Author: homegoal.ca
Canada’s growth engine has long been small businesses, but the country is all in on large firms. BMO Capital Markets warns that while large firms make up only a small share of total employment, they’ve accounted for virtually all job gains in 2025. The bank cautions that this imbalance is amplifying downturn risks and could slow the next recovery. Canadian Job Growth Driven Entirely By Just 20% of Firms Canada’s job growth is increasingly concentrated in large firms (500+ employees). Canadian firms added 292,000 jobs in 2025, with large firms posting a net gain of 592,000. That’s not a typo—small…
With rising gas prices, costly maintenance fees, and the high cost of a vehicle itself, Canadians are starting to wonder about the pros and cons of a car-free lifestyle. Even in major cities like Toronto, there are some neighbourhoods where having a car is more of a necessity than in others. The most important consideration is whether you can live comfortably without owning one. Is it possible to commute to work, take your kids to daycare and school, run errands, dine out, and enjoy entertainment all on foot or by transit? This new series with highlight the best car-free neighborhoods,…
The Central Lakes Association of Realtors (CLAR) is calling on the federal government to make housing a cornerstone of its plan to rebuild and grow the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), warning that a chronic shortage of adequate military homes is hurting recruitment, retention and morale. In its new report, CLAR outlines 11 policy measures to modernize, expand, and better manage military and veteran housing. The Bowmanville, Ont.-based association represents more than 2,600 Realtors across Durham Region, Northumberland County, Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes and Quinte Region — an area that includes CFB Trenton, Canada’s largest Air Force base. “Canada’s ability to…
Re/Max Canada is bolstering its commercial division with the hiring of Toronto-based Damon Conrad, who will lead the charge for growth and modernization on a national scale. Conrad was announced today as vice president of commercial for Re/Max Canada. He most recently served as vice president and general manager of Royal LePage Commercial. He has 20 years of experience in commercial real estate, including roles with Cushman & Wakefield and Second Cup Coffee Co. “(Conrad’s) proven track record in building national platforms, expanding agent networks and delivering strategic leadership across top-tier brands makes him an exceptional addition to our team,”…
Canada’s odds of recession remain above 1 in 3, according to the Bank of Canada’s (BoC) Market Participants Survey (MPS) for Q3 2025. The survey of banks, asset managers, and investment firms shows markets still expect a downturn within 6 months—and optimism is eroding even among the most upbeat respondents. Markets Give 1 In 3 Odds That Canada Enters Recession Within 6 Months The odds of Canada entering a recession remain elevated, according to the latest MPS. The market sees a 1 in 3 (35%) chance of recession within the next 6 months, unchanged from the Q2 2025 survey. Expectations…
AI has made attention free. Anyone can flood social media with content now, but that’s exactly why so few people are trusted. This episode of The Leads Are Sh*t dives into the difference between chasing leads and earning credibility, and how real agents are using small, intentional moments to stand out in a noisy market. Everything is a marketing event Most Realtors only think about marketing when a new listing hits the market. But every single moment in the life of that listing, from going live, going pending, falling apart, closing, or even expiring, is a signal to…
Housing and employment are two of the clearest indicators of a community’s overall well-being. For many Canadians, the decision to settle in a city depends on a combination of stable job opportunities and affordable housing costs. Together, these factors shape where people live and how confidently they can plan for the future. When either begins to falter, population growth slows, housing demand shifts, and local economies inevitably feel the ripple effects. In a healthy economy, unemployment typically falls between 3.5% and 4.5%, rarely exceeding 5%. Yet in 2025, both the housing and job markets have drifted out of balance. Unemployment…
If your real estate business were a publicly traded company, would you buy shares in it? That question stopped me cold the first time I asked it. It is easy to feel successful when the revenue looks good, the phones are ringing, and the team seems busy. But revenue and business health are not the same thing. When I finally opened my books and looked closely, I realized I was running a great sales operation, not a great company. The Tim Cook lesson How many times have you walked into an Apple Store and seen Tim Cook, CEO, at…
Time for your cheat sheet on this week’s top stories. Canadian Real Estate Fitch Warns Canada of Credit Downgrade—That’s Bad News For Mortgages Canada’s supersized budget may soon cost households a lot more to borrow. Fitch Ratings warns the country faces a downgrade from AA+ to AA, citing gross debt more than twice the peer average and a budget with no path back to normal. Similar downgrades have raised financing costs by 5 to 25 basis points, which can translate into billions in interest for federal debt. Compounding the issue, federal bond yields serve as a benchmark, passing the credit…
You’ve probably seen countless aesthetic home hacks on TikTok, and maybe even tried a few, but the results weren’t always what you expected. Finding hacks that meet your expectations can be time-consuming and frustrating. To help you avoid the trial-and-error process, we’ve rounded up five aesthetic home hacks that truly make your home look more polished. DIY Canopy Bed If you’ve always wanted a canopy bed but found it too expensive or too much of a commitment to replace your entire bed frame, this hack is perfect for you. You can create your very own DIY canopy bed using just…