Author: homegoal.ca
Canada’s central bank has been slashing rates to get households to borrow, and mission accomplished. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows household debt climbed aggressively in February. Growth may seem slow relative to the recent low rate frenzy, but debt is being racked up at twice the rate seen in 2019. Despite weak home sales, growth is driven by mortgages—implying the boost is coming from new home completions and cashing in equity via refinancing. Canadian Households Owe More Than $3 Trillion Canadian household debt: In trillions of Canadian dollars. Source: Statistics Canada; Better Dwelling. Canadian household credit continues its climb…
Owning an inground pool is like having your own private paradise; endless fun, relaxation, and memories to be made. But let’s be real, it also takes some work to keep that oasis in tip-top shape. Whether you’re a first-time pool owner or just looking to level up your maintenance game, this guide has you covered with everything you need to keep your pool sparkling. Test and balance your pool water Maintaining balanced water chemistry is critical for the health of your pool and the safety of swimmers. Test regularly: Use a testing kit or test strips to check the pH, chlorine,…
Join Suze Cumming, founder of The Nature of Real Estate and Canada’s leading real estate negotiation expert, for a free fast-paced, high-value masterclass on Tues. May 20, 2025 at 1 PM. It will shift the way you think about negotiation—and give you powerful tools you can use immediately. Register for free here. A low-ball offer is one that comes in significantly below the asking price, lacks support from recent comparable sales and runs the risk of offending the seller. This could be anywhere from 5 per cent to 30 per cent below the asking price, depending on market…
As the housing market currently stands, presale purchasers are on the sidelines and condo projects cannot proceed. It thus makes sense for developers to focus on rental projects, but here they are also facing several challenges, such as securing financing.With housing construction nearly at a standstill, governments across Metro Vancouver have been working on policy changes they hope will provide enough relief to developers in order for projects to move forward and the pipeline of new housing to start moving again. In Coquitlam, Council considered two big items this week in service of that goal: a series of changes to…
If you’ve been dreaming of owning a slice of cottage country, now might be your golden opportunity. Across Ontario, recreational properties—especially lakeside cottages—are seeing noticeable five- to six-figure price drops. Whether it’s a rustic retreat in Muskoka or a cozy cabin in Huntsville, here are 6 Ontario cottages that have seen meaningful markdowns. Listed by: cottage vacations real estate brokerage inc Listed by: cottage vacations real estate brokerage inc Property Details 3 bed, 1 bath 2.83 acres $200,000+ Price Drop Forrest Island is a 2.83-acre private island retreat on Mary Lake, offering complete seclusion with easy access via a nearby…
CREA announces board of directors for Realtor.ca. From top left: Janice Myers, CEO, CREA; David Oikle, board chair, Realtor.ca; James Mabey, immediate past chair, CREA; Sheila Morin, CMO, Coveo; Sarah Miller Wright, former COO, Manulife; Peter Lukomskyj, CEO of Radiant Health Realtor.ca is bolstering its board with expertise in technology, marketing, customer experience, and more as the platform finds its legs as a standalone, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Canadian Real Estate Association. On Tuesday, Realtor.ca announced the appointment of business leaders Peter Lukomskyj, Sheila Morin and Sarah Miller Wright, bringing the board to six members. Board chair David Oikle said…
Saskatchewan’s residential market demonstrated a pronounced trend toward tighter conditions over the five-quarter span beginning Q1 2024 and concluding Q1 2025. Despite occasional quarterly setbacks, year-over-year measures consistently reflected rising sales, contracting inventory, and steady appreciation in home values. Underpinning these market fundamentals were ongoing population gains, elevated construction activity, and stable – but comparatively higher – levels of mortgage arrears and unemployment relative to some other provinces. Sales Source: Edge Realty Analytics In the opening quarter of 2024, Saskatchewan recorded a modest 3.1% decline in home sales from the previous quarter, but year-over-year transactions were up 7.7%, showing potentially…
Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy presented Ontario’s budget for 2025 at Queen’s Park on Thursday afternoon, predictably putting a strong emphasis on ongoing trade tensions with the US in his remarks. With tariffs turning the economy on its head and unemployment on the uptrend, this year’s $232.5-billion budget accounts for a $14.6-billion deficit over the 2025-2026 fiscal year. A “path to balance” isn’t anticipated until the 2027-2028 fiscal year. The release of the 2025 budget also comes as the Province faces grim realities on the homebuilding front, with housing starts projected to slow to 71,800 this year and 74,800 in…
Weak demand for Canadian real estate continues to push prices lower. Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) data shows the price of a composite benchmark (typical) home made a sharp downtick in April. The medium-term trend also reveals this is a more complicated issue than just trade war jitters. Over the past few years, buyers have been rejecting price increases at lower and lower levels, indicating more downward pressures are forming. Canadian Real Estate Prices Continue To See Downward Pressure The composite benchmark price of existing home resales made through the MLS. Source: CREA; Better Dwelling. Canadian real estate prices slipped…
April 2025 marked another subdued month for Canadian home sales, continuing the trend of quiet markets that have persisted since 2022. With many buyers still sitting on the sidelines and waiting for more decisive interest rate movement, national home sales slipped 9.8% compared to April 2024. Month-over-month, there was little change. Sales activity across Canadian MLS Systems edged down by just 0.1% from March, a modest movement that highlights the ongoing hesitation among buyers navigating high borrowing costs and economic uncertainty. This spring is shaping up to be one of the quietest in recent memory, with activity levels in April…