Author: homegoal.ca
Re/Max Canada confirms it has reached a “substantial agreement on monetary terms and business practice changes” to resolve two proposed class-action lawsuits challenging real estate commission structures. This marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over real estate commissions in Canada. The lawsuits, Sunderland v. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board and Kevin McFall v. Canadian Real Estate Association et al, allege that rules requiring homesellers to pay buyer brokerage commissions inflate costs and restrict competition. “This decision was made in the best interest of the Re/Max brand in Canada” While Re/Max Canada continues to deny any wrongdoing, the company…
The Calgary housing market, while still demonstrating strength, is showing clear indicators of a shift from the rapid growth experienced in recent years to a more balanced state. This transition is marked by increased construction activity, rising inventory, and a divergence in performance compared to other major Alberta markets like Edmonton. One of the primary drivers of this shift is the increase in housing supply. Reports from late 2024 and early 2025 consistently highlight a surge in new listings, particularly in the condo segment. A November report by Edge Realty Analytics noted a strong flow of new listings, rising 22%…
With borrowing costs on the decline, variable-rate mortgages have been gaining popularity amongst homeowners, Royal LePage reports in its most recent mortgage survey.Over the course of 2025, around 1.5 million mortgages will come up for renewal, the “vast majority” of which will face higher lending rates than when they locked in, even after the Bank of Canada’s (BoC) aggressive rate cutting cycle in 2024. This is because “hundreds of thousands” of these mortgages were signed when the key lending rate was at or below 1%, explains Royal LePage.Reflecting the changed lending environment, the survey found that only 66% of Canadians…
As we move further into 2025, the concept of outdoor living is undergoing a major transformation. Once considered just an extension of our indoor spaces, outdoor areas are now evolving into true sanctuaries that blend design, functionality, and sustainability. From luxury wellness features to advanced outdoor kitchens, the focus has shifted to creating spaces that offer comfort, connection to nature, and a reflection of our lifestyle preferences. Edible Gardens Take Centre Stage The “grow-your-own” movement is stronger than ever, and by 2025, veggie gardens will be a must-have in outdoor spaces. With a growing focus on health, sustainability, and food…
Barely a year ago, some economists were predicting a wave of mortgage defaults as hundreds of thousands of Canadians prepared to renew their mortgages at higher rates. Since June 2024, the Bank of Canada has cut its key lending rate six times, helping to ease some of the pressure on borrowers. Mortgage rates, however, remain above pre-pandemic levels on average, prompting many households to adjust their budgets. Against this backdrop, Quebec homeowners appear, on average, to be less financially impacted by their upcoming mortgage renewals. According to a recent Royal LePage survey, conducted by Hill & Knowlton,1 51% of Quebec…
The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) is rolling out a new AI-powered tool for its 68,000 members. Ardi—short for Artificial Reasoning and Decision Intelligence—is designed to provide 24/7 assistance on topics such as association rules, member benefits and industry-related inquiries. Designed to be an additional resource for TRREB members According to TRREB, the AI-powered system will operate across multiple platforms, including SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and voice communication, and will be available in 25 languages. TRREB describes Ardi as a tool intended to complement the efforts of its staff by handling a wide range of inquiries. In…
On February 10, 2025, Kitchener City Council took another step toward addressing renovictions, a practice in which tenants are displaced under the guise of property renovations. At the meeting, the Council directed staff to prepare an in‐depth report on a proposed renoviction bylaw. This report is slated for further discussion at the June 2 Planning and Strategic Initiatives committee meeting, a follow‐up to a decision made in June 2024 when the Council approved the Rental Replacement Bylaw and mandated that staff examine similar measures across Ontario. Ontario Municipality Trends If implemented, Kitchener will join a growing trend amongst Ontario municipalities…
Brampton’s Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) pilot program, designed to curb illegal rentals, has been few through a few iterations since its initial launch in January 2024, and on Thursday, the City announced that it is waiving the program’s licence application fee for the remainder of 2025.Prior to this announcement, the pilot required landlords in wards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 who own between one and four rental units to register with the city and obtain a licence at a $300 annual charge. There was already a full fee waiver in effect for the length of the pilot for any…
Greater Toronto real estate’s bad year ended even worse. Altus Group data showed Greater Toronto Area (GTA) developers saw demand slip further in December, as new home buyer incentives failed to stimulate new demand. As a result, the market accumulated the most year-end inventory in nearly a decade—nearly 2.5x the amount available in 2021’s tight market, but that isn’t the banger. Last year the market saw the fewest new home sales since 1990, when Toronto’s last real estate bubble popped. Toronto New Home Sales Were The Weakest Since 1990 Greater Toronto total annual new home sales per year. Source: Altus…
A Breathtaking Ozarks Home Perched Above the Finley River Perched high above the Finley River in Missouri, tucked beneath a canopy of towering oaks and maples, this isn’t just a home—it’s a sanctuary among the trees! A place where mornings begin with golden sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows and the line between indoors and outdoors disappears into nature. If you’ve ever imagined living in a treehouse, but with all the luxuries of modern living, this 30-acre Ozark, Missouri estate is your dream come true. Listing courtesy of Patrick J Murney of Murney Associates – Primrose A Private Entrance with a…