Author: homegoal.ca
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home, and in recent years, it has become more of a central hub than ever before. Fixr surveyed 67 professionals currently working in the home design field to share what their clients are asking for this year to uncover the biggest kitchen do’s and don’ts for 2025. Kitchen trends are always evolving, but certain outdated or unique design choices can deter potential buyers. If you’re planning on selling your home in 2025, it’s crucial to be mindful of the following kitchen design trends that could cost you a sale.…
At first, your home may have felt like true love – the perfect match, full of excitement and possibility. But as time goes on, the honeymoon phase can fade. Maybe you’re craving more space, a shorter commute to work or school, or modern features that other homes seem to have. If you’re feeling restless, you might be wondering, “Is it time for a fresh start, or can this relationship be saved with a little TLC?” Deciding whether to move to a new home or renovate the one you’ve got is no small decision — it’s a mix of emotions, finances,…
Peter and Paige Torkan (Facebook) Husband-and-wife Realtors Peter and Paige Torkan say they set out to put Toronto on the global map—and they feel they’ve achieved their goal. The couple stars in Season 1 of Luxe Listings Toronto, now streaming for reality show fans who may have missed its initial release last year. The seven-episode series is a spin-off of Australia’s hit show Luxe Listings Sydney and features the Torkans’ high-end listings, clientele and insight into Toronto’s luxury market. Bringing the show to life An Amazon executive first approached the Torkans in 2020. Peter says they had…
Furnished executive rentals are a specialized niche catering primarily to corporate travellers, business professionals, relocating employees, and various industry needs. This unique market offers landlords significant advantages, particularly for those targeting medium-term tenancies, where the demand for furnished rentals has grown consistently. Embracing this niche can result in higher income potential with reduced vacancy risks, especially when paired with the strategy of providing fully furnished properties tailored to tenant needs. What Are Furnished Executive Rentals? Furnished executive rentals are properties fully equipped with furniture, appliances, kitchenware, linens, and utilities, offering tenants a move-in-ready, turnkey solution. These homes are ideal for…
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…