Author: homegoal.ca
The Bank of Canada’s latest decision to lower the overnight lending rate by 25 basis points from 3.25% to 3% is giving homeowners and prospective buyers plenty to consider. With two previous half-point cuts in late 2024, this latest move continues to ease pressure on borrowers with variable-rate mortgages. But does it make variable rates the smarter choice over fixed rates? Or have fixed rates bottomed out, making them the safer long-term bet? How the Rate Cut Impacts Borrowers For those with variable-rate mortgages, the immediate impact is clear—lower monthly payments. Since variable rates move in direct response to the…
After almost a full year, a buyer has finally been found for the mysterious Westfield Business Centre in Surrey, according to filings in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The Westfield Business Centre sits at 14178 104 Avenue in Surrey and makes up the entire block between 141 Street and 142 Street, about midway between Surrey City Centre and Guildford Town Centre. According to court documents, the three-storey commercial building was constructed in 1998 and was intended to serve as a stratified shopping mall called “The Asian Centre.” It’s unclear who the original developer was and why the mall never…
Canada’s economy is booming… or not. Depends on whether you’re in economics or finance—or in academia or looking for a job. Statistics Canada (Stat Can) seasonally adjusted data shows the country added tens of thousands of jobs in January, pushing the unemployment rate lower. Unadjusted data tells a very different story, with the country adding nearly 200k jobseekers, pushing the unemployment rate to the second highest monthly print since the 2021 recession. We promise, you’ll understand jobs data and how to read it better than your local politician in just a few minutes. Canada Adds 76k Jobs… Sort of. Depends…
In recent years, shopping at thrift stores has become more than just a way to find unique, affordable items. According to Capital One Shopping Research, approximately 17% of Americans shop at thrift stores yearly, while 93% shop online for secondhand items. As we all look for ways to minimize our environmental impact, buying reusable goods from thrift stores offers a perfect solution. Not only can you find great pieces to refresh your home, but you also have the opportunity to repurpose and breathe new life into second-hand treasures. Whether you’re on the hunt for stylish decor or practical home essentials,…
The Story of J&L Selling a home isn’t just about putting up a sign and waiting for offers—it’s a strategic process that can mean the difference between a good sale and a great one. In The Exit Strategy, we pull back the curtain on real stories from BREL clients who’ve navigated the highs and lows of selling in Toronto’s competitive market. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, challenges, and strategies that led to their success—from pricing tactics and staging transformations to marketing moves that made their homes stand out. If you’re looking to maximize your sale price, minimize…
I think January 2025’s supply story is one of those data points. This could be the biggest year-over-year jump up in new listings we’ve ever seen, and the majority of it was driven by condos. In 2024, we started with 6,300 active condo listings and almost hit 12,000. In 2025, we started with 8,500 active condo listings and could hit 15,000, should historic growth trends hold. Source: TRREB/TheHabistat.com I will caveat that the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board added a few new local boards, so I’m still trying to see if that’s had an impact on the data, but…
Building community resilience to adapt to a changing climate is essential for protecting both housing values and the broader community. In British Columbia, the provincial government is taking proactive steps to mitigate the effects of climate change by investing in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation projects. These efforts aim to enhance the ability of communities to withstand the growing risks posed by natural disasters. Investing in Community Resilience To enhance community resilience, BC has provided funding to 46 projects across 39 communities in B.C. through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) under the Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation (DRR-CA) stream.…
Although the companies are better known for telecommunications and construction, respectively, Telus and Ledcor Group are teaming up on a development project in Vancouver, according to a rezoning application published by the City on February 5.The project is being advanced through each company’s real estate development arm, Telus Living and Ledcor Properties Investments, and is set for 354-380 East 10th Avenue, immediately south of Kingsgate Mall out block away from the prominent intersection of Kingsway and East Broadway. The subject site is currently occupied by a three-storey bunker-type building at 380 E 10th Avenue that’s being used as a Telus…
— We take our content seriously. This article was written by a real person at BREL. Think being a landlord is just about collecting rent checks? Think again. When you’re a successful landlord, you’re running a small business – one that requires specific skills, dedicated time, and attention. As a landlord, you’ll need to be prepared to wear a lot of hats. You’ll need: Financial Management Skills Budgeting and cash flow planning Understanding market rates and trends Basic accounting and bookkeeping Tax planning and reporting Property Maintenance Know-How Ability to assess repair urgency Knowledge of preventative maintenance Network of reliable…
Canada’s national housing agency just published its latest piece of fan fiction. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has released its 2025 Housing Outlook, the agency’s forecast of various risk scenarios. The agency’s worst case scenario includes American tariffs delivering a devastating economic blow. The agency somehow sees this producing higher home prices, an immigration boom, and less risk for GDP than last year. To entertain the agency’s outlook as an honest attempt at reality, one needs to be on something so strong it would spark another border control issue. Forecasting The Base, Highs, and Lows Forecasting is tricky and…