defensive, refuses to entertain it.  The home has been on the market for over two months, your sellers urgently need to close on their next home within six weeks, and no other potential buyers are on the horizon. What…

The largest project that is advancing through the Province’s BC Builds program is getting closer and closer to fruition, with the City of Burnaby granting the project a first and second reading during last week’s council meeting on May 27. The project is planned for 7135 Walker Street and 7244 Arcola Street in the Edmonds neighbourhood, one block away from the prominent intersection of Edmonds Street and Kingsway. Currently occupying the site is the Edmonds Baptist Church that was constructed in 1912 and a vacant parcel to the west that is being used as a community garden. The church is…

Canada’s economy was dealt another blow last month, and it wasn’t due to tariffs. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the unemployment rate climbed aggressively in May, hitting a new multi-year high. Despite the narrative of tariff-induced job losses, the country managed to add a few thousand jobs. Rising unemployment continues to be driven by an aggressive immigration strategy, which added four workers for every job last month.   Canadian Unemployment Rate Hits 7%, Highest Since 2021 Canada’s unemployment rate climbed 0.1% to 7.0% in May, up 0.7 points from last year. This marked the 6th consecutive increase and the highest…

If you’re in search of a slower pace of life, breathtaking views, and affordable prices, then buying a home in a small town in Nova Scotia or Cape Breton might be just what you need. With stunning coastlines, rolling hills, and picturesque fishing villages, the region is renowned for its natural beauty.  Enjoying our content? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to get real estate market insights, news, and reports straight to your inbox. Nova Scotia remains one of the most affordable provinces, with a benchmark price of $430,400 in April 2025, according to the Canadian Association of Realtors. The…

Brad Mitchell is the CEO of the Alberta Real Estate Association, a not-for-profit professional association representing the interests of more than 15,000 Alberta Realtors from 10 local real estate boards/associations.   Albertans deserve the confidence that their real estate transactions, often the most significant financial commitments of their lives, are conducted within a regulatory framework designed, first and foremost, to protect the public. That is the cornerstone of professional real estate regulation. Unfortunately, recent events have raised serious concerns about whether Alberta’s regulator is fulfilling its mandate. The case involving Eric Drinkwater, formerly of Re/Max Central in Calgary, has revealed a…

The City of Vancouver has received a rezoning application for a new hotel that would have the distinction as both the first mass timber hotel in Vancouver and the tallest mass timber hotel in North America, according to an application published on June 4.The subject site of the proposal is 1500-1588 W 3rd Avenue — 1580 W 3rd Avenue, legally — near the intersection with Fir Street, northwest of Granville Loop Park. Additionally, Granville Island is located a 10-minute walk to the northeast, while Broadway is located a 10-minute walk to the south.The narrow parcel of land has long been…

Cailey Heaps is beautifying Toronto one wall at a time. The idea-prolific CEO of Heaps Estrin Real Estate Team came up with the city-facing mural initiative, which she says allows the team to give something lasting back to the neighbourhoods they serve while spotlighting Canadian artists. In addition to beautifying the communities where they have had a lot of activity, she says the murals are a way to introduce themselves to new neighbourhoods. Although the first three murals adorn Heaps Estrin properties, they will appear on a variety of other buildings as Heaps secures more walls throughout the city. She…