Author: homegoal.ca

Canada, known for its vast landscapes and natural beauty, also boasts a number of cities that have made significant strides in creating walkable urban spaces. Walkability—the ease with which people can navigate a city on foot—has become an essential aspect of modern city planning. A walkable city is more than just pedestrian-friendly; it’s a place that promotes sustainability, fosters community, and enhances quality of life. Let’s explore some of the most walkable cities in Canada, where you can leave your car behind and enjoy the charm of strolling through vibrant urban environments. Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver is often regarded as…

Many Realtors treat social media as a digital microphone—broadcasting listings, market updates, and interest rate announcements in an endless cycle. The logic seems sound: post consistently, stay top of mind, and leads will follow.  But in today’s oversaturated digital landscape, this approach often leads to diminishing returns. Why? Because social media isn’t just about content—it’s about connection. Agents who focus solely on posting often miss the real power of these platforms: engagement. Authentic interactions build trust, create relationships and turn casual followers into loyal clients and recruits. The key to a Realtor’s long-term success with social media isn’t just producing…

The Canadian labour market has undergone significant shifts over the past several months, shaped by slowing economic activity, increasing public sector reliance, and softening wage growth. While job creation has continued, underlying trends behind these employment gains raise concerns.  Job Growth and Sectoral Disparities The composition of new jobs has been heavily skewed toward the public sector and older workers, according to reports from Edge Realty Analytics. In November 2024, employment rose by 51,000 month over month, per the Labour Force Survey (LFS), but 80% of these jobs were in the public sector. Similarly, in December 2024, Canada saw its…

The first long weekend of the year is nearly here, and with it comes family fun and plenty of snow for winter activities.Though we just made it through a headline-grabbing mid-week snow storm, even more flurries are in store for Toronto this weekend with up to 30 cm predicted to fall by Sunday evening.But don’t let that stop you from making the most of the long weekend. Although February 17 is a statutory holiday, many malls, stores, and attractions will still be open on Family Day, albeit with modified hours. Whether you’re looking for a fun family activity or plan…

At the end of a busy day, it’s easy for your home to become cluttered—whether it’s dishes in the sink, floors that need a quick sweep, or scattered items. When cleaning feels overwhelming, or you simply haven’t had the time for a thorough tidy-up, the Closing Shift Cleaning Method can be a game-changer. Much like employees cleaning up at the end of their shifts to ensure a fresh start for the next day, this method helps you efficiently tackle your household tasks, leaving your space ready to go for tomorrow. Wondering how it works? Let’s break it down! How Does…

The Canadian housing market finds itself at a critical juncture in 2025, as the threat of U.S. tariffs adds uncertainty to an already delicate economic environment.  According to RBC Economics, “the significant risk that tariffs pose to Canada’s economy casts a potentially dark shadow over the housing market.” With consumer confidence playing a pivotal role, potential economic turbulence could unsettle both buyers and sellers. Robert Hogue, assistant chief economist at RBC, likened the housing outlook to “putting a price on a home before an earthquake—it’s hard to know what shape the structure will be in at the end of the…

Canada’s housing market is set to experience changes in 2025 due to economic uncertainty, shifting immigration policies, and evolving real estate trends. In its Housing Market Outlook for 2025, the CMHC has indicated that, while the economy is expected to grow at a modest pace, factors like lower mortgage rates and updated mortgage rules will drive a recovery in housing sales and prices. However, affordability challenges and regional differences will create an uneven recovery across the country.  The CMHC developed a tiered set of forecasts, ranging from a slower recovery due to economic challenges to a stronger rebound driven by…

Fresh off putting its multi-building Yonge Corporate Centre on the market earlier this month, Toronto-based Cadillac Fairview — the wholly-owned real estate subsidiary of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan — has now also put two office towers in downtown Vancouver on the market. The two towers are located at 700 West Pender Street and 750 West Pender Street in the heart of downtown Vancouver, and make up the entire block between Howe Street and Granville Street. Both towers rise 16 storeys, with 700 West Pender housing 141,772 sq. ft of Class B office space and 750 West Pender housing 141,758…

Canadians are paying a lot more for a lot less, even when it comes to construction investment. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) data shows that investment in building construction ended the year much higher in December. Before getting too excited, a quick dive past the headlines into the agency’s data in real (inflation-adjusted) terms tells a very different story. The vast majority of investment growth is being consumed by inflation. Since rates hit a record low in 2020, over 70% of investment in building construction growth was non-productive. Bluntly put, the stimulus is making each dollar less effective at actually producing…

Short-term rentals (STRs) have become a significant and controversial part of the global housing market, and Canada is no exception. With platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, many homeowners have capitalized on the booming tourism sector by offering their properties for short stays. However, this growth in STRs raises important questions about their impact on long-term housing availability.  According to recent data from Statistics Canada, as of 2023, there were 107,266 short-term rental units across the country that could potentially serve as long-term dwellings. This represents about 30.2% of all STRs in Canada. These units are typically entire homes listed for…