Author: homegoal.ca
Canada’s economic outlook presents mixed signals, with strong headline job growth and rising hours worked contrasted by slowing wage gains, significant job growth among older workers, and persistent credit stress among households. December’s stronger-than-expected employment gains have prompted some to reassess the trajectory of the Bank of Canada’s rate policy; however, concerns about inflation and elevated debt levels persist. Employment Numbers December saw a significant 91,000 jobs added—the strongest monthly increase in two years and far exceeding expectations of 25,000. Gains were evident across key rate-sensitive sectors, including construction, manufacturing, and finance, insurance, and real estate (FIRE). Additionally, hours worked…
On Monday, real estate brokerage RE/MAX Canada announced that Christopher Alexander has made the decision to end his tenure as President of RE/MAX Canada. Alexander, who was appointed President in November 2021, will continue in his role until March 3, 2025, according to the press release, after which he will serve in a consultant role until June 30, 2025. Beyond that, he will serve as a consultant for RE/MAX Europe, while remaining a RE/MAX brokerage owner in Ontario.In the interim period after Alexander steps down in March, CEO of parent company RE/MAX Holdings Erik Carlson will oversee operations in Canada…
Canada’s facing a trade war with its largest partner, and it may send interest rates plunging. BMO Capital Markets wrote to investors after the first round of tariffs were announced this weekend. The bank now expects rates to be slashed much more aggressively, trimming another point off the bottom for overnight rates. The plunge would test the historic extremes for rapid easing set nearly 30 years ago. The Canada-US Trade War Is Set To Begin Next Week Canada and the US kicked off its trade war this weekend. The US administration unveiled a 25% broad tariff on all goods from…
Millennials have become the most influential group of homebuyers in Canada. They account for the largest share of buyers, with 56% of homebuyers aged 25 to 34 and 30% of those aged 35 to 44 actively purchasing homes, as the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported. By 2025, millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) will be between 29 and 44 years old. These ages are typically when individuals find partners, start families, and raise school-aged children. Consequently, many seek more space, privacy, a stable place to settle down, and long-term investment opportunities. Recent federal policy changes have made higher-value homes…
In recent years, Montreal, like many other major cities around the world, has been faced with a major challenge — balancing the rise of short-term rental platforms with the preservation of an accessible rental market. On the one hand, platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo offer financial flexibility for homeowners and an alternative to hotels for visitors. On the other, short-term rentals contribute to the scarcity of available long-term accommodations, exacerbating an already-present housing crisis. On January 30th, 2025, the City of Montreal announced a further tightening of the rules surrounding short-term rentals, limiting their use to the summer months.…
“The bottom line here is that there is a big disconnect materializing between conditions in Ontario and most of the rest of the country,” says BMO Director and Senior Economist Robert Kavcic. At the end of 2024, Canada’s housing market showed stark regional differences, Kavcic notes in his monthly Canadian Housing Monitor. Ontario remained sluggish, with Toronto’s condo market seeing a surge in supply and falling prices. Meanwhile, markets in many other provinces pushed toward new highs. Existing home sales fell 5.8 per cent in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, though sales were still up 19.2 per cent compared…
As of July 1, 2024, Canada’s population trends reflect an ongoing concentration in urban areas, driven by international migration and sustained by the country’s growing census metropolitan areas (CMAs). With 74.8% of Canadians living in CMAs, an increase of 0.4 percentage points over the past year, these hubs remain the focal point for demographic change. At the same time, non-urban regions have seen growth at comparatively modest rates, underscoring the country’s increasing urbanization. Strong Growth in CMAs Continues Canada’s 41 CMAs reached a combined population of 30,893,239 on July 1, 2024, following a growth rate of 3.5% from the previous…
The kitchen is often regarded as the heart of the home, serving as both a functional workspace and a gathering place for family and friends. When it comes to home design, an upgraded kitchen can significantly impact both the aesthetic appeal and value of a property. For many homebuyers, having top-of-the-line kitchen features is a priority. To provide insight into the most popular kitchen upgrades, Fixr recently surveyed professionals working in the home design industry to find out what kitchen trends will be the hottest in 2025. Here’s a closer look at the key features they identified as the most…
REALTORS® are known for being self-starters and go-getters; people persons and relationship builders; expert negotiators and problem solvers; and caring individuals who help their neighbours and support local community groups and charities in countless ways. More than 160,000 REALTORS® live and work in communities across Canada. Just imagine if Canadian REALTORS® and the REALTOR® association community were to unite and use their collective expertise and skills to help address some of the most pressing social and environmental challenges together. Picture yourself wearing your REALTOR® pin and knowing it represents being part of an industry that is not only making home…
On January 13, 2025, Whitehorse City Council advanced amendments to the Building and Plumbing Bylaw to address significant inefficiencies in its construction permitting and inspection processes. The proposed changes aim to reduce delays, update outdated policies, and support a faster housing development timeline in response to increased demand and a heavily backlogged system in 2024. The amendments passed the first and second readings during Monday’s council meeting; they require a third reading before they can be enacted. If passed into law, the amendments would take effect immediately after the third reading. Resources would be allocated to hire and train additional…