Author: homegoal.ca

Investors today are looking beyond traditional asset classes to build resilient, strategically diversified portfolios amid market volatility, inflation concerns, and interest rate fluctuations. As a result, alternative investments have become essential in modern strategies. Private mortgage investments offer an alternative, and have rapidly gained traction due to their high yield potential, income stability, and strong defensive characteristics. According to Chris Baker, SVP of Investment Sales at CMI Financial Group, “Private mortgage investments combine the security of real estate collateral with a reliable income stream, making them a more stable alternative to stocks and a more attractive option than low-yield bonds.”…

The Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network is currently in the process of putting together a benchmark study to measure the progress for women that work in commercial real estate, a report it compiles every five years. In its most-recent report in 2020, which saw just under 3,000 industry professionals in Canada, the United States, and United Kingdom participate in the survey, over 80% of which were women. The 2020 report found that women represent 35.9% of all commercial real estate professionals in Canada, which was slightly below the US (36.9%), but above the UK (31.8%). The report also included…

Embarking on a home improvement project can be both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you’re updating a room, adding a new feature, or renovating your entire home, proper planning is key to ensuring the project runs smoothly and stays within budget. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you plan your next home improvement project from start to finish. Define Your Goals and Priorities Before diving into any project, it’s important to understand what you want to achieve. This could range from increasing your home’s value, improving functionality, or simply refreshing the aesthetic of a space. Break down your goals into specific…

A more tempered growth in listings is keeping Metro Vancouver’s housing market in check, according to the latest data from the Greater Vancouver Realtors (GVR). “After the rush of new listings in January, home sales and new listings in February were closer to historical averages, which has positioned the overall market in balanced conditions,” said Andrew Lis, GVR’s director of economics and data analytics. GVR says residential sales in the region totalled 1,827 in February, marking an 11.7 per cent decline from the 2,070 sales recorded in February 2024. This figure also sits 28.9 per cent below the 10-year seasonal…

The 2025 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Economic Outlook for Farmland Values has been released, highlighting trends in farmland valuation, market challenges, and investment opportunities. With the full report on farmland values set to be released on March 18, this outlook offers early takeaways on the evolving agricultural real estate market in Canada. Rising Farmland Values Farmland values have consistently appreciated over the past decade, more than doubling in value.  This continued rise in farmland prices occurred despite a decline in farm cash receipts (the total gross revenue a farm earns from selling its agricultural products along with any direct government…

On Friday, February 21, Surrey Pavilion opened its doors to the public, welcoming over 5,000 guests to date into a concept space that’s new for the real estate industry — but not for Langley-based developer Marcon.Traditionally, yet-to-be-constructed condos and townhouses are sold out of a retail space — typically called a sales centre, a presentation centre, or a sales gallery, depending on company preference — that’s akin to targeted advertising. These spaces are decked out with renderings, architectural models, and showhomes all focused on the project, because the developer knows that everybody who walks in the door already has an…

Greater Toronto real estate demand further eroded last month, but buyers likely didn’t notice. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) data shows home prices climbed in February. It wasn’t due to a lack of inventory, which hit the highest level since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Nor was it due to sales, which fell to one of the lowest levels on record. It appears this trend is driven entirely by exuberance.   Greater Toronto Home Prices Climb Higher The benchmark price of a typical home across Greater Toronto. Source: CREA; TRREB; Better Dwelling. Greater Toronto real estate prices advanced last month,…

February continued to favor home buyers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) market, with high inventory levels providing substantial negotiating power. While sales declined compared to last year, buyers had more choice and room to negotiate prices in a market still adjusting to elevated borrowing costs. Buyers Hold Off as Mortgage Rate Cuts Loom “Many households in the GTA are eager to purchase a home, but current mortgage rates make it difficult for the average household income to comfortably cover monthly payments on a typical property. Fortunately, we anticipate a decline in borrowing costs in the coming months, which should…

The Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA) has taken a significant step to combat bad behaviour within its ranks by passing new bylaws that allow the association to expel members involved in serious criminal conduct. The move, approved with a 92 per cent vote at the association’s Annual General Meeting in January, aims to strengthen professional standards and address concerns over enforcement delays by provincial regulatory bodies. AREA’s CEO Brad Mitchell emphasizes the importance of upholding professionalism in the industry, citing a recent case where it took four years for a regulatory body to remove the licence of an agent accused…

In 2024, Calgary’s housing market demonstrated unprecedented momentum as the City processed a record 18,168 residential building permits. This milestone is particularly significant because it represents not only a sharp increase in construction activity but also reflects a major shift in how Calgary is approaching housing supply.  The surge in permit issuance follows strong demand for new homes across various segments, including single-detached houses, semi-detached homes, townhouses, and apartment units. In fact, the figures indicate that the city has seen a 22% increase in permits for single detached homes, a remarkable 63% jump in permits for semi-detached homes, and a…