Author: homegoal.ca

Build upwards not outwards has become the mandate of urban centres around the world, Toronto included. Population growth, increased housing demand, skyrocketing land values, and the perils of urban sprawl have necessitated increased density, and meanwhile, we’ve seen the emergence of innovative engineering as buildings stretched higher and higher into the clouds.This combination of necessity and technology have led developers and architects to turn to more extreme heights in the form of aptly-named ‘supertalls,’ which, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), are buildings with heights of 300 metres (984 feet) or more.Supertalls have been around…

Five consecutive quarters of relief. The lightest mortgage burden in three years. Scan the headlines and you might believe Canada’s housing crisis is finally turning a corner.It isn’t.What we’re seeing is less of a comeback and more of a comedown, a gentle easing after years of punishing highs. According to the Q1 2025 Housing Affordability Monitor by the National Bank of Canada, the national MPPI, or mortgage payment as a percentage of income, now sits at 55.4 percent, a level not seen since early 2022. On paper, that looks like progress.But real affordability isn’t captured in data points. It is…

Canada’s housing market is showing faint signs of revival, according to a new report from RBC assistant chief economist Robert Hogue.  Data from local real estate boards indicates that sales activity ticked upward in May across several cities where sales previously pulled back, hinting at a recovery in a sector rattled by a trade war and lingering economic uncertainty. This was the case for Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Fraser Valley, Saskatoon and Regina where the number of transactions partially rebounded from significant declines earlier this year. “The de-escalation of tariffs has taken centre stage since May, alleviating some of the…

Tucked away on 10.9 gated acres just north of Victoria’s core, 1708 Woodsend Drive is the kind of estate that feels pulled from another era — one where timeless design, artisanal finishes, and unshakeable privacy converge in singular fashion.But make no mistake: while this estate speaks with the quiet confidence of old-world elegance, its bones and systems are anything but dated. Fully rebuilt in 2024 by White Wolf Homes, this seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom manor fuses traditional craftsmanship with contemporary precision.From the outset, the home makes a striking impression. A winding drive gives way to 12-foot mahogany entry doors that open onto…

Buying a home is a big milestone. But what happens when the real estate market dips and your property is worth less than you paid? It’s an unsettling feeling, especially for recent buyers or homeowners thinking about selling. But you’re not alone — and you’re not stuck. We’ll unpack what it means to have a property worth less than you paid, how this happens in Canada’s real estate market, and what your options are if you find yourself in this position. No matter your plan, there are steps you can take. What is Negative Equity or an Underwater Mortgage?  When…

With elevated mortgage costs and shifting lifestyle preferences, Canadians are increasingly viewing renting as a long-term option, rather than a pitstop on the way to homeownership.  A new study by Point2Homes reveals a sweeping transformation in how Canadians define renting, as more people turn to single-family rentals, rather than apartments, for space and stability.   Renting no longer temporary   Between 2016 and 2021, the latest Census period, Canada added nearly 500,000 new renter households, driving the national renter share past 33 per cent, the highest in the country’s history. The trend points to a structural shift: homes once built for…

The prefabricated and modular housing industry is growing by leaps and bounds around the world. Canada is no exception.The nation’s modular construction market is expected to reach a valuation of $16.5 billion by 2029, up 8.1% from 2024. The prefabricated home manufacturing industry has grown at an average annual rate of 5.2% over the past five years to reach $3.8 billion in 2024.There are many reasons for the sudden surge. Canada needs housing and lots of it, innovations are improving the efficiency and aesthetic appeal of prefabricated homes, rising costs are driving changes, and governments are actively supporting the industry.The…

Population growth continues to fuel the commercial real estate sector, as investors proceed with caution and creativity as they navigate economic uncertainty, according to a new report by Re/Max Canada.  Re/Max’s 2025 Commercial Real Estate Report, which examined first-quarter activity across 12 major markets, found that Canada’s commercial investors are capitalizing on opportunities that allow them to adapt their portfolios to escalating glocal tensions and economic concerns.  “Canada’s commercial real estate market is shifting to fundamentals this year,” said Don Kottick, Re/Max Canada president. “What we’re seeing is a pivot to purpose and practicality, prompting revitalization, a flight to quality,…

Over the years, development activity in Burnaby has shifted from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. Metrotown and Lougheed were two of the earlier development hotspots due to their large regional shopping centres; much of the attention in recent years has been more focused on Brentwood as a result of its own regional shopping centre, while Edmonds and Royal Oak appear to be next in line after new community plans were approved for both this year.However, things are now starting to come full circle, as a wave of projects in Metrotown that were started in an earlier development cycle are now completing. These…

Canadian households are once again piling on debt faster than their incomes can keep up. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows the household debt-to-income ratio rose in Q1 2025, eroding some of the progress made in previous quarters. While rate cuts initially offered relief, they’ve begun to backfire—fueling borrowing and increasing household vulnerability to economic shocks. About Today’s Data: Household Debt-To-Income Ratio The household debt-to-income ratio measures how much debt is owed relative to after-tax income. For example, a ratio of 180% means the average household owes $1.80 for every $1.00 earned—an indicator of financial vulnerability, especially during rate hikes,…