Author: homegoal.ca
For years, Toronto’s growing network of bike lanes has made city living more convenient and attractive. High-density developments used cycling infrastructure to justify this higher density, reduce parking requirements, and offer increased bike parking instead. Some developments even marketed new projects based on cycling amenities as their main competitive advantage. But now, the very infrastructure that helped shape their success is under threat.Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024, approved by the Ontario government, mandates provincial approval for new bike lanes that replace traffic lanes and grants authority to remove existing ones. While the Bill has started a…
Canada’s largest mortgage lenders are in an unusually long-lasting rut. Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) data shows its members are seeing more mortgages fall into arrears in November. The arrears rate is now moving at one of the fastest paces ever recorded, rising from record lows to a 3-year high in a matter of months. At the same time, the bad luck for lenders keeps piling up—these same lenders have seen a rare contraction in total mortgages held, falling to a 3-year low despite massive borrowing stimulus. Canadian Banks Saw Mortgages In Arrears Rise 22% Canadian mortgage borrowers are increasingly falling…
Selling a home in a competitive market can seem daunting and stressful. While the average home takes anywhere from a few days to a few months to sell, the timeline can vary greatly from one property to another, making the process somewhat unpredictable. However, with the right approach and expert guidance, the experience can be much more manageable—and potentially less stressful. If you’re planning to sell your home soon but aren’t sure where to begin, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together a helpful guide to assist you in navigating the home-selling process in today’s increasingly competitive housing…
The recent Sitzer/Burnett v. National Association of Realtors (NAR) case in the U.S. has forced significant changes in how buyer agents receive commissions. NAR settled the case to avoid an “existential” financial threat (more than $5-billion), agreeing to remove compensation fields from MLS listings and make other adjustments. Months after the settlement, multiple studies—including recent data from Accountech—suggest that these changes have had no measurable impact on buyer-side commissions. Despite media coverage portraying the lawsuit as a game-changer, commissions in the U.S. have followed the same gradual downward trend seen for years. The absence of an explicit commission field on…
It is refreshing to see some municipalities beginning to walk the talk when it comes to tackling our housing supply crisis. Last May, for example, the City of Burlington passed a bylaw to reduce developers fees by 45 per cent. Several months later, in November, the City of Vaughan rolled back its rates to those in effect in 2018. Disturbingly, Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca has been criticized for suggesting that York Region examine a policy similar to the one passed by his municipality. Newmarket Mayor John Taylor and Deputy Mayor Tom Vegh recently spoke against the concept during a…
This article was written and submitted by Mark Goodman and Ian Brackett, brokers at Goodman Commercial and authors of the Goodman Report.Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC collaborators promised to bring a business-like ethos to the management of the City’s affairs. Perhaps it should be no surprise, then, that they are taking steps to turn the City of Vancouver into a profit-seeking corporation, in direct competition with the private-sector developers over whom the City holds so much power.Those developers are currently knocking on the door at City Hall, with proposals to build more than 15,000 much-needed market-rental units in the…
— We take our content seriously. This article was written by a real person at BREL. Let’s be honest: selling a property quickly is easy when you’ve got a perfectly-maintained, designer-renovated house with all the features buyers are looking for, in a hot neighbourhood. Put that baby on the MLS and watch the bidding war unfold. But what about the rest of us? What if your home: Backs onto the train tracks? Is steps from a major intersection? Has “challenging” neighbours? Faces directly into another building? Is near ongoing construction? Has a less-than-ideal layout? The good news? You can still…
Vancouver is a vibrant, diverse city known for its stunning natural beauty and culinary innovation, and its plant-based dining scene is no exception. Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or simply someone looking to try something new, Vancouver offers a wide range of restaurants that cater to all tastes. From casual eateries serving hearty plant-based comfort food to fine dining experiences with creative vegan twists, there’s something for everyone. MILA – Chinatown With a menu designed to cater to both vegans and vegetarians, MILA takes pride in its creative and sustainable offerings, using locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant is a perfect…
Plans for a 39-storey mixed-use tower in Toronto’s Fashion District have been revised to 50 storeys in response to the evolving policy framework and the area’s shifting development context. The original height of the tower was determined under the context of a CreateTO Agreement approved in 2020, but since then, heights of surrounding buildings have increased significantly as intensification is increasingly directed to the Downtown area. Slated for 101-105 Spadina Avenue and 363 Adelaide Street West, the skyscraper would be located within the historic “Garment District,” known for its numerous heritage warehouse buildings, but over the last two decades, a…
We’ve all heard the classic rhyme: first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a carriage. But if you’re still in the “looking for love” stage, reality isn’t always as simple as a rom-com plot. With more people delaying marriage, pursuing higher education, and navigating the rising cost of living, dating has become more complicated. In fact, for many singles, moving to a new city in search of love isn’t as far-fetched as it once seemed. Dating apps have made connecting easier, but being in the right city with a thriving singles scene can make all the…