Author: homegoal.ca

British Columbia has a long history of financial crime, with much of it tied to real estate. After the problem became too big to ignore, the Province convened an expert panel to examine the prevalence of money laundering in our real estate market, who returned with their findings in May 2019. That same month, following one of the panel’s recommendations, the Province introduced and passed the Land Owner Transparency Act, which established the Land Owner Transparency Registry (LOTR), a publicly-accessible and searchable registry of land owners that was the first of its kind in Canada.The Land Owner Transparency Registry, maintained…

Canada’s central bank slashed its key interest rate, as widely expected—but went even further. Earlier today, the Bank of Canada (BoC) announced it would slash the overnight rate by 25 basis points (bps), as well as end its quantitative tightening (QT) program pre-maturely. The central bank has been amongst the fastest easing in the world, and the stimulus is sending a clear warning sign—Canada won’t be able to keep up with global growth. That’s before the added risks of tariffs enter the picture.  Canadian Economy To Significantly Fall Behind Global Growth Canada’s weak economy is among the biggest issues contributing…

The 2025 housing market is starting the year with optimism as the Bank of Canada announced today that it is lowering the overnight lending rate by 25 basis points from 3.25% to 3%. This follows two consecutive half-point rate cuts in October and December and will bring further relief to current variable rate mortgage holders.  In its December announcement, the Bank noted that it will be “evaluating the need for further reductions in the policy rate one decision at a time,” indicating an easing in the Bank’s monetary policy. Going forward, future rate cuts will likely depend on a wait-and-see…

In its first announcement of 2025, Canada’s central bank lowered the overnight rate by 25 basis points On January 29th, its first scheduled announcement of 2025, the Bank of Canada announced that it had lowered the target for the overnight lending rate by 25 basis points to 3.0%. This marks the sixth consecutive cut to rates since June 2024. In December, Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.8% on a year-over-year basis, down from a 1.9% increase in November, once again hitting under the Bank’s 2% inflation target. In its announcement, the central bank stated that lower interest rates are…

I set out to write an article on the contradictions and complexities of dual agency (sometimes referred to as double ending a deal) in real estate but in reviewing the different court cases and literature, I soon had so many thoughts on paper that I decided to make it a series. I’ll start by throwing out a few ideas for consideration and in the next few articles I will dive deeper into each idea one by one.   “If two consenting adults choose to attempt a transaction through one agent…I argue they should bear more responsibility in the outcome.”  …

For Canadians seeking to diversify their investments while enjoying personal lifestyle benefits, purchasing vacation properties abroad offers a noteworthy option. Such investments can combine financial returns with the perks of owning a private getaway in sought-after destinations. Investing abroad also comes with other practical advantages, making it well worth exploring these opportunities. Increasing Challenges of Investment Opportunities in Canada The dream of owning an investment or vacation property is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve domestically due to soaring real estate prices and limited inventory in sought-after regions. Expanding horizons to include vacation properties abroad offers an attractive solution, combining affordability,…

Development charges have been the talk of the building industry for some time, especially in places like the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where climbing fees have dramatically slowed the launch of new housing projects. Passionate voices, including those from the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), say current sky-high fees are no match for Ontario’s housing supply crisis and are calling for an overdue change to the Development Charges Act, which was first rolled out in 1989. A report released today, The State of Development Charges in Ontario, developed by Keleher Planning + Economic Consulting (KPEC) for BILD and…

One of Canada’s largest banks warns the central bank’s rate decision won’t be easy this week. BMO economists wrote to investors to outline the difficulty the Bank of Canada (BoC) will have sifting through the noise. Following historical revisions, the Labor Force Survey (LFS) data shows employment is much stronger than previously believed. However, the LFS and payroll data gap is unusually wide, leaving questions about the size of the country’s formal employment sector. It’s the exact opposite of the data seen with our neighbors to the South.   Bank of Canada Will Have A Hard Time Separating Theoretical Economic Threats…

Thinking about buying a fixer-upper in Toronto? Smart move. With the average price of a GTA house above $1 million, a fixer-upper can be your ticket to getting into the market – or your dream neighbourhood. But you need to know what to look for if you want to avoid costly mistakes. Trust me – HGTV doesn’t tell you the whole story. We’ve guided countless buyers through assessing and buying fixer-upper properties. Below, our step-by-step guide to assessing which property to buy and practical advice to help you make the right decision. What Makes a True Fixer-Upper? There’s a big…

Real estate flipping has been one of the most talked-about strategies in the property market for years. With the popularity of shows like Fixer Upper and Flip or Flop, the dream of buying low, renovating, and selling high became a glamorous vision for many aspiring investors. But in 2025, the question is: is flipping still worth it? The Changing Landscape of the Real Estate Market   To answer this question, we need to understand how the market has evolved. The pandemic-era real estate boom has begun to slow down, and we’re seeing a market that’s more balanced than it has been…