Author: homegoal.ca

We’re days away from another Bank of Canada interest rate announcement — the first of eight scheduled for 2025 — and though economists were pretty much set on a 25 basis-point cut before breaking for the holidays in December, the economic climate has been turbulent enough to spur a fresh wave of speculation.The variable that’s on everyone’s lips is (recently re-minted) US President Trump’s continued threat of a 25% tariff on all Canadian (and Mexican) goods, which could go into effect as soon as February 1st. Beyond the tariff uncertainty that looms, there’s also the mixed bag of economic indicators…

Rising costs for essentials like groceries and childcare and a growing number of Canadians renting their homes have made the once-reliable 30% rule for housing expenses a challenging goal. To add perspective, Fidelity, an Investment Canada firm, emphasizes a financial stability guideline that allocates 50% of income to necessities, 15% to retirement savings, and 5% to short-term goals—creating a framework for managing today’s financial pressures. However, if you and your significant other aim to spend 30% of your income on renting a two-bedroom apartment, what should your salary look like to make that work? And more importantly, can you balance…

designed by freepik The issue of Canadian housing affordability has been a big concern for many years. More and more Canadians are finding it hard to afford a home.  As the housing crisis in Canada continues, the government is stepping in with new policies to help solve the problem.  Let’s take a look at these new government housing policies in Canada and how they aim to make homes more affordable for everyone. Why Canada’s Housing Affordability Matters? If you’ve noticed housing prices in Canada 2025 are rising faster than many people’s salaries, you’re not alone. In big cities like Toronto,…

The Best Places to Retire in Canada, by Province Ontario British Columbia Atlantic Canada The Prairies As the tail-end of the Baby Boomer generation (and Gen Xers after them) approach their retirement years, the question of the best places to retire in Canada is an inevitable dinner-table topic of conversation. On the one hand, the appeal of “aging in place” is clear: allowing retirees to stay in a home and neighbourhood they know and love, close to family, friends and frequented places. However, the reality is that a large house is no longer needed or even wanted by many aging…

Tiles are the unsung heroes of home design, combining durability with style to transform any room. Whether you’re dreaming of a stunning kitchen backsplash, giving your bathroom a facelift, or refreshing your laundry room, choosing the right tile can make all the difference. This guide will help you choose the perfect tile for any space. Choosing the right tile for each room Not all tiles are made equally. Selecting the right tile heavily depends on room usage, moisture levels, and design goals, among other factors. Here’s how to choose the right tile for each space in your home. Bathroom tiles…

Every month, REM is committed to sharing Realtor moves, brokerage conversions and other notable announcements from the industry. Send your news to editor@realestatemagazine.ca with the subject line “The Real Deal” by the 26th of every month to be considered. Unedited photos are also welcome; please ensure they don’t include branding or other graphics.    Industry moves   Royal LePage celebrates new addition In brokerage news, Royal LePage welcomed its newest addition, Royal LePage Hometown Real Estate, in Alberta. Led by Jean-Luc and Shaylie Lamoureux, the team specializes in residential, recreational, farm, and commercial properties across St. Paul, Elk Point, Bonnyville,…

Calgary’s short-term rental (STR) market has grown steadily over the years, so the City has initiated a two-year study, conducted by the University of Calgary, to assess the regulation of this key market and gain input on it. The study aimed to learn more about this market and how it impacts housing, neighbourhoods, and the city’s economy. The findings, which included input from surveys and public consultations, will be used to guide potential updates to Calgary’s short-term rental regulations.  Calgary’s STR market, which includes platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, has been steadily expanding since 2017. As of September 2023, there…

The Vancouver office market is not what it once was. Save for a few notable ones such as Oxford Properties’ sale of 401 W Georgia and 402 Dunsmuir and TD Greystone selling a 20% stake in Telus Garden to Morguard, transactions have been few and far between this past year, making each one that occurs noteworthy. In mid-December, however, Casey Pollard, Senior Vice President at CBRE Vancouver, announced that he had sold the office building at 1190 Melville Street in downtown Vancouver, at the intersection with Bute Street near Coal Harbour, on behalf of Vancouver-based real estate developer Reliance Properties.…

Canadian real estate isn’t getting much of a boost despite lower rates and billions in stimulus. Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) data shows the price of a typical home (composite benchmark) slipped lower in December. Despite plunging rates, most provinces saw prices grind lower and all but one remained lower than the record high. Meanwhile, provinces like Ontario are seeing home prices fall further into correction territory.  Canadian Real Estate Prices Slipped Lower In Most Provinces    Canadian real estate prices generally slipped last month. The benchmark composite fell 0.2% ($1,500) to $705,600 in December. Prices are now down 17.2% (-$146,400)…

Fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a homeowner is exciting and rewarding. For many of us, this dream revolves around owning our forever home. While it’s good to stay focused on your goal, it may be necessary to take smaller steps to reach that goal by looking for a starter home instead.  If this is your first home, it’s important to think about what type of house you should look for. Should you save longer to buy your forever home or invest now in a starter home?  Here’s a few suggestions that you can consider while making your decisions. Breaking…